Living in a busy urban neighborhood can offer many advantages, such as proximity to entertainment, accessibility to your place of work, and a general feel of being part of the downtown scene. Unfortunately, there is a dark side to urban life - high crime rates that seem to escalate daily. As cost of living continues to rise and the economy worsens, there is no doubt that crime (particularly in these areas) will also continue to escalate.

Protecting your home and family from home invasion and burglary can be easy and affordable. Begin by assessing your home's weakest security points: the doors, windows, and your home alarm system.

Alarm Systems: Installing a home alarm system is an affordable option that provides a high level of security. Home alarm systems should be considered a necessary home security device in any urban setting. However simply having an alarm isn't enough - many people become complacent and will forget to set their alarm when rushed, or when they feel the risk of break-in does not equal the hassle in setting the alarm. Unfortunately, thieves can break into a home and in a matter of minutes be in possession of your expensive personal belongings. Here are some tips when considering your home alarm system:

** Alarm systems should be connected directly to the alarm company's central monitoring station, which can alert law enforcement if the alarm is triggered.

** Installing a back-up cellular dialer in case a burglar cuts the power or the standard phone lines enables the system to still contact the monitoring station.

** Alarm systems which incorporate motion sensors and/or glass break sensors can help first responders and residents know if an intruder has actually gained access to the premise.

** Displaying the signage provided by the alarm company serves as an initial deterrent for thieves.

** Making sure the alarm system's central panel is located in a locked cabinet or an indoor utility room prevents would-be invaders from tampering with the system.

Lock Doors and Windows: This may seem like a no-brainer, but time and again people become complacent in their home's security. Forgetting to lock windows and doors before going out or going to bed provides an opportunity for thieves to gain easy access. Taking the extra time to make sure your home is secure is the easiest way to stop burglars in their tracks.

Doors: You door will stand up to most breach attempts if the doors are made from solid wood or metal rather than a hollow-core style, along with 3.5 inch long steel screws to fasten the hinges to the door frame.

Windows: The glass in windows and doors is often the easiest way a thief can gain access to your home. Statistically, upwards of 80 % of all US Burglaries occur via a window or door. Security window films are affordable, and can provide an extra layer of defense from thieves attempting to smash a window to gain access to the home. While a burglar may be able to muster enough force to eventually smash the window, the repeated attempts require a lot of attention-grabbing blows. ShatterGARD, Inc. is one of the largest privately held glass protection and security product companies in the United States. ShatterGUARD products are trusted to protect the men and women of the U.S. military and law enforcement communities, as well as facilities associated with the worldwide banking and telecommunications industries, and private residences.

Jordan Frankel
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/home-security-for-urban-neighborhoods-protect-your-home-and-family-from-burglary-and-invasion-with-these-simple-tips-748929.html

Living in a busy urban neighborhood can offer many advantages, such as proximity to entertainment, accessibility to your place of work, and a general feel of being part of the downtown scene. Unfortunately, there is a dark side to urban life - high crime rates that seem to escalate daily. As cost of living continues to rise and the economy worsens, there is no doubt that crime (particularly in these areas) will also continue to escalate.

Protecting your home and family from home invasion and burglary can be easy and affordable. Begin by assessing your home's weakest security points: the doors, windows, and your home alarm system.

Alarm Systems: Installing a home alarm system is an affordable option that provides a high level of security. Home alarm systems should be considered a necessary home security device in any urban setting. However simply having an alarm isn't enough - many people become complacent and will forget to set their alarm when rushed, or when they feel the risk of break-in does not equal the hassle in setting the alarm. Unfortunately, thieves can break into a home and in a matter of minutes be in possession of your expensive personal belongings. Here are some tips when considering your home alarm system:

** Alarm systems should be connected directly to the alarm company's central monitoring station, which can alert law enforcement if the alarm is triggered.

** Installing a back-up cellular dialer in case a burglar cuts the power or the standard phone lines enables the system to still contact the monitoring station.

** Alarm systems which incorporate motion sensors and/or glass break sensors can help first responders and residents know if an intruder has actually gained access to the premise.

** Displaying the signage provided by the alarm company serves as an initial deterrent for thieves.

** Making sure the alarm system's central panel is located in a locked cabinet or an indoor utility room prevents would-be invaders from tampering with the system.

Lock Doors and Windows: This may seem like a no-brainer, but time and again people become complacent in their home's security. Forgetting to lock windows and doors before going out or going to bed provides an opportunity for thieves to gain easy access. Taking the extra time to make sure your home is secure is the easiest way to stop burglars in their tracks.

Doors: You door will stand up to most breach attempts if the doors are made from solid wood or metal rather than a hollow-core style, along with 3.5 inch long steel screws to fasten the hinges to the door frame.

Windows: The glass in windows and doors is often the easiest way a thief can gain access to your home. Statistically, upwards of 80 % of all US Burglaries occur via a window or door. Security window films are affordable, and can provide an extra layer of defense from thieves attempting to smash a window to gain access to the home. While a burglar may be able to muster enough force to eventually smash the window, the repeated attempts require a lot of attention-grabbing blows. ShatterGARD, Inc. is one of the largest privately held glass protection and security product companies in the United States. ShatterGUARD products are trusted to protect the men and women of the U.S. military and law enforcement communities, as well as facilities associated with the worldwide banking and telecommunications industries, and private residences.

Jordan Frankel
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/home-security-for-urban-neighborhoods-protect-your-home-and-family-from-burglary-and-invasion-with-these-simple-tips-748929.html

I never really thought about home security systems, really.  I figured my house was far enough away from the road and anybody who actually saw my home were just passing by.  It is a busy highway with traffic going from point A to point B and my house is in the middle.

