Depending on where you live, you could choose a local security company for a couple of reasons. "A local company will usually respond quicker to issues with the security system than will a national company, and local monitoring will have a better understanding of local crime trends than will a national monitor," Walters says. Don't forget basic security measuresA security system helps protect your home, but it can also create a false sense of security that might lead you to be less careful. Make sure you're following these precautions:Lock all doors and windows when you're out of the house. In about 40 percent of break ins to unoccupied homes, offenders gained access through an unlocked door or window, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reports. Display security system yard and window signs. These signs can scare off burglars. Keep the lights on when you're not there. Going on vacation?Try Ilumi lightbulbs $19. 99, which have timers inside that allow you to set the lights to go on and off at preset times. Don't leave a spare key under the doormat or another obvious place.