Tips to Make Your Home as Secure as Possible

A screen door can make it safer to open up

Consider  installing a screen door so when somebody knocks on the door and you’re not sure who it is, you have time to respond. The screen door, if so desired, can be part of ‘screening’ all visitors and part of a system including gate and camera, doorbell and intercom.

Sensor security lighting in the yards

As people approach the home, they will activate sensor lights which give you time to react – to welcome them or otherwise.

Deadbolts – the safest kind of door lock

Deadbolts are the tough steel door bolt which goes deep into the frame and is essentially impossible to break. If a deadbolt is part of a metal door and requires a key to turn, you have optimal safety. Digital and numerical locks will typically have deadbolts for a reliable suite of safety precautions. One advantage of a coded deadbolt/deadlock is the combination can often be changed with every change of tenants. 

Security alarm system with cameras and sensors

An integrated system will allow CCTV cameras, gates, smoke alarms and security sensors to talk to one another. Most modern systems have a tie-in app so monitoring can be done from a mobile phone.

A safe protects valuables

During flood, fire, break-in or earthquake, a safe is a multi-purpose repository for anything which isn’t in the cloud and requires physically protecting.

Expensive items – out of sight, out of (burglar’s) mind

If you’re heading away on holiday – or if you simply leave the house for work each day – keeping the most valuable assets away from the windows reduces the temptation for thieves to make an unwanted visit.

Spare keys: not ideally left hanging on a hook

Thieves have been known to take a car filled with a family’s precious possessions. You’re making it easier for this to happen by keeping spare car keys and garage keys in a bunch hanging in the open. Try and hide the spare keys deep in a drawer where a burglar is unlikely to look.

Make sliding doors and ranch sliders impossible to open

A wooden rod placed in the track of sliding doors prevents them from being forced to slide open.

Make friends with your neighbours 

Watch each other’s back by sharing essential details. Let your neighbour know if you’re going on holiday or if no visitors are expected. The likelihood of a neighbour exploiting this trust and harming your property is very low. 

Build a fence to dissuade people from walking on the lawn

A fence is one of the basic steps to keeping unwanted visitors off your property. Solid wooden fences are aesthetically beautiful, although of course, they’re easy for a burglar to scale. A combination of a high fence and security cameras is a good way to minimise the risk of being burgled.

Don’t forget curtains for garage windows

Occasionally we treat windows in the garage as not needing curtains. The problem is that burglars can peer through these windows and see valuables, inspiring a break-in.

Keep ladders and tools out of the front yard

Unfortunately, with home maintenance, we often leave ladders, hand tools and building supplies around with the intent that we’ll pick them up later. The problem is that these can aid a burglar in entering the house. They can also indicate to the burglar that you have a lot of valuable tools and similar equipment available.

Don’t leave kids’ toys in the front yard

It’s sad that some people will snatch a child’s bike or scooter from the front lawn, but it happens on a daily basis. Encourage your child to lock their bike up whenever possible. Even within the garage, it can be helpful to chain up bikes. A common shortcut if a lock or chain isn’t available is to pull the seat out of the bike, making it impossible to ride away.

If the street has anti-social behaviour, clean it up

A street which is covered in graffiti, rubbish, unkempt fences and derelict cars can indicate that nobody gets in trouble for poor upkeep of a property and that people aren’t looking out for their neighbours. Keeping your driveway, yard and street clean inspires better behaviour.

Reinforce windows with frosted privacy film

Frosted privacy film is available at most hardware stores. Simply paste it onto the window. It lets light in while making it impossible for burglars to see inside. Perhaps reserve this just for certain windows which you don’t have a view out of.

Small changes make a big difference

A few simple changes to your home can make it safer and less likely to be targeted by thieves. To be totally protected, get contents insurance so that if you are burgled, you don’t suffer a potential financial loss.