One of the main deterrents against break-ins is the installation of a home security alarm that can place an automated call to an alarm center as well as sound an ear-piercing siren to scare away potential burglars. Many professional thieves have come forward, following a stint in various prisons, and have told homeowners that a home security alarm is one thing most burglars would rather walk by without messing with the house.

The best time to install a home security alarm is before you have a break-in and lose several valuable possessions. While installing one after your home had been violated can make you feel better for the future, it will do nothing to recover what you may have already lost. Too many people never see the need to spend the money on a home security alarm until it is too late.

There are many different companies offering home security alarm systems ranging from simple door and window alarms to full-scale, whole-house systems that include video surveillance systems. Depending on the size of the house and property, as well as your budget, the alarm system can be designed to stay within budget while offering protection to the house and its occupants.

Choices Include Local Or Dial-Up

Many alarm companies offer special deals, promising to install a basic home security alarm system for next to nothing, but the homeowner must subscribe to their monitoring service at a monthly rate. The monitoring company is notified when a security breach is detected, by way of an automated phone call, and it then places a call to the homeowner. If the homeowner claims it was a false alarm and can give the monitor the correct security answer, nothing else happens. If they do no answer the phone or do not know the security answer the police are then notified and dispatched to the address.

While this can provide comfort knowing that break-ins will be detected, many times without a local notification that an alarm has been tripped, most homeowners would prefer a home security alarm that sounds a local blast to let the burglar know they tripped the alarm. In the majority of instances, once an alarm has sounded burglars trip over themselves getting out of the house and away from the neighborhood.

Those wishing to have a simple warning system on the local level can buy many of the components at many stores and install a home security alarm on their own. Whether wired or wireless, they are not difficult to install and once done, the homeowner can feel better knowing any would-be burglar will be scared away by the noise.

The number of burglaries and property violations are continuously increasing so an alarm monitoring system may be a perfect solution to prevent thefts. Recent research has proven that owning a home security system makes you 3 or 4 times less likely to be burglarized. Who knows, maybe acquiring a home alarm system may even save your life! Many times thieves and burglars prefer robbing a house without a home alarm system than a house that has one installed.

What can a home security system do? Well it can monitor a house 24 hours a day, and if something unusual occurs, it sends an alarm signal through the phone line. After the signal is received, a phone call is made to your house to see if everything is all right, and if no one answers or the incorrect password is provided then the local police is alarmed. Setting a home alarm system up takes only one hour, and then it will work for months. It should be tested periodically however in order to make sure everything works just fine. In case a power failure occurs, the home security systems are equipped with a battery that can keep them running for 24 hours.

If you decide to purchase a home alarm system you should also follow some simple security rules. If you do so you can be sure that the chances that your house becomes the 'victim' of a burglary will be greatly reduced.

First of all you should always secure your windows and doors, because these are the places through which burglars enter the house. Their locks must be strong. Also, you should try not to keep things that may attract burglars outside, in order not to turn your house into a target. It would be advised to try to let people know that you own a home alarm system.

Furthermore, there are some other small things that can keep burglars away - always have outside lights turned on, so that burglars can't use darkness to hide, get a guard dog to watch over your yard, and talk to a neighbor to watch over your house while you are away.

But the home security system remains the best method to keep burglars away. It is a small investment that protects all the investments inside the house.

If you want to see some of the best home security systems and home alarm systems, and also to find out more about home security, please visit these links.

Why should you bother with preventive home security measures? Because of one simple fact — most home break-ins are crimes of opportunity.

Burglars don't usually do much advance planning for specific break-ins. They pick out any target that seems to be easy. If closer examination reveals that your home is not an easy target, they just move on.

Here are 8 things you can do to prevent your home from looking like a soft target.

1. All doors and windows should be plainly visible from the street and to your neighbors. Large shrubs and hedges which hamper visibility make it easy for burglars to do their job.

That's why any bushes and shrubs that are within four feet of sidewalks, driveways, doors, etc should be kept under a couple of feet high. Those within four to eight feet should be trimmed to not more than four feet high.

2. Do you place plants under window sills? If so, trim them to a foot lower than the window sill level.

3. Trees should not hamper visibility to your house. Also ensure that burglars can't use trees to gain access to your second floor windows and doors. Trim trees so that the lowest branches are seven feet or more above the ground.

4. Large gauge gravel causes noise when burglars walk on it. Placing them under windows is a good psychological deterrent.

5. Use fencing around your house and keep gates locked (even when you are at home, if possible). This sounds elementary, but locked gates prevent burglars from making off easily with large items!

In other words, ensure that there are no quick exits from the house.

6. Grow thorny plants under windows and along fences. They are very discouraging to burglars. Fencing using thorny plants is as good as barbed wire fencing and looks a whole lot better.

7. Ensure that street numbers are clearly visible from the street. This helps anyone responding to emergency calls to reach your home faster.

House numbers placed on your house should be six inches high and made of reflective material. Alternatively, use black on white lettering. The numbers should be illuminated at night.

Paint your house number on the curb in front of your driveway, using black lettering on white background.

8. Don't leave ladders and tools lying around. They should be locked away in a in a storage area or garage.

Get these eight things right and you will have enhanced your home security to a level that will make many potential burglars uneasy about targeting your home.

James Strobes is a home and office security consultant. For information on home security in general, home security alarm systems and more, see the foregoing links.