Your house is your castle, your sanctuary, and you deserve to feel safe in it. Unfortunately, some might try to invade this sanctuary.
Not to worry! There are many ways you can keep your home secure and your family safe. The obvious thing to start with is installing an alarm system and researching good armed response security companies in your area.
Below are a few of the lesser-known ways you can ensure the safety of your home, belongings, and family.
Add Window and Door Sensors and Blocks
Many alarm systems include window and door sensors. Sensors such as those supplied by Alarmgrid are made to detect doors and windows opening and set off an alarm when opened while the system is active.
While high-tech alarm systems are great, the more straightforward methods of adding extra locks and blocks to your doors and windows work wonders. The few minutes of struggling with the block could mean the difference between someone successfully breaking into your house and not.
Securing windows with rods or burglar bars discourages crimes of opportunity where someone can just slip in. It's essential for windows close to the ground where access is easier.
Don't Make it Public That You Aren't Home
In the age of social media, you're encouraged to share every aspect of your life in real-time. This might not be the best idea when it comes to sharing information that could let burglars know you're not home. Checking in at an airport on Facebook or tweeting how excited you are about your vacation is the perfect way for criminals to know you're not home.
A survey by ADT found that 13.5% of the participants had their houses broken into while they were out, and out of those, 40.7% had shared their location on social media. That means, statistically, one out of four people who had their houses broken into admitted their burglar could see their location on social media.
When you look at those numbers, it's easy to see why you shouldn't be sharing your location or vacations publicly until you're back home. It's also a good idea to have a friend or trusted neighbor check in on your house and collect mail for the time you're away. If you're away after dark or are worried about being alone at home, keep a light on in one or two rooms or have outside lights on a timer, so they go on at night. This way, people think you're home or that there's activity.
Don't Make it Easy
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte did a study to find out the motivations and actions of burglars. The study found that most burglars first look for signs of activity, dogs, and security or surveillance systems. Up to 60% of the time, they'll look for a new target if alarm systems protect the house.
Those alarm company stickers might seem tacky, but they've been proven to discourage potential burglars and protect your home. Make sure to keep your cameras and sensors open and tend to high hedges as soon as possible. You can even invest in motion sensor lights and yard lights to ensure there are no dark shadows for someone to hide in.
Another thing to keep in mind is what's going on in your yard. Ensure there's nowhere for someone to hide in the shadows and nothing big enough to hide behind or under. That way, your sensors and cameras can quickly see if there's movement, and there's nowhere to hide if someone comes out to check.
You can even plant thorny bushes outside of low windows for a nasty surprise and use gravel in paths and landscaping, which tends to make a noise when someone walks across it.
Conclusion
It's never fun to think about someone trying to break into your house, but it's necessary to take precautions. We hope this article has given you some ideas of how you can better protect yourself and your belongings. It's not difficult, but it takes some planning and research, and you need to keep certain things in mind when gardening and before you go out.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of things you can do to increase your home security, but it likely includes a few points you've never thought about before.