Keeping your home safe from break-ins is a job every homeowner must think about. As a world leading provider of security services, our friends often ask us, "How can I keep my house safe?" Today we thought we would help with an easy-to-follow guide.
It will give you top tips and smart ways to make your home safer and keep your mind at ease. Join us as we explore the "Top 10 Tips on Protecting Your House from Break-Ins." Making your home and family safer and more secure
1. Auditing Your Home's Security Weaknesses
Start by putting yourself in the shoes of a burglar and conducting a comprehensive security audit of your home. Identify any vulnerabilities that could serve as an entry point for intruders. If it's hard to break into your home, burglars might give up and try an easier target. Make sure you make it look tough for any would be intruder to get in.
This activity can make a fun activity to do with family or friends. It's a useful exercise to see potential break in points from different angles, even if you think they're safe.
1.1 Install Security Devices
Add safety tools to your home, like strong locks, secure window locks, tough grates, hard bars, and sturdy bolts. These tools add extra protection and can slow down anyone trying to break in.
Think about adding special deadbolt locks to your front door and back door. These locks are harder to pick or force open. Window locks are very important too, especially for windows on the ground floor.
Adding strong grates and bars can help protect easy targets like basement windows. Also, strong bolts can help secure doors that lead to less busy areas like backyards or alleys.
Don't forget to check all of you security tools regularly to ensure that they are always working well. If you neglect them, they might not work when you need them most. Regular checks help keep your home safe from break-ins.
1.2 Invest in a Burglar Alarm
Contemplating a worthwhile investment in a sophisticated burglar alarm system can substantially improve the security of your home. The most effective systems are those that connect to an external service. When activated these systems don't just ring an alarm to alert you, but also send a signal to a security company.
Home security systems have many parts, like sensors for doors and windows, motion detectors, and loud alarms. All these devices work together to create a burglar-proof shield around your property.
This multi-pronged approach can significantly deter burglars, making your home a less appealing target. Regularly test your system to ensure it's working correctly and providing the best possible protection for your home.
1.3 Install Security Cameras
Security cameras play a vital role in discouraging potential intruders. Strategically install them at crucial entry points, such as the front and back doors, windows, and especially near the garage door. The garage often provides an alternative entry point for burglars, so a camera can help deter or capture any break in.
While concealed cameras are helpful for catching a burglar in the act, visible ones can often prevent the attempt altogether. The sight of a security camera can make a potential burglar think twice before targeting your home. Ensure that you position cameras high up to stop intruders from tampering with them.
2. Reducing Privacy for Increased Security
Trade off some privacy for added security. Keep the area around your doors and windows clear. High fences and dense shrubbery can provide cover for burglars, so think carefully about your landscaping choices.
2.1 Lighting Up Your Home
Effective security lighting can act as a potent deterrent to burglars. Put lights and motion sensors outside, high up, to make dark areas brighter and discourage strangers from coming close.
2.2 Keep Valuables Out of Sight
If your valuable items are easily visible from the outside, rearrange your furnishings. Making your home less inviting to criminals is a simple yet effective step. Make sure you don't leave your car keys and other valuables right next to the door.
3. Strengthening Entry Point Security
Strengthen your home's entry points to prevent break-ins. Make sure your security measures don't stop you from leaving quickly in an emergency.
3.1 Secure Your Doors
All doors must fit their frames securely and be suitably thick. Install a peephole or a wide-angle viewer in the door for safe identification of visitors. It does without saying that to ensure maximum security you should always lock your doors.
3.2 Locks and Windows
Consider investing in top-notch deadbolt locks for all the entrances in your home. For windows, locks that require keys are an excellent option and are available in styles to suit every window type.
For windows located at ground level or close to fire escapes, you might want to think about setting up metal accordion gates for an added layer of security.
4. Developing Safe Home Security Habits
Developing safe security habits is crucial. Make a habit of locking doors and windows and turning on alarms to improve your home's safety.
4.1 Be Careful with Personal Information
Avoid giving personal information to unidentified callers and be careful about announcing your personal plans publicly.
4.2 Neighborhood Watch
We would recommend starting or joining a neighbourhood watch. A strong and vigiliant community is a powerful deterrent to crime.
4.3 Key Management
Refrain from leaving your house keys in your vehicle when parked in public areas or with a parking attendant. Also, resist the temptation to stash your keys in "hidden" spots outside your home - these places are often more obvious than you might think.
5. Safeguarding Your Home When You're Away
When you're not home, try to make it look like someone is home. We would also recommend asking friends and trustworthy neighbours to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary.
5.1 Maintain Normalcy
Leave blinds open in their usual position. Arrange to have your lawn mowed or your walk and driveway shovelled, depending on the season.
5.2 Manage Deliveries
To be thorough, halt your newspaper deliveries and arrange for either neighbours to collect your mail and parcels. You are also able to request the post office to hold them until you return.
5.3 Use Timers
Use automatic timers to turn lights and a radio on and off at various times to simulate activity in your home.
6. The Insurance Benefits of Home Security Measures
Enhancing your home security measures can also benefit your homeowners insurance. Most insurance companies provide discounts for qualifying security devices. It's always a good idea to check with your insurance professional for specifics.
7. Additional Measures
There are additional measures worth considering. For instance, you can take photos of every room in your house. These photos can be useful for insurance purposes in case of a burglary. They can also help you identify missing items after a break-in.
8. The Role of Pets in Home Security
Do not rely solely on your pets for home security. While dogs may deter some burglars, it is not a guarantee. Consider combining your pet's presence with other security measures for a more robust protection.
9. Online Security
Be cautious about the information you share on social media online. Burglars can use online photographs, floor plans, and virtual tours to plan their break-ins.
10. Conclusion
Securing your home from potential burglaries is a comprehensive process. With the right measures in place, you can greatly reduce the likelihood of break-ins and ensure the safety of your home. Remember, it's better to be safe than sorry. So, take the necessary steps now to protect your house from break-ins.
