Does anyone have good recommendation for security for their homes including cars? We were robbed in 2009 and have cameras now but would like to do more. The City of Spokane has eliminated their property crimes unit and stolen vehicle units due to lack of funds. Those crimes are going to skyrocket here and we would like more security. There are a lot of scams out there and we would like to avoid getting caught up in one. Got any suggestions?

Big mean dog. That works for the house. I don't know about the cars. Fortunately I live in a town that does not have much crime.

We had a German shepherd who slept right through burglars removing all my dh's Craftsman tools from the garage!

Now we are in a different house and have a home security system. We set the alarm when we leave, disarm when we get home. It actually saved my bacon a couple of weeks ago when I left a pot cooking on the stove; fire alarm went off, and the home security company called me to determine if they needed to send a fire truck, plus talked me through turning off the alarm. Ours is a local company with a good reputation.

keep things locked and valuables out of sight.,

Home security system or just a sign in the yard that says you have a home security system. You can buy the yard signs and some decals for the windows. I love the fact that we have an alarm though. DH is often gone and I feel secure with it. We don't park our cars on the street so I can't help with that.

Just the basics for security - don't keep valuables or anything visible in the car, make sure the exterior of your house is well-lighted on all exposed sides, get an alarm system AND TEST IT frequently (to prove to anyone lurking that you do, in fact, have more than a sign you can get on eBay), make sure it isn't too easy to get into your windows (ex. big bushes in front of them can hide a person, and a trellis next to an upstairs window, etc.)...I think there are a lot of books and websites about this, actually.

A large dog may not deter all robbers, but it will deter some by making your house look less appealing than the house next door that doesn't have a dog.

Mainly I'd say concentrate on your personal safety and trust your insurance company to worry about the rest. They might even have resources to help make your home less attractive to burglars.

FYI= cable company offer deals......

Stats prove a big barking dog is the best defense, and a shotgun. Theres something about the sound of both of those that just make bad guys run away.

My sisters got my 87 year old Mom a gadget that sounds like a BIG dog barking. She can turn it off or on whenever she needs to. Last year some man cut the window screen on her back deck right outside her bedroom window. She hear it and thought it was a cat scratching. She saw man's shadow and told him he'd better get away- that the police were on the way. Lived by herself then but not now. He also had cut the bathroom screen.

I will look into the barking dog sound; husband just got me a 380 handgun and we go practicing tomorrow. I already know how to use the shotgun we keep around the house. Oh, and I already got my gun permit. Thank you so much.