Nope.  Home security systems never even crossed my mind until…one morning, while going to the mailbox to get the paper, I discovered a smashed windshield on one of our cars.  It had to be intentional vandalism because the rock that struck the windshield was lying next to the car.  The rock was the size of an apple…too far away from the highway to be thrown from a vehicle.

Well, I called the police and filed a report.  The officer that came to my house asked me if I had a home security system of some sort.  Nope was my reply…never occurred to me to get one.

I took my car to the local Ford dealership to have the windshield replaced and have some minor bodywork done.  When the repairs were completed, I was getting my car back when the repair shop manager asked me if I had a home security system in place.  Once again, I answered nope.  He suggested a home surveillance camera so I could keep an eye on the outside of my home.

A couple of uneventful days had passed by, when once again I went out in the morning to get the newspaper, only to discover my brand new windshield had two rocks thrown into it.  There they were lying next to the car.

I called the same police officer again, and after filing another report he asked me if I would now consider a home security system.  I told him one or two home security systems would be purchased right after our meeting.

I now have a home surveillance camera…two actually…one positioned to view where my car is parked, and one positioned to view my front door and the front of my house.  I can monitor both cameras on my TV set.  I can record what the cameras view on my VCR.

The police officer who wrote the reports and suggested home security systems, told me that if I captured any act of crime or vandalism on tape, it would not only help them arrest the perpetrators, but also be admissible in court.

This really happened to me and also my neighbor, Bob, who is now considering the purchase of some home alarms for his house, garage and shed.  He bought a dog, too.

Tom Watson
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-security-articles/home-security-systems-and-why-i-bought-one-704015.html

Statistics prove that the chances of facing a threat in your home are on the rise. The threat may come from a burglary or a home invasion or it could come from some other type of hazard such as carbon monoxide poisoning or fire. It could even come from a health emergency that you or someone else in your home might experience. While you might never know when the threat might occur or exactly what it might be, the best path to protection is to ensure that you have designed a security system that will protect you from the many different types of threats which might occur.

Of course, the most basic safety precautions should never be overlooked. You should ensure that there are sturdy locks on your doors and make sure that you use them. Not only should you lock your doors when you are away from home but when you are at home as well. The same goes for your windows, particularly those on the first floor.

Beyond these basic steps, it is also a good idea to make sure that you are making use of a state-of-the-art security system that will encompass all of the many threats and hazards that you might experience in your home.

Such a security system will provide sensors that will sound an alarm and contact a remote monitoring system in the event that someone should try to force their way into your home. By ensuring the system is armed while you are home as well as when you are away you will be able to protect your home and your family from burglaries as well as home invasions.

While it would certainly be hoped that you would never have to worry about a burglary or invasion, but there are also other threats that you should protect your home and family from as well. Toxic gases and fires are just two of those hazards. Many home security systems today have the ability to not only monitor for forced entry but also for toxic gases and fire as well. This is an important security precaution because many toxic gases cannot be detected by humans until it is too late.

Beyond these hazards, it is also a good idea to have a security system in place that will provide live contact in the event of a health emergency. This is particularly important if you have health issues or if someone living in your home is elderly. With advanced age come many different health risks including slips, falls, heart attacks, strokes and more. If you live alone or spend a good portion of your time alone, having a security system in place that will allow you to request help can truly be a life saving measure.

Life can definitely be uncertain. With the right security system in place you can be sure that you have complete peace of mind and protection from a host of different hazards and dangers.

Kieran Adams
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-security-articles/securing-your-home-with-the-right-security-design-742891.html

You are on the way to devise some ways to protect your home, but always the cost there worries you and leaves you with no decision. Yes, home security cameras the best solution for your home security but the cost these took can vary with your need or the type of devices your security requires. So it is not always true that you will have to bear a huge cost on home security instead it is your need which will decide your cost. A home security camera can come with the feature of tilt, zoom, pan and so on but it never means all have such requirements which normally prove to be a costly affair.

Most you just need the simple coverage of your home and surroundings that normally cost a normal amount. And of course if you want all those hi-end facility even with such requirement it would be simply to overburden your budget. Simple coverage can be performed with a single camera which allows you to see the entire surrounding with one sitting. Though these wide angle cameras are better to cover more areas but it will hardly solve your purpose of watching narrowly your target objects.

Further if your home has any thing quite narrower by which each entry or exist can be watch, could be good position for installing wide angle camera there to see the objects much closer. In such condition your purposes can be solved even with a wide angle camera which has feature of capturing a bit narrower area with its narrower width. By this you easily get to see who is entering your premises and what his exact postures are. These cameras will give a much better view by bringing you closer to the action and delivering a higher quality picture for these narrow areas.

The home security camera you are going to install can feature mainly tow types of recording systems. The first one is standalone DVR and the second one is PC-based DVR system. Normally here recording devices with your camera are a bit different from what you find with your other DVR or satellite/cable DVR so they also increase the cost on these devices accordingly. The stand alone cameras are normally suitable to record to keep record of every action with movements directly on to hard discs. This option allows you to watch any footage required even later that too in a more secured form. These DVRs provide the best basic system for home users. With the second one option you get a card that installs into your PC wit your any latest browser to provide inputs for the security cameras. The cameras then start recording with the help of included software onto the hard drive of the PC. This recording option normally is of advanced technology than the previous one and in result you get a higher resolution for picture and sound recording. So, the pc based security camera surveillance is a bit entrusted as it helps you see more pictures at a time while with stand alone you have to switchover to get new visuals each time.

Judith Peterson
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-security-articles/home-security-cameras-protect-your-home-in-budget-690899.html