Improve your Home Security.
Protecting your family starts at home by protecting your home. There are many choices and opinions on what the best methods to do so are. We’ve compiled a list of 10 home security tips to help you start to secure your home. All of the tips are fairly easy to implement and relatively inexpensive.
1. Change the Locks
This seems like an obvious task but remember to change all the locks when you move into a new house. You’ll never know who had access to the keys before you moved in. If you ever lose the keys to your house, you should also replace all the locks for the maximum home security.
2. Install an Alarm System
Alarm systems are one of the best forms of home protection. Home alarm systems immediately inform emergency authorities and warn homeowners of any potential dangers. Seeing that a home has an alarm system can deter an intruder from even attempting a burglary. Hearing an alarm go off usually sends a burglar running. There are also inexpensive wire-loop alarm circuits available for doors and windows as well as audio motion alarms which although not monitored are an additional layer of security to alert you when you are home.
3. Conceal All Wiring
Burglars often look for wiring around the exterior of a house and can cut it to disable the security systems and or power. Keep your home security wires hidden from the outside and protect them with conduit when needed.
4. Give the Appearance That Your House is Occupied
Professional burglars will scout neighborhoods looking for homeowners who are away from their home for an extended period of time. Automatic timers are great ways to turn lights on and off while you’re away. You may also want to consider some home automation devices that can be accessed and programmed from your phone. Smart home technology has come a long way in the past few years.
5. Install Security Cameras
Security Cameras have become increasingly easy to install and less expensive. There are lots of options to choose from from doorbell cameras to wireless spotlight cams you will have no shortage of options to add some extra visibility to your homes perimeter. Most new cameras also work very well in the dark using UV lights. Just the sight of external security cameras can deter criminals from attempting to break entry and if they do you should have some pretty good evidence to work with since many of these new cameras offer cloud storage of video.
6. Light Up the Entrance to Your Home
A smart way to keep thieves away is to utilize lighting both inside and outside your home. Lighting with a motion detector automatically turns on when someone is in a specific area. Bright spot lights bring unwanted attention and will usually send the person in the other direction.
7. Install Deadbolt Locks
All exterior doors should have at least 1 inch thick dead bolt locks. Although more expensive than spring latch locks, dead bolts are much stronger and provide significantly more protection. When installing deadbolts, make sure to leave a minimal amount of space between the door and its frame, as this provides an opportunity for an intruder to pry the door apart. Doors can also be reinforced with plywood or a piece of sheet metal.
8. Use Metal Bars on Sliding Doors
This is a quick inexpensive way to add additional security to your windows and doors. Sliding glass doors, patio doors, or sliding windows should have a metal bar that is placed along the bottom track of the door or window. The metal bar can prevent a burglar from forcing the door or window open.
9. Keep Bushes and Trees Trimmed
Thieves will often look for access points that are concealed from the street and eyes of passers by. Keeping the bushes trimmed low and away from windows and doors can help deter thieves while also keeping your house look great.
10. Protect Your Windows
Burglars often gain entry into homes through windows. Protect these vulnerable areas with window locks and/or burglar-resistant glass. Installing many small panes of glass instead of one large pain of glass is a good option as well. Here in Florida hurricane impact windows also have the added benefit of additional security from would be thieves.