They may say that their car has broken down and they need to phone someone for help. They may pretend to be a workman, saying that they need to check your electricity or water. They might even claim to be from the council and that they are carrying out a local survey. Whatever reason a visitor gives, you need to be sure that they aren't just trying to get into your home to steal something.

There are around 12,000 incidents of "distraction burglary" each year where strangers get into homes and then steal cash or valuables while the occupier is distracted in some way. Sometimes they work in pairs with one doing the talking while the other is stealing, and they often target the elderly.

There is nothing more important than preserving the safety of your family and home. Whether you are away on vacation and the house is left unattended or you work late at night and want your spouse and children to be safe, a family security system may be the answer.

A family security system will typically feature a keypad, which is programmed with a set of numbers used to activate, or deactivate, the alarm system. If any disturbances should occur, the alarm would sound and authorities would be notified. Many family security alarm companies offer this feature, but others require that the homeowner notify the authorities directly. For this reason, it is a good idea to have cordless telephones placed conveniently throughout the house and make sure that you understand the system contract completely.