More times than I care to recall, I have had to remind careless homeowners to retain their windows and doors locked at all times, especially when retiring for the night or leaving the premises. You’d be surprised how many don’t, despite the many horror stories we hear on the nightly news about robberies, home invasions and other contaminated crimes inflicted on homeowners.

Once upon a time in America, long long ago, when everybody knew their neighbors and milkmen were still making home deliveries, a homeowner could get away with going to bed with their doors and windows unlocked or opened. Unfortunately, those days are gone…long gone. Burglars also used to wait for home owners to leave the premises before trying to enter their residence. However, the increase in home invasions across the country suggests that, that too, is no longer the case.

In 2010, leaving windows and doors unsecured is one, of many, common errors made by homeowners that create them easy targets for burglars . Some others include…

Leaving Garage Doors Open…

This is very unsafe.The garage door is a major protective barrier between you and your loved ones and the potential predators outside. Win the garage door from the equation and there’s only the door leading into the house that separates you from potential home invaders. Once the intruder is inside the garage he’s actually shielded from public view by the garage itself; especially at night, if the garage lights are out.

Homeowners who leave their garage doors open are under the delusion that no one is bold enough to walk into an open garage in plain view of the entire neighborhood? Well, burglars are extremely valiant individuals who will risk their lives to steal your toolbox when they find your garage door open. It’s not uncommon for a homeowner to be cutting their grass in the back yard while their golf clubs, yard tools and kids toys, are walking out of the garage door up front.

Another bad habit that burglars cash in on is at homes where the garage door is left commence overnight. This is insane! A homeowner who does this may as well post a “Burglars Welcome” mark on the front lawn.

Storing Ladders Outdoors…

This too is unwise. Most awe companies (except the really greedy un-conscientious, ones) don’t usually advise installing second story window contacts because rarely will a burglar enter a second story window. They’re honest not that ambitious (if they were they’d have jobs like the rest of us). In nearly ten years selling security products, I’ve only seen a second sage entered by a burglar once. How he was able to come the second floor was by using a wooden lounge chair that he propped up against the house to climb up to the balcony where entry was made through a door.

So my order is don’t store ladders, or anything that can be extinct as one, outdoors. If there is not a ladder on your property burglars won’t bring one unless you live out in the country or off of a rural road where there a few passers by. If you must store a ladder outdoors be sure to lock it down. Ladders, chairs and items that can used to climb up on should be secured with a lock and chain.

Leaving Valuables, Unsecured, Outdoors…

I’ve seen everything; from bicycles and children’s toys to lawn mowers and power tools; stored on patios, driveways and lawns. Items stored like this may as well have a “Free Stuff” sign attached to them. In the mind of burglars, valuables stored this method are smply donations.

Not Securing Privacy Fencing

People don’t usually get privacy fences– but they should. While privacy fences are broad for shielding your property from public view they also provide powerful cover for crooks once they can get on the inside of them. Once they’re safely behind the privacy fence they can work on entering windows and doors undetected. So install the kind of latches on the door of your privacy fence that you can put a padlock on.

Storing Automotive Electronics In Plain View

Again, another “Free Stuff” scenario. If you must store removable electronics like GPS’, Ipods, satellite radios and laptops inside your car at least screen them under seats; in the glove compartment or center console; or anywhere out of plain view. If you don’t store them where they can’t be easily seen they are sure to attract the attention of burglars.

Residents living in the suburbs, where homeowners get sucked into a fraudulent sense of security, are most guilty of this type of oversight.

“We never idea something like this would happen in this area.We conception we moved into a nice neighborhood”, said one distraught homeowner I was meeting with after their sparkling, newly constructed, home was broken into honest days after they moved in. The home was nestled in the middle of a aloof cul-de-sac in a brand new subdivision in metro Atlanta. This is one of the most common misconceptions of suburban homeowners: thinking that nice neighborhood means burglary free neighborhood when nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is…burglars consume nice neighborhoods.

Not so nice neighborhoods, for burglars, means nice so nice stuff to steal. Plus, people who live on the rougher side of town tend to be more street wise and effect fewer mistakes that burglars can take advantage of.

Not Arming Alarm While At Home

We’ve all seen the commercials where the, (female) homeowner returns home; immediately sets the alarm in the Stay Mode (one of an alarms most critical settings). Not long afterward, a burglar, who’s been casing the house, comes crashing through the door where he is met by the screams of the disquieted resident, and, most importantly, the alarms piercing 92 decibel siren, which scares him off.

It’s a pretty realistic scenario; burglar enters, lady screams, alarm activates, burglar flees; especially in a home invasion like the one depicted in the commercial. However, if the alarm isn’t status this scene plays out in a totally different way where the burglar takes complete control of the household and does the unthinkable (just imagine the possibilities).

One of the most approved pieces of advice I offer homeowners, once they’ve installed an alarm system, is to state the alarm at all times: when they’re staying home or leaving. Unfortunately, it’s not advice that homeowners always follow. Think of it this way you’re paying for it every month so why not take full advantage of it. An alarm system is a lot like car insurance: better to have it and not need it, than to be faced with such an episode like the lady in the commercial, and not have an alarm. Worst than not having an alarm, in a situation such as this one, is having one that’s not armed when the burgar comes crashing in.

Security Tips: Before retiring for the night make one final sweep of your house to make sure all windows and doors, including the garage door, are closed and locked. if you have an alarm system set it in the Stay Mode so it will be triggered immediately if a door or window is opened during the night. This not only keeps intruders out while you’re sleeping, but reduces the potential of certain occupants leaving the house beyond their curfew. If your budget permits install an alarm. Most alarm companies charge about a dollar a day, or less, for alarm monitoring plus most insurance companies give substantial policy discounts for homes that have one installed.

Louis Blackwell is a security consultant, writer and web status publisher http://wholesalecameras.webs.com. To submit a security question, email question and contact info to louisblackwell@yahoo.com.