Home security should be a top priority for every homeowner.
Did you know that, according to the FBI, in US burglaries happen every 20.9 seconds? Burglars will choose the easiest target and typically spend less than 60 seconds trying to gain entry and less than 3 minutes inside.
If your home appears too complicated or the risk of being caught is too high, they will move on to the next house. Making your home appear intimidating to burglars can be easy is you follow some simple best practices.
Consider these tips to help keep you and your family safe and secure.
1. Secure the Doors
While locking the doors seems like an obvious thing to do, most people assume that burglars wouldn’t try to break in through the front door. Almost 34% of burglars stroll in through the front door.
Inspect all of your exterior doors. There are various points of possible weakness on a typical door such as the handle and lockset, hinges and their mounting screws, the strength of the door itself, and the door jamb or frame.
Here are some recommendations on how to make your doors safer:
- Upgrade to smart locks.
- Add a video doorbell.
- Install a deadbolt
- Add auxiliary locks to sliding doors.
- Install door armor kits on exterior doors
2. Lock the Windows
The windows, especially windows on the ground floor, are the second most common entry point for burglars. Adding some reinforcements to your windows will keep out the intruders.
If you’re looking to replace your windows search for reinforced glass or acrylic windows, they are harder to break.
Here are some tips to help you stay safe:
- Reinforce glass with window security film.
- Install window or glass break sensors.
- Add window bars.
- Add after-market window locks.
3. Light Up the Landscape
One thigh that burglars don’t like is being in the spotlight. Take a look at your outdoor lighting, place some lights along the pathway, and near the garage. Consider these tips:
- Use motion-activated lights.
- Save energy with solar-powered lights.
- Put outdoor lights on a timer.
4. Secure the Garage
People often forget about the garage. While burglars can’t always get into your house from there, for sure, they will find plenty of stuff stored in the garage. Secure always both interior and exterior doors to the garage.
Here are some easy tips to secure the garage:
- Upgrade to a smart garage door opener.
- Cover windows to hide the goodies inside.
- Use extra locks
- Consider home automation this way, and you will never leave the garage door open again.
- Use a garage door sensor alert you when your garage door has opened.
5. Set Up a Security System
A home security system is your best protection against robberies. Today there are lots of home security options for every budget and every level of security. New home security systems have lots of smart home features that will leave you feeling confident about your household’s safety. Be sure always to turn the security system on, even if you’re just headed out for a quick errand. Many homeowners get burglarized even though they have a security system – just because they didn’t turn it on.
6. Security cameras
Chances are if you have a complete home security system, you already got security cameras. If not, and you have to install them separately, you should opt for ones that have a mobile app. This way, you can see the footage in real-time. Here you have some other features that can be useful:
- Motion detection
- Night vision
- Wi-Fi capability
- Two-way talk
- Local or cloud storage
- Weatherproof casing for outdoor cameras
7. Get a Safe
Make sure you keep your valuables in a safe. If a burglar gets past all the other security strategies, an in-home safe can protect anything from important documents to jewelry.
Check that the safe is waterproof, fire-resistant, and heavy enough so that the thief can’t walk away with it.
8. Use Home Automation
Home automation can give you remote control of door locks, lights, smoke alarms, security cameras, and other safety devices. The real-time alerts can help you respond quickly and prevent potential thieves.
Did you know that purchasing an alarm system can reduce your homeowners’ insurance premiums? Check out 9 Things Homeowners Should Do Immediately To Save Money