When it comes to home security, there is a certain something to be said about strength in numbers. There are several components that come together to determine how well-protected your property is. The easiest to value are physical, like home alarm systems or improved bolt locks on all doors. Then there are the “intangibles”, things that can’t be boiled down to statistics and data.

One of the most powerful things you can do under this second category comes with the establishment of a neighborhood watch group. Your house, as it stands, is just one part of a larger community. By bringing the other homes in your neighborhood into a collective security agreement, you ensure that crime won’t have a chance of taking hold.

Start small: invite your neighbors into your home for a short meeting about home security. This will likely be a get-together that people will be very willing to attend. Compose a short agenda, talking about the major points of home protection, such as the importance of maintaining lawns, locking doors, and reporting suspicious behavior around the neighborhood. Talk to your local police department; they will likely be thrilled to send out an officer to talk to the group.

A neighborhood watch group is especially important for maintaining home security while you’re away on vacation. Let your friends in surrounding homes know of your vacation plans ahead of time. That way, if they spot something out of the ordinary, they can take the appropriate steps to stop a crime before it happens.

Security and safety start inside your house with concrete measures like the installation of an ADT monitored home alarm system, but it doesn’t stop there. With the help of the other property owners that live in your neighborhood, you can keep your home even better protected from intruders.

ADT offers the best in home security monitoring, with over 130 years of experience working to protect your family. While installing an ADT security system is one of the best ways to help protect your home, there are several other things you can do to make your home even more secure.

Change the batteries on your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors:

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are worthless if their batteries are drained. The fire department recommends checking batteries every 6 months.

Post ADT decals around your home:

Don’t be afraid to advertise your ADT home alarm system. When criminals see those window decals and signs in your yard, they’ll know it’s best to stay away. In fact, homes with monitored home alarm systems are three times less likely to be burglarized that those without a monitored system.

Upgrade your locks:

Do a brief inspection of your home’s doors and windows. Many older houses feature locks that are inadequate, rusty and do little for protection. For less than $200, you should be able to upgrade all the locks in your home to dead-bolts. If you want to take your home security into the 21st century, consider a digitized solution, such as a fingerprint operated lock. These are secure, easy-to-operate and ideal for families with children.

Installing an ADT alarm system is a great way to improve the security of your property. Follow the simple, yet effective tips mentioned above and turn your home into a secure fortress.

Fall and winter are two of the most exciting seasons. They’re packed with fun holidays that bring families together. Between Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, you have three of the most celebrated days of the year. These holidays are great for a variety of reasons, but they all have something in common: an increased threat to home security.  Follow these basic tips to protect your family during each festive celebration.

Halloween: Everyone loves pumpkins, haunted houses and elaborate costumes. With the excitement of Halloween comes an increased need for safety precautions. Make sure your kids understand safety essentials for trick or treating. Go over warnings such as only accepting wrapped candy and never entering a stranger’s home. They should also use extra caution when crossing the street and should only approach homes with the lights on. It’s a good idea to accompany children under 14.

Thanksgiving: Turkey Day is one of the best times of the year for families to get together, and you can be sure that burglars know it. Make sure to set your ADT home alarm system before heading out. Leave more than one light on throughout the house to make it appear that someone is home.

Christmas: Those sparkling lights look gorgeous on the tree, but they can become a fire hazard for your home. This is especially true for older lights that weren’t crafted with fire safety in mind. Remember to turn off all Christmas lights at night. Also, remember the lessons Macaulay Culkin taught you in Home Alone. Potential intruders know that many homes are unoccupied during the Christmas-New Year’s period, so be sure to arm your ADT home security system.

Don’t let anything spoil the fun of the holidays. Take the proper precautions to help keep your property and family safe.