This is a great idea ... especially for women usually alone. Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get into the house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighbourhood watch co-ordinator. This is a really good idea. Next time you come home for the night and you to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation.

Keep going and going

Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain.

It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar or rapist won't stick around ... after a few seconds, all the neighbours will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that.

Try yours to make sure it works before you rely on it. Just know that you must press the alarm button again to turn it off.

And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there.