subject: How Garbage Plays into Your Home Security [print this page] How Garbage Plays into Your Home Security
Who would have thought that the trash you bring out to the curb every day is an important part of your home security and the protection of you and your family? It actually is very important and more thought should be put into it than just whether it smells or you buy twist or tie bags. Your garbage says a lot more about you than you want it to say.
The trash is something no one really thinks about. You throw garbage away because you do not want it anymore and assume no one else wants it. Napkins, milk cartons, food, wrappers, q-tips, papers, and other things that are not important. What about when you are throwing away important items without even thinking about them? That is when you are setting yourself up for trouble and risking your home security. It is time to start looking at your garbage a little closer.
What do you usually do with the empty boxes after you purchase expensive electronics such as computers, DVD players, TVs, or stereo systems? Most people probably fold them up and put them out next to the trash. This seems like the logical thing to do, but you are actually calling out to burglars, letting them know that these expensive items are sitting brand new in your house. They do not even have to go into your house to know there is something in there they would want to steal. Think again about the way you discard these boxes. Cut them up so that they fit inside a garbage bag and are not visible to anyone.
Identity theft is a huge danger and does not just happen over the internet, it can also happen in print, affecting your home security. Bank statements, bills, receipts, and other important papers get thrown in the garbage all the time. These papers have all your personal information, such as name, address, phone number, bank account, maybe even social security number and credit card number. This is all extremely useful information to someone looking to steal your identity, and it is information that only you should have and no one else. Invest in a small paper shredder for both your home and your office and keep it next to your garbage. Smaller paper shredders are often fitted to sit right on top of your garbage, so all papers, important or not, have to pass through it on the way to the trash. A paper shredder will tear up any paper that is fed through it into pieces so small that they cannot be fit back together. Get in the habit of sending all paper through the shredder, but especially any papers with personal information on them that would be useful to a thief.
Who would have thought that garbage would play such a huge role in your home security? It is obvious now how vulnerable one can become just by carelessly throwing their garbage out. Taking care as to what you put in your garbage cans will prevent you and your family from being at risk. There are many ways to increase your home security and keeping your trash in mind is just one of them.
