There's no place like home. A man's home is his castle. Home is where the heart is. To most people, "home" is a comforting word, a suggestion of safety and warmth, a haven from the outside world. That's why home security is such an important issue to so many people. To have one's car or office burglarized is bad, but to have the sanctity of one's home breached is somehow even worse.



When it comes to home security, there are a number of fairly basic things you can do that don't require a lot of time or money. First and foremost, you must make sure all the outside doors on your home have deadlocks. You'd be surprised how many people have a front door that is completely secure, yet have a garage door or side door that is protected only by an ordinary locked doorknob.

Windows, too, should be lockable, and if it's feasible to put screens over them, even better. Some homeowners put thorny bushes and shrubs below windows to make the idea of climbing in less appealing or even physically dangerous. Most burglars don't want to put forth a lot of effort, so anything you can do to make your home unappealing will help.

It is also wise to keep a record of the serial numbers of all your valuables. If any of the items are stolen, the serial numbers may help police investigators recover them. Homeowner's insurance policies -- which are also highly recommended -- sometimes require this record-keeping.

Neighborhood watch programs can be an effective, low-tech way of discouraging burglaries, with residents keeping an eye out for suspicious activities in their own neighborhoods and calling police if they see something. In addition, burglars avoid areas that are well-lit, neatly kept and that don't have a lot of hiding places. Home security is a vital concern, but it needn't be difficult or expensive to maintain.