Promising Security Tips For Your Home
2.5 million home burglaries are reported in the United States annually, with the bulk of them being home break-ins. Hearing about burglaries on the news has now become a part of our routines. What’s worse is that Covid 19 has led to an alarming increase in the number of burglaries as people are pushed below the poverty line and thrust into destitution. In such times, it is natural to feel stressed about the security of your home. Are you scared that you will be the next victim? Do you feel unsafe in your home? If that’s the case, here are 7 tips to make your home more secure.
1. Eliminate Hiding Places
If your house is surrounded by a lot of bushes or dense trees, you might have to cut them short. Bushes are the best places for an intruder to hide and observe your house without being seen. They might observe the times you are not at home, making it easier for them to break into it. It is interesting to know that most of the burglaries take place between 6 am to 6 pm, not at night. Hence, you have to be very careful and keep hiding places to a minimum.
2. Upgrade to a Smart Home
Home automation is the most effective measure to improve your security system. You can install an access control keypad by contacting numerous firms such as OpenTech alliance. By doing so, you will be able to control access to your house as there is a pin used by authorized users to enter. Another wise step will be to install motion sensor lights in your backyard since the backdoor is mainly used by intruders. These lights switch on as soon as they detect any movement hence, scaring the intruder away.
3. Be Smart When Hiding Your Spare Key
Like everyone, you will have a key hidden up somewhere outside to prevent you from being locked out of your own home. It is extremely important to think before hiding your key. Hiding them below your doormat, in your plants, or above the lamp should not even be considered as options since these are the most common spots.
4. Make It Look Like Someone is Home
Even if you are on vacation, ask your neighbor to use your trash bin and take out your mail since mails’ piling up on your mailbox is the first thing used by intruders to select houses. One life-saving tip is to have a timed lighting system so you can automatically turn on lights at specific times to pretend you are at home. Most importantly, buy a safe and store all the valuable items there before leaving your home.
5. Secure Your Doors
The easiest way to break in is by kicking down a door which is why you can get door security bars stretching across the width of the door making intrusions impossible. Does your door sound hollow? If it does, you need to get it replaced since it is easier to kick down hollow doors. If your house has sliding doors, make sure they are locked at all times.
6. Secure Your Windows
If an intruder finds your door locked, the next thing will be to try the windows. A smart approach will be to plant thorny bushes at ground-level windows but make sure to keep them trimmed. You can also add window bars so that even if an intruder breaks the window glass, they cannot enter your home.
7. Add Security Cameras
Any intruder will think twice before breaking into a home that has CCTV cameras installed. Apart from scaring them, you can also monitor your home at times you are not present to make sure your belongings are safe.
8. Lock Down Your Wi-Fi Network
If you have automated your security system, then make sure to have a strong Wi-Fi password and a firewall. If an intruder gains access to your Wi-Fi network, they might be able to gain access to your smart lock system. You can ask for help from a specialist if you are not skilled in IT.
9. Prevent House Fires
Apart from intruders, house fires are another threat that you have to deal with. Make sure you have enough fire extinguishers at home in case a fire breaks out. Install fire alarms at your place. It is extremely important to have a well-devised fire exit plan, so make one.
10. Know Your Neighbors
Being friends with your neighbor is very important. For starters, any suspicious activity will come to their notice, and they will inform you of it only if you are on good terms. Moreover, when you are away on a work trip or vacation, they can take care of your mail and keep an eye on your home.
Don’t let setting up a security system become a cash drain or source of anxiety for you. Consider all these strategies before deciding on which one to use, depending on your area and financial condition. You don’t have to use all of them. Pick one and save the rest for later.