Is your home as secure as it should be? It is disappointing that our homes need locking up like Fort Knox, but unfortunately, there are people out there whom we really need to keep out. To you, your home is a safe place, a sanctuary, your escape from the world. However, a criminal simply sees many lovely possessions that they can sell to gain money. Here are some of the ways you can keep your home, possessions, and family safe.
Sound the Alarm
A burglar alarm is one of the best ways to prevent against thieves. Even if one does manage to get into your home, they are definitely not going to stick around for long with an alarm going off. Burglars are generally opportunistic, unless you have something very specific, they want if you have been targeted it is simply because yours was the easiest house on the block to get into. A burglar alarm acts as a visual deterrent and prevents anyone making an easy entrance or exit. If your home is particularly high risk, go for a monitoring service with your alarm. You will pay extra for this, but if it does go off, the security company will immediately call the police when it sounds – once they have confirmed it is not you with a false alarm.
Put it on Lockdown
It goes without saying that you should be locking up your home every time you leave the house – even if it is just for five minutes. Moreover, do not forget the windows, too, even small ones. Like a rat, a determined thief will get in through the smallest of gaps. You could upgrade your windows and doors to secure models, but at the very least, upgrade your security door locks. If you did not change the locks when you first moved into your home (even if it was a long time ago) who knows who could have a copy of your key?
Smile for the Camera
CCTV can act as a deterrent, and additionally can provide evidence if you are unlucky enough to still be broken into. If you are going to buy CCTV, do not skimp; choose a high-quality system that captures clear footage. If you do need to use it as proof, the courts and police will only use video that can be seen correctly.
Thwart Thieves
When they are scoping out a house to burgle, a thief will try to work out if anyone is home. An easy target will always be their first choice; somewhere that looks dark and empty as his minimizes risk to them. So one way you can prevent them from targeting your home is by making it look like someone is in. You could invest in ‘smart home’ lighting; here you can control the lights in your home from an app even when you are away. You could use timer switches so that televisions and radios come on at different times during the day; you can even get curtain rails that open your curtains on a timer. From the outside, it will give the appearance of someone being home and put off any curious burglars.
