You of course lock your front door every time you leave the house, but is that really enough? Today's burglars are adept at trying a wide ranging number of strategies in order to enter and steal from your home. If you want to take your house's security up to another level, it might be time to take more drastic measures. Here are some tips that could help you keep your home safe and sound.

Properly Store Ladders and Any Outdoor Tools or Gear

Never leave a ladder or your toolbox just sitting outside your house. A potential burglar who sees a ladder leaning up against the house will immediately realize that they can climb up top to a more vulnerable entry point like your bedroom window. The same goes for any outdoor gear or tools you might own. Place your rakes, garden tools, and other outdoor accessories inside the garage or in your locked shed when you are done with them. You don't want to provide potential thieves with a quick and easy way to smash a window and gain entry to your home.

Use Timers to Get Creative

Burglars are less likely to make your house a target if they think someone is still home. To that end, you could invest in a number of different timers that will turn your lights or electronics off and on. Automatically turn on an indoor light at the same time every day or periodically turn on the television in order to create some noise while you are away on vacation. Burglars will stay away if they are spooked by a light or a sound that they don't expect to see or hear. Other ways to turn on lights or create a sound could include using a motion detector or two that is pointed out towards your driveway.

Consider a Full Security System

For best results, talk to an expert about security system installation. Today's security systems can offer everything from security cameras to alarms that will trigger when unexpected motion or noise is detected. These systems often also include security signs to post in your front and back yards, and sometimes just the sign alone is enough to scare burglars away. Today's security systems can also be monitored remotely and can even call the fire or police department for you at the first sign of trouble.

Contact a local security system company today for more information.