Home Security

Home Security Tips

By November 9, 2016February 7th, 20192 Comments
Home Security Tips

The FBI states that the average loss on a home burglary is around $2,000.  But what can’t be counted in dollars is the fear and violation that many people feel after their home is burglarized.  Here are some home security tips – ranging from convenient and inexpensive to more advanced – that can help you prevent a burglary from happening to you.

 

Do a home security check.

It’s super important to do your own home security check.  What do we mean by this?  Go around your house and make sure that you don’t have any “weaknesses”.  Check the locks on your doors, windows, garage, and outdoor gates.  Test your alarm system, smoke alarm, cameras, and motion sensor lights.  Make sure that everything is working. Especially check that no locks are broken, and that doors and windows shut tightly.  This will all make sure that there are no easy entry points for any wannabe burglars.

 

Have two locks on your door.

For added security it is a good idea to have two locking mechanisms on doors that have outside access (ex. your front or back door).  This way if one system fails, hopefully the other will hold.  We suggest having a deadbolt lock and a sturdy chain lock. Both are relatively inexpensive and easy to find in hardware stores.  It is important to note that you need to make sure your door frame is sturdy or it can be kicked in rendering your deadbolt lock useless.

 

Shine a light.

Motion controlled lights are another easy improvement.  Burglars don’t want to be seen creeping around in the night – shine some light on them and they will think twice about entering your home.  Put timers on your indoor lights as well as a radio or TV.  Most break-ins occur during the typical work day hours from 8 am- 6pm.  Criminals don’t want you there.  Let them think you’re at home.

 

Keep your garage door closed, windows covered, and garage entry doors locked.

Keeping your garage door open leaves you extremely vulnerable to a burglar.  Even if you are running a quick errand or have to go back inside the house for just a few minutes, always close your garage door.  You don’t know who is watching from a distance or will just so happen to drive by.  It only takes a few seconds to grab something like a bike or toolbox.  Also, frosting or covering your garage door windows will make it so burglars can’t peak in to see if your car is gone, indicating that you aren’t home.  They also won’t be able to scope out what kind of goodies you have for them to swipe.

 

Keep big-ticket item boxes hidden in your garage until garbage day.

Just bought a brand new flat screen TV?  Awesome!  What wouldn’t be awesome, is if a burglar caught wind of your new purchase and decided to make a grab for it.  How would that happen, you might ask?  Burglars can get hints of what’s inside your home by scoping out boxes that are on your curb or even in your side yard.  So instead of taking that box out right away, hide it in your garage until garbage day.

 

Keep your blinds closed.

Keep blinds closed while you are away – you don’t want to give potential burglars any reason to be enticed by your valuables.  It’s important to keep your items out of sight and the best way to do that is to close your curtains!

 

Don’t stash spare keys.

Hiding a key under the front mat or a nearby flower planter makes it a lot easier for someone to potentially break in.  Some people even keep an extra key in their wallet.  However, if you lose your wallet, which also probably holds your ID, and it ends up in the wrong hands, it’s like a greeting card to a thief saying “Hi, here’s my address and my key, come on in!”  Instead, give a spare key to a well trusted neighbor or a family member who lives nearby.  Even better – add keyless entry locks to your door so spare keys won’t get in the wrong hands.

 

Make sure yard and window signs are visible.

Having your alarm company yard and window signs visible is a simple deterrent for burglars.  Thieves are looking for a quick, easy target.  If they see that they could potentially be breaking into Fort Knox, they are much more likely to just move on.

 

Keep it off social media.

Don’t put your place of work, schedule or vacations online – criminals have social media accounts too.  We know that this is something people don’t usually worry too much about, but there have been instances where criminals have broken into homes because they knew their target was at work or out of town.  It’s best to keep those things quiet.

 

Set your alarm during the day.

The most obvious use for an alarm system is to arm it when you are out of the house or sleeping at night.  But what about when you are at home during the day?  Most burglaries actually happen between the hours of 6am and 6pm.  In about 28% of burglaries, a household member is present.  Arming your alarm even while you are at home gives you and your family an added layer of protection.

 

Chimes for doors and windows

Although it’s a good idea to have your alarm turned on even while you are inside your house, sometimes it isn’t possible.  Adding chime sensors to doors and windows will alert you if a window or door somewhere else in the house is opened.  Certain alarm systems can announce to you exactly which window or door has been opened and where.  Add sensors to outdoor gates leading into your yard to alert you of someone coming onto your property.

 

Install a video doorbell.

When you are home with your children or by yourself, a ring at the doorbell can get anyone’s guard up.  Most burglars ring the doorbell of a home before they try to enter, to gauge if anyone is home and the home’s level of security.  Protect yourself and your family by having a visual doorbell installed.  Some visual doorbells can alert you as soon as someone approaches your doorstep, others trigger once the doorbell rings.  Either way, you are able to see exactly who is at your front door and communicate with them without ever having to open the door.

Always remember to ask for credentials from any unexpected visitor or service people. Whether it’s a city worker or the cable guy, and confirm with the company as to who it is and why they are there.

 

The #1 home security tip.

The simplest and most inexpensive way to deter criminals is to keep your doors and windows locked at all times. According to FBI statistics, 30% of burglars gain entrance to homes through unlocked windows and doors.  That’s a staggering number that can easily be prevented!

What are some easy home security tips you can share with us?  We would love to hear!