You have an alarm company, you have latched the doors, and joined the neighbourhood watch, but is your home as safe and secure as it could be? Here are 10 things you probably never knew about home security for added peace of mind.
1. Safes are not always safe.
We can all agree safes are a great for keeping that jewellery and passports safe. It’s true most burglars won’t have the time to break into a safe, but if it’s a standalone safe that’s not bolted down and light enough to carry, they will take the safe with them.
2. Motion detectors placement are key to your home security system.
When securing your home, make sure that your security company put motion detectors in those unlikely areas such as the windows near the kitchen sink and above windows on the second floor. Too often we put motion detectors on the first floor without considering the fact that a lot of thieves go straight for the top bedrooms where the jewellery and other valuables may be.
3. Don’t forsake the peephole just yet.
When you get a knock on the door, even if you live in a relatively secure gated community, we all know we need to look before we open. If you don’t have a video monitor installed, peepholes and wide-angle viewers are notoriously safer and offers improved home security to using door chains.
4. Locks matter.
If you are building or renovating, opt for deadbolt locks as they are the most secure option. Choose reputable brands and reputable locksmiths over price and budget.
5. Store valuables in unlikely places.
Criminals know all your best hiding places and chances are they’ll check that sock draw first. Hiding valuables in children’s rooms, or other less likely places are known to be very effective.
6. Plants are some of the best deterrents.
Thorny shrubs under ground-floor windows are not only pretty, but but also improves home security by make it trickier for burglars to get in and out of your home quickly which acts as a deterrent.
7. Your landline is telling the whole neighbourhood you aren’t home!
Make your home more secure when out by turning down the volume on your phone ringer to prevent a suspicious passers-by from hearing the unanswered phone, and knowing no-one is home.
8. Your best security monitor, is in your pocket.
There are loads of apps out there that help you track home security. Apps such as Alfred and Home Security allow you to monitor your home, through installed cameras, right from your mobile when at work or out of town and enable you to respond more promptly should a break in occur.
9. Your mail says a lot more about you than you think.
An accumulation of mail in a mailbox, on your gate or in your mailbox alerts criminals to your absence. Chances are a would-be burglar will case your home before they decide to enter and newspapers, flyers and uncollected mail tells them your home is ripe for the picking.
10. Diligence can help prevent an inside job.
Any strangers that enter your home, from contractors to salesmen pose a security threat, as one of the easiest ways to gain access to a home is through an unlocked window. Any stranger left in a room unattended may unlock a window without your knowledge, with the aim of coming back when you aren’t home. Double check locks, window latches and sliding door locks before leaving the house and change alarm codes regularly
If you have any ideas on DIY home security, tips on how to prevent home burglaries please send your suggestions to [email protected] and we’ll publish and credit the author.
Further reading:
Hijack Prevention Tips Near Your Home