THE BEST WAYS TO SECURE YOUR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
You may think that the only way to keep your home secure is to install an alarm system. Definitely an alarm system is a highly efficient way to protect your place of residence. However, there are numerous other effective ways to secure your home, which you can do yourself (or hire a professional to carry out) without spending very much money. Of course, your home can never be absolutely impermeable, so just keep your goal simple: Discourage potential burglars, and make it as difficult as possible for someone to break in. Be sure to involve the whole family, too, so that everyone at home cooperates to follow the security plan you establish.
Follow these basic home rules:
- Anytime you leave the house, and before you go to sleep, it’s important to lock the doors and windows.
- Don’t answer the door, unless you know the person. (If you don’t have a peephole, now’s the time to get one installed.)
- Unless you’re using it, always keep your garage door closed and locked. Leaving it open only tempts potential intruders.
We recommend these lines of defense:
Don’t keep keys and remotes near your door, or in any way visible to anyone outside. Instead, keep them hidden inside a drawer or cupboard.
Don’t keep a “hidden” key. Most thieves will quickly find a key you keep inside your mailbox or under the welcome mat. If you have a keyholder disguised as a real rock, expert robbers will probably already recognize it. Instead, give an extra key to a neighbor you trust.
Don’t leave any ladders outside. An intruder may pretend to be a contractor or handyman, and use your ladder to get through your second-floor window or balcony.
Make it difficult for a trespasser to hide. Keep your shrubs, hedges, trees, and all other plants properly trimmed. Also, avoid tall fences. You don’t want anyone to be able to hide.
Properly secure your air conditioner. You can prevent a robber from getting into an unsecured window by applying an air-conditioner bracket, corner braces, or a sliding window lock.
A barking dog can be a good deterrent. You might even play a recording of a dog barking, and post a sign that says “BEWARE OF DOG”!
Post a warning sign at your front door. This strategy is often enough to keep people away: “NO TRESPASSING” is the usual, but you could be more imaginative, putting up something like, “TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT.”
Outside, don’t keep valuables in plain sight, which will only tempt a potential thief. For instance, keep your luxury car safe inside the garage.
Inside, hide valuables well. Keep your curtains and blinds closed if you have any extraordinary possessions. Stash your emergency cash, expensive jewelry, and other treasures in unexpected locations. Be creative.
Reinforce your doors. A hollow door is of lower quality than a solid one, and thus it makes it easier for a burglar to break in. Your best bet is to install solid-core doors made of metal or wood.
Replace any weak locks. Deadbolts will always provide you with extra security. Be sure to install grade-2 deadbolt locks, which penetrate the doorframe. Heavy-duty is tougher and more dependable.
Avoid having windows on or near your doors. Windows are obviously vulnerable because they can be broken for entry. If your doors have any glass, install top-quality deadbolts. If you have any sliding-glass doors, even if they’re locked with a latch, they can often be tempting to a potential intruder. You can increase security by putting a wooden dowel cut to size, or an adjustable safety bar, in the floor track. Or, you can add a floor bolt.
Install exterior lighting. Install some lights, and put them on timers. Put them near the front door, the porch, back door, basement door, garage entrance, and any other entryway. Motion sensor floodlights are best, because they light up whenever a person passes by. Some outdoor lights are made to respond to changes in light, temperature, or sound. Not only that, some can even be connected to your smart device so no matter where you are, you’ll be able to detect undesirable activity and respond right away.
Whenever you’re not home, keep some indoor lights on. When you’re out for the day, or away for a longer time, you can make it look like somebody is still at home by using timers on your lights, radios, and TVs. You can even monitor and control these activities with a mobile app connected to your smart device, to keep your home looking as if it’s occupied the whole time you’re gone.
Don’t be too obvious. Professional thieves case neighborhoods before pulling a job, observing individuals’ comings and goings. If they see you’re home during the day, they’ll be likely to choose another house. Compare your home to your neighbors’ and adjust your façade accordingly. Display responsible upkeep rather than opulence.
These are more pricey, but worth considering:
Purchase a home safe, especially one anchored to the floor, to guard any irreplaceable valuables, crucial documents, or emergency cash. The best ones are waterproof and fireproof. A safety deposit box at your bank is also a good idea.
Add an electronic gate. Depending on your neighborhood, you may want to invest in a security gate, so you can monitor the movement of everyone who comes in. With a simple intercom system, a keypad, or additional more sophisticated measures, you can grant different levels of security clearance to people based upon criteria you establish.
A surveillance camera system can also be a worthwhile investment, if you feel the need. Depending on your budget and requirements, consider image resolution, and other technical aspects of your setup. Will you want to record and keep 24/7 video footage? Will you want sophisticated software with specific capture capabilities ~ such as time-and-date stamp code, facial recognition, vehicle number plate recognition, and so on? All these aspects will depend on your area, your property, and your pocketbook. When a person with criminal intentions sees your property’s access control system, they’ll think twice and move on.