Traffic pro

Will the bad economy cause a spike in crime rates? There has been a big debate on that very topic. Some say that good and honest people will not change just because they are out of work. Others say that losing a job and facing a foreclosure is exactly what will cause good people to commit crimes. In some areas crime has already risen.



I believe that everyone is born good. There are then many factors that can change their lives. How many times have you seen people on the news stating that a criminal was such a nice person or "seemed so normal"?

So what can you do to protect yourself, your family, and your possessions?

Start with the obvious things... Keep all doors and windows locked. Always keep a light on at night if you are not home. Outdoor motion sensor lights are great too. I have motion sensor lights that cover the front and back of the house.

If you will be away for awhile, a light on a timer would be a good idea. You could also have a television or radio on a timer. Next turn down the ringer on your phones so people outside can not hear that no one is answering the phone.

Don't go around advertising your expensive possessions. When you are not home that big screen television in the window looks great. The box it came in sitting on the curb on trash day may not go unnoticed either.

This is a big one... Look around your yard and see if there is anything around that people can use to climb into windows. Trees and bushes can be used to climb too.

Also remember that some things that make your life easier also makes the life of a thief easier too. Things we use to create privacy in our yards also allow thieves to break in unnoticed. Spare keys left under mats, above door frames, or in fake rocks are the first thing thieves look for.

If you are really wanting to keep everything safe you may want to go even further and get a home security system. It may even lower your home owner's insurance by 20%.

There are many systems out there to choose from. The are a few very important things to think about when choosing a home security company.

Does the company have 24 hour monitoring? Some companies rely on just a loud alarm but if no one hears it and makes a phone call it is worthless.

Is it a well known company that has been around for years? You do not want to have the company close down and leave you with nothing.

Is there a warranty period in place so that if you are not happy with the system after you get it you can get a refund?

Is there free relocation? If you move a few years down the line you do not want to pay for it all again.

Next do some research and shop different companies online. Some companies have great deals that are available only online. Right now ADT has an online only deal that gets you a home security system for only $99 plus $33.99 a month for monitoring. That is a pretty great deal.