If
you could fit it into your budget, you would install an alarm system. That’s
certainly an efficient way
to safeguard your home. But if you don’t have that kind of money, there are
still many good ways to secure your place ~ numerous measures you can take yourself
(and some you’ll want to hire a professional to do) ~ without spending too much.
No property is completely impervious, but you can follow one main goal: Discourage
potential intruders as best you can, and make it as difficult as possible for a
burglar to enter.
Establish standard home rules. In
a simple list of rules you put forth, involve everyone in the family, so
everybody can cooperate to keep your home as safe and secure as you can.
- Anytime you go out, and prior to heading
off to sleep, lock every door and window.
- Don’t answer the door, unless you know the
person. If you don’t already have a peephole, now’s the time to install one.
- When you’re not using your garage, keep the
garage door closed and locked. Leaving it open only tempts potential prowlers.
Follow these basic lines
of defense. Here are some fairly easy ways to augment your
home’s security:
Don’t keep keys and remotes
near the door, visible to anyone able to peek in.
Instead, store them hidden on hooks inside a cupboard door, or in a drawer.
Fortify your air
conditioner. You can thwart a burglar from getting in through
an unsecured window by installing corner braces, a bracket, or a sliding window
lock.
Don’t be obvious. Experienced
thieves will case your neighborhood before pulling a job, keeping an eye out
for everyone’s comings and goings. If they observe that you’re routinely home
during the daytime, they’ll likely go on to another house. Compare your place
to your neighbors’, and tone down your façade accordingly. Display only modest responsible
upkeep rather than extravagance.
Replace worn and weak
locks. Deadbolts will give you excellent security. Install
grade-2 deadbolts, which penetrate the door’s frame. Heavy-duty is more
resilient.
Don’t keep a “hidden” key. A
crook will find that spare key you stash inside your mailbox, over the door, under
the welcome mat, or beneath the flower pot. Even if your keyholder is a fake rock,
a skilled robber will probably know what it looks like. It’s better to trust a neighbor
or friend to keep a spare key for you.
Inside, keep your valuables
out of sight. Close blinds and curtains if you have
extraordinary possessions. Conceal expensive jewelry, cash, and hide other
treasured items in unexpected locations.
Outside, don’t display valuables that
would appeal to a potential thief. For instance, keep your luxury car inside the
garage.
Remove windows on or close
to your doors. Of course, windows increase the risk of a
break-in, since glass can be broken. If your doors have glass, install
top-quality deadbolts. If you have a sliding glass door, a latch lock is of
little use. Enhance
your security by putting in a wooden dowel cut to size or an adjustable
safety bar, in the floor track. You could also install a floor bolt.
Make it difficult for a
trespasser to hide. Trim your hedges, shrubs, trees, and any other
plants. Also avoid tall fences. You don’t want a prowler to hide undetected.
Reinforce your doors. A
hollow door is susceptible to a break-in. A solid door is far superior. Install
a solid-core door made of metal or wood.
Don’t ever leave a ladder out
in your yard. A trespasser could pretend to be a contractor
or handyman, and climb your ladder to get in through your upper-floor window or
balcony.
Post warning signs.
Put up a “NO TRESPASSING” or “TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT” sign. You could stick
an alarm company logo on the front door or window (even if you don’t actually
have an alarm system).
A guard dog
can work well as a disincentive. If you don’t have a dog, whenever you’re gone you
could play a recording of a big dog barking, and post a sign that says “BEWARE
OF DOG”!
Install exterior lighting.
Install a light at any entryway and all around the perimeter. Even better, put all
of them on timers. Motion-sensor floodlights illuminate anytime someone passes
by. Some outdoor lights respond to changes in daylight, temperature, or sound. If
you can afford more, some lights can be connected to your smart device so you
can detect any suspicious activity and instantly respond.
Whenever you’re out, turn some
indoor lights on. If you’re away for the day, or for a
longer time, you can make it look like someone’s home by attaching timers to lights,
stereos, radios, and TVs. If you can fit it in your budget, add smart-device
capability, so you can monitor all household activities, and make it appear as
if it’s occupied all while you’re gone.
Get a home safe, especially
one you can anchor to the floor, to protect any irreplaceable valuables, emergency
cash, or crucial documents. Choose one with an acceptable level of fireproof
and waterproof certification.
Put in an electronic gate. Depending
on your situation, you may want to invest in a security gate, so you’re able to
approve which persons can enter your property. With a keypad, an intercom
system, or even more sophisticated measures such as biometrics, you can select levels
of security clearance.
A video surveillance system
can
be worth the investment if you feel it’s needed. Decide on the image resolution
you desire, and look at other technical aspects of your set-up. Do you want to
record video footage, 24/7? What about software with specified capture
capabilities ~ time-and-date stamp code, vehicle number plate recognition, facial
recognition, and so on? The choices you make will depend on your environment, your
property, and your finances. The point is, when people with criminal intentions
see your access control system, you’ll want them to think twice and move on.
Do your research. There
are plenty of uncomplicated ways to improve your home security. To explore your
options, if you live in Mableton, Georgia, you may want to request a free
consultation from a trustworthy locksmith company. Mableton
Locksmith GA, for example, has staff mobile locksmith experts ready 24/7 to
assist you.
