Protect Your Most Important Items
We automatically assume that our homes are the safest places for our valuables. This means putting things wherever they land instead of locking them away. Jewelry, for instance, may be stored in an unlocked jewelry box. Important documents that contain valuable information may be placed in a desk drawer or a file cabinet with no locks. Despite how secure you feel at home or how intense your home security methods are, you can never be too safe when protecting those personal belongings that are worth much more than what you paid for them.
The following are some tips on how to keep your most valuable items safe:
Keep Documents in a Safe
Lock up important papers like insurance documents, Social Security cards, birth certificates, diamond ring paperwork, passports, tax returns, and other identifying documents. Thieves often search unlocked file cabinets and desks to steal these papers, which can lead to identity theft.
Invest in a Home Security System
No matter how many chain locks or deadbolts you have, a skilled thief can still get in. Unfortunately, many locks can’t do what a home security system can: alert the police when someone breaks in. Video cameras can capture their faceand even show what they stole, even if they get past the alarm sound. Often, a thief won’t continue once they hear the alarm go off.
Don’t Hide Your Spare Key Outside
This is another area where an experienced thief is going to win. They know where to find those keys that are hidden under rocks, over top of door facings, around bushes, or under that flower bed ornament. Just don’t do it. Keep a spare with a trusted neighbor or friend.
Keep Jewelry in a Safe
Lock your valuable jewelry, like Grandma’s pearls or your most expensive pieces, in a safe. Thieves often look first in the master bedroom for jewelry left out or in a locked jewelry box. Many times, they just grab the whole box and run, so they can sort through it later.
Video Surveillance
We talked about video surveillance before, but it’s worth mentioning again. You can’t lock your flat-screen TV in a safe, and many electronics are light enough for thieves to easily steal. However, even if a thief keeps going after your alarm sounds, you can catch their face on video. It’s amazing how many burglars get caught because of good video surveillance.
Forget the Mattress
The mattress is another hot spot thieves will look. If you hide money or other valuables under your mattress, you can expect a burglar to find them.
Kitchen Items Belong in Cabinets
It’s tempting to hide things in those high kitchen cabinets. But burglars know this trick too. They also know your “junk drawer” might hide something valuable. Even if your kitchen has many drawers, expect a thief to search them, especially if no security alarm shortens their time to rummage.
That Small Safe is Not a Good Investment
Buying a safe is a great idea. It’s one of the best investments you can make. A good safe is secure and fireproof, protecting your belongings. However, a small safe won’t help if it’s not bolted down. You should buy a large safe you can bolt to the floor.
It would be a huge pain for a burglar to unbolt a large safe. Plus, it would be too big for them to carry. They’d need a dolly to wheel it out, but even that’s almost impossible because of its weight. Also, someone would probably see them wheeling a safe out of the house, and they’d likely need several people. A giant safe just isn’t worth a burglar’s trouble.
So, here are tips to keep your valuables secure. Even with a home security system, which usually stops burglars right away, don’t leave anything out that they can grab quickly. Yes, your home is safe, but anything can happen when you’re not there. It’s better to be safe than deal with a thief’s actions.
Contact An Experienced Security Alarm Company Today
SPS Fire & Security cares about you and your belongings. To protect what is important to you, a quality and affordable security system is the answer. To learn more, call today at 585-770-0348 for a free consultation.
