Simple Ways to Improve Your Home's Security
DATE: 25 January, 2018 // BACK TO ARCHIVE »
There are many steps you can take to making your home more secure. Although some of them are well known and pretty straight forward, such as locking your doors, there are other ways you can help to protect your family and belongings. Making the effort to protect your home will help you and your family to feel safe in the comfort of your home.
Changing the Locks
Whenever you move into a new home, it is always worth installing new locks as you never know who might still have an old set of keys. The same is true if you ever lose a set of keys. Ensuring nobody else will have access to your keys will help to achieve higher security for your home. This also means that you shouldn’t use obvious hiding spots in case you lose your keys, such as under the doormat or a potted plant.
Installing an Alarm System
Alarm systems are a popular choice for protecting a home and with good reason. Not only will they alert you of any attempted intrusions, but their mere presence will help to deter burglars from even trying to enter your home in the first place. Make sure all the wires are concealed so that your security system is not easily disabled from the outside.
Making Your Home Appear Occupied
You should never make it obvious when you aren’t at home. Burglars will often try and find homes where it seems like the homeowners are away for an extended amount of time, such as when they go to work. Home lighting systems can be used to turn lights on and off, or even turn on the TV and radio, while you are away.
If you are planning on going on vacation, you can choose certain settings that would mimic the lighting controls you would use when you are at home. That way you can make it seem like someone is always around and deter burglars from targeting your home.
Using Strategically Placed Lighting
There are other ways in which you can use lighting to your advantage. Potential intruders will want to be discreet when attempting to burglar a home, so they will not want an outdoor light shining right on them. Make sure the entrance to your home is well lit by using all-night lighting or motion-activated lighting.
Reinforcing Key Entry Points
Statistics have shown that the most common entry points chosen by thieves are the front door, the first-floor windows and the back door. You should take extra care to ensure all of these entry points are reinforced by installing deadbolt locks and protecting your windows.
You can further deter burglars by setting up security cameras at these key points. As burglars will most likely be inspecting these areas for ease of access, placing the cameras in these areas will be much more effective. These areas should also be well lit, and clear of any shrubbery which the thieves would be able to hide behind.
Taking these simple steps will not only help to deter thieves from targeting your home, but it will also allow you to feel much safer in your own home. Knowing you have taken these measures to protect your family will help to give you peace of mind.