Five Home Security Mistakes Arkansas Residents Make--and How to Avoid Them

Even the most diligent homeowners sometimes have bad habits. This might mean forgetting to put the toilet seat down, always leaving a stack of newspapers or mail on a freshly-cleaned counter, or never actually remembering to set a deadbolt. But out of those three mistakes, the latter is the one most likely to result in long-term stress, with breaking and entering up across the state of Arkansas. And while being forgetful is enough for someone to forgive about smaller matters, if it is compromising the safety of a living space, it is something that needs to change.

While some people might assume that they are not making any mistakes whatsoever, that is often not the case. So here are five home security oopses that people commonly make, and how Arkansas residents can avoid them for a happier domestic life and less chances of robbers being successful at planning a forced entry.

#1 - Assuming that it's a good idea to leave things in a car, even if it's locked up in the garage. This is a particularly bad move for those who park in the street or out in the driveway, because of the fact that robbers would much rather avoid having to enter an occupied house. And grabbing a laptop or a fancy new phone out of a car is a whole lot easier, and the chances of being caught are often less if the car does not have an alarm. So realize that there's more to protecting a living space than just focusing on the indoors, and carry valuables out of the car.

#2 - Hiding a spare key somewhere. No, not somewhere obvious. Anywhere. Robbers know the spots to check if they are around the house, so those who think they are being clever, forget it. If it's not sitting in the drawer of an office desk or at a friend's place, the likelihood that someone can find it is high. Get around this home security lapse by not going the accessible spare key route.

#3 - Turning off every single light before leaving the house. This is a clear signal to someone who might be watching that people are about to leave a property unoccupied. And robbers prefer to break in while there is no one around to catch them, so this is a gigantic calling card that practically invites criminals to have a go. Don't leave every single light on, but leave some on. And for those in Arkansas who have a bit of extra money, investing in a timer for lights is an excellent idea.

#4 - Make sure everyone in the house knows how to turn on the home alarm system. Otherwise, it might not get set. And if it does not get set, it makes it far too easy for someone to simply waltz right in, which is not very helpful for protecting belongings.

#5 - Start remembering to shut and lock windows, too. Sometimes, people will leave windows open on upper floors of home, especially during the swelteringly hot months. But this is never a good idea, since robbers know just as well how to enter through windows. Treat them as little doors, and never leave them open unattended.

Total Alarm systems protects living spaces better, making those mistakes matter less. For more information, poke around the web.