The best way to protect your home, your family, and your belongings is with a home security system. Home security systems aren’t perfect, and there are ways around some of them. In many cases, a home security alarm system acts as a deterrent, but it won’t stop a home invasion in progress. Still, it’s the fastest and easiest way to reduce the likelihood that a burglar will choose your home. Few things will shake up your world like being burglarized.
While a home security system will act as a deterrent against burglaries, the fact remains that you’re probably still going to feel a bit uneasy for a while. Home is the one place on earth you’re supposed to feel safe. When someone invades your home, you can start to feel like a perpetual victim. There are, however, other things you should do in order to protect your home, and they’re not always obvious. Here are some of the things you need to do on top of installing a home security system if you want the highest level of protection and peace of mind.
Identify weak points in your home security is one of the key pieces needed to secure your home. Take a look at every possible entrance to the home. Is each entrance secured? Do you have deadbolts on the exterior doors, and do all of your windows have secure locks? Deadbolts go a long way toward deterring repeat break-ins. Know where risk comes from. Some burglaries are crimes of opportunity, but some are more well-planned. Be smart about who you allow into your home. If you’re having contractors in to replace a bathroom sink, for example, make sure you hire someone you can trust. If you’re uneasy about them, don’t hire them. Conceal your home security system wiring. Having a home security system that a potential intruder can see is, in some cases, a good thing. It’s often a visual deterrent that will send a would-be thief on his way. Just be sure that the vulnerable parts of your home security system are hidden away where a criminal can’t get to them and cut them.
Another main factor in continued safety is to be diligent about keys. If you lose a house key, replace the locks. It’s not just a good idea; it’s one of the best ways to protect your home. That lost key might very well have fallen behind the couch, but it also might be in the hands of someone who wants to break into your house. Don’t just make another copy; replace the locks.
Use deadbolts for exterior doors. Keep in mind that many petty thieves can’t get past a deadbolt, and even the experienced ones have a hard time. Frost your garage windows. This lets you hide the fact that you’re at home or away. Burglars don’t like to invade homes where there are people present. People turn a quick grab-and-dash into a potentially dangerous situation. Let them think you might be home at any given time. Use motion-sensitive lights. Burglars are less likely to try to break into your home if there’s a spotlight shining on them. Figure out what made your home an attractive target. Maybe you simply have a nice home, and burglars naturally want to target it. Or, maybe you unknowingly invited them in by leaving your garage door up all night, or leaving the box to an expensive computer system out at the curb on trash day. Identify those habits that might invite trouble, and install a home security alarm system as an added layer of protection.
You can also get involved in the community. A neighborhood watch program is one of the best ways to reduce your risk, as well as risk for your neighbors. If you don’t already have a community watch program, talk to local law enforcement about starting one.