Home security should not be taken lightly. Many individuals value the peace of mind afforded to them by the use of a security system, but the best systems combine new technology with personal common sense to ensure that any unwanted intrusions are unlikely. The homeowner and their family are as much a key component of home security as locks and alarms. Keeping an eye on surroundings and actions can add another layer to technology when protecting the home.
The following are some simple ideas to keep in mind and adopt as part of a routine to increase home security at no or low additional cost:
1 - Look at your home from the outside and think like an opportunist. Can you see any weak spots in the way the home is laid out, or anywhere that appears to offer easy access without being seen? While some people like their home to be somewhat secluded and peaceful, anything that can prevent an intruder from being seen by others will be seen as an excellent opportunity to make an attempt. Adding more lighting to the area or tidying the natural trees and plants may make the home feel more exposed, but will ensure that there are no blind spots for intruders to take advantage of.
2 - Again thinking like a potential intruder, check all access points to the home including doors and windows. This, of course, does not mean do everything possible to destroy your own door using a hammer. However, the majority of burglaries are opportunist in nature and the potential burglar will not be equipped to force entry into a home. Instead, they may notice a weakness and see if they can exploit it. If you find it first, then there is ample time to rectify it. This may take the form of using slightly excessive manual force on a sliding door, for example. If the owner can open it when supposedly locked, so can an intruder. Unfortunately, many factory standard locks for sliding doors are not as strong as could be hoped, and may benefit from reinforcement.
3 - There is no point in going to lengths to ensure security if your own efforts are being undermined by other actions. Wealth can often be measured by the state and size of the home itself. However, doing something such as leaving packaging outside and in full view can encourage someone to take a chance if they feel that it is something that they want. As always, an opportunist weighs up risk and reward. The risk is getting caught, while the reward is what they manage to steal. If there is a good indicator that the house contains something worth stealing, they will be willing to make additional efforts to get to the item. Boxes for items such as televisions and laptops should be broken down and kept inside until the owner is ready to dispose of them. Rather than waiting for a collection, the owner should take the opportunity to take the boxes to the local recycling center. |