Home safety is probably one of the most talked topics on people's mind today. Can you imagine watching television with your family and suddenly a robber busts through your front or back door? It's sad but our homes are not 100% safe. There are however some tips you can learn to help protect yourself.

First make sure you have durable doors. They should be heavy, thick doors that are difficult to damage and break down, equipped with durable locks. Be sure to visit your local hardware store or locate a reputable locksmith to install heavy duty locks. One of the easiest but neglected or overlooked practice; lock your door! The amount of homes that are simply walked into unlocked is staggering. Many would be robbers look for the easy targets and unlocked doors are what many burglars dream of.

Be sure to keep your windows locked, especially when you're at the opposite end of the house. Some burglars will climb through unlocked windows. They'll steal jewelry and other items in the bedrooms while you're at the opposite end of the house or outside. You can install inexpensive but highly effective window alarms. Door alarms ideal for patio French or sliding glass doors. These devices will set of an audible alarm over 120 db scaring off the burglar.

Many homeowners will hide keys under door mats, in flower pots, on a window ledge, even in the dirt next to the stoop. These common places are where burglars tend to look, especially if they are not in plain view from the street or neighboring houses.

You can invest in diversion safes, such as a fake sprinkler head where a key can be hidden. However, if you don't have a sprinkler system then a fake sprinkler head may be a dead giveaway. Fake flower pots are ideal for hiding keys. Another secure method is to install a digital lock where entry is done by entering an access code to either unlock the door.

You may want to consider installing surveillance cameras around your property. Some homeowners place a monitor beside their television so they can see around the perimeter of their home while watching television. Let people who pass your houses know you are aware of their presence. Burglars tend to be leery of houses with surveillance cameras. An additional tip...install signs that indicate the house is under camera surveillance.

If you park your car outside your garage that's equipped with an automatic garage door opener make sure your car is always locked. An unlocked car is an opportunity for burglars to easily open your car and gain access to your house with your remote opener. Don't become easy prey for a burglar.

Wireless home monitors are ideal to detect motion in your home while you're away. These alarms can be programmed with up to 5 telephone numbers that you wish to program. When the alarm senses motion it automatically calls your cell phone, office or other numbers you desire to have notified. With these clever alarms you remove the risk of entering your home to an unwanted guest. If you come home late at night these devices are a must for you.

If you are going away on vacation be sure to stop your mail and newspaper deliveries or have a neighbor whom you know and trust collect these deliveries. Install timers so that lights in your home turn on toward dusk and turn off in the morning. Bathroom lights are good to leave on, if on the outside wall of the home. Try to have your exterior lights turn off during the day. Burning outside porch or flood lights can give a hint that no one is home.

Hopefully these tips can give added security to your home and family.

Good luck and be safe!