Top 10 Home Security Tips

You and your family are comfortable at home - and it’s great being able to relax. But you can easily be lulled into a false sense of security and start making careless mistakes that open your home to crime. Thirteen percent of burglaries occur when thieves simply walk into a home through an unlocked door. It’s a real reflection of the bad habits one can inadvertently fall into.

Apart from simple things like keeping outer doors locked, even when you’re at home, our home security tips will help you to keep your home, belongings and loved ones safe. Here’s what you need to do. outer doors ,locked, even when you’re at home, our home security tips will help you to keep your home, belongings and loved ones safe. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Choose High Quality Locks and Doors

Although an unlocked door is an invitation, low-quality locks and doors can offer an easy route into your home too. For example, locks that only secure the door at one point can often be broken with a single blow or be prised open with a crowbar. While it’s true that most burglars don’t like making a noise, the sound probably isn’t enough to bring neighbours rushing to their windows to see what’s going on.

A chain is as strong as its weakest link. If the lock doesn’t give way, the door or its frame might. So, your best defence will be a strong door and doorframe and a multipoint lock that secures the door at several points. Remember to ensure that hinges can’t be tampered with from the outside - the whole door assembly must present a challenge that burglars will be reluctant to tackle.

2. Secure Your Windows

From burglar bars to security glass, window locks, and window alarms, there are many ways to secure windows so that they don’t offer burglars easy access. Chances are, burglars will begin by checking doors and then go on to check windows before they decide whether to attempt a break-in. Whatever you decide to do, don’t make it easy for criminals to live up to an old cliche by gaining access through a window.

3. Store Spare Keys in a Safe Place or Use Keyless Locks

Don’t let spare keys fall into the wrong hands. Keep them in a safe place and never hide them under flower pots or doormats outdoors. If you have trustworthy neighbours, you can ask them to keep a spare key in a safe or locked drawer - just in case you’re ever locked out.

You can eliminate the need for spare keys, or any keys at all, by using biometric locks, locks that open when a code is keyed in, or smart locks. Just be sure to choose a highly secure system.

4. Install an Up-to-Date Security System

Simply having a noisy alarm might be enough to make burglars who trigger it head for the hills. But, if you want to be extra careful, it’s worth consulting a security company about alarms that will alert them to call or come out and check when alarms are triggered.

Alternatively, there are systems that will send alarms to your phone, and if you have security cameras (an extra deterrent), you can even do the monitoring yourself. There are various areas to consider when it comes to alarms. For example, you can have perimeter alarms, alarms on doors and windows, and smart sensors that set off alarms when motion is detected.

5. Effective Outdoor Lighting

When burglars operate at night, they’re relying on darkness to hide them. Lights equipped with motion sensors will make them nervous. After all, someone in the house may have switched on the light. Even if they didn’t, thieves will worry that they will be spotted from neighbouring homes or the street.

Effective lighting can be an excellent deterrent, especially when it will take time to gain access through doors or windows. Be sure to keep your lighting system and its sensors in good working order.

6. Secure Outbuildings: Garages, Sheds, Etc.

Here’s one of our best home security tips. It’s something a lot of people overlook. Garages are a drawcard for thieves. Many people store valuable tools in garages, so thieves will check them out. If there’s access to your home through your garage, it could represent the perfect place for burglars to remain out of sight while they work on the door to your home. Adding insult to injury, they may even use your own tools to effect a break-in.Be sure to fit secure garage doors and secure any windows.

Even when outbuildings don’t adjoin your house and there isn’t anything of value inside, keep them locked to deter prowlers. If access is easy, chancers may make a point of checking them from time to time just to see whether there’s anything worth stealing. If they find anything worth taking, they're sure to visit regularly after that.

7. Neighbourhood Watch

Though you might not have an “official” neighbourhood watch in your neighbourhood, your community can help to protect your home. Get to know your neighbours and agree to look out for each other, even if it's just a matter of emptying letterboxes when people are away.

Many neighbourhoods belong to official neighbourhood watch groups and cooperate with local police. You can use this link to find out whether there’s a scheme in your area.

8. Set up Your Home to Look Occupied When You’re Away

From the simple to the high tech, there are lots of ways to make your home look occupied while you’re away. Neighbours or a housesitter can help out, or you can set automated systems that turn lights on and off, open and close curtains, and turn TVs on and off. Get a friend or neighbour to clear your letterbox: a full one is a sure sign that you aren’t at home.

9. Keep Valuables in a Safe

Cash, jewellery, firearms and other portable items of high value should be kept in a safe. It keeps them out of sight, and even if someone were to break in, it won’t be easy to steal these valuables. Studies show that burglars often return to homes after successful burglaries, especially if they achieved a lucrative haul.

10. Be Careful of What You Post on Social Media

Would-be burglars can be very thorough when scoping a neighbourhood - and they’ll even visit residents’ social media pages. While you might not be thinking about your social media habits when considering security tips for your home, police are aware of unguarded social media posts as a real danger for householders.

Claiming your bragging rights on social media when you’re excited about a new high-value purchase or are going on a trip could cause thieves to target you . Keep your social media pages private or refrain from giving away information that may attract criminals

Safeguarding Your Home? We Bring Security to Your Door

At Stronghold Security doors, we often see clients who approach us after a burglary has already taken place. Don’t wait for this to be you. Home security begins with secure doors and windows, and we’re able to offer you high quality solutions. Worried your home will look like Fort Knox? There’s no fear of that when you choose us. Your home can welcome you, your family, and your friends in style, yet still be a burglar’s worst nightmare. Talk to us today!