Any homeowner will always place security as their first priority. However, spending more time at home does not necessarily make your property safer from burglars. In fact, as our lifestyles change, there are more opportunities for trespassers to take advantage of us, like the rise in package deliveries to homes and the obvious landscaping and front and back garden improvements.
These are the top recommendations for making your home safe and secure for the future, including updating doors and windows, having a protected area for mail and packages, creative landscaping ideas, and more.
HOW TO AVOID BURGLARIES
Before you leave the house, you could assume the work is done if you close all the windows, lock the door, and set an alarm. However, this does not necessarily imply that all of your possessions will be secure. You may not even be aware of it, yet we all make everyday blunders that expose our houses and make them more susceptible to break-ins.
A house invasion will be less likely as a result of these precautions:
ENSURE THAT YOUR ALARM IS ACTIVE
Invest in a visible alarm system for your home for a high level of safety. Although there are many complete alarm systems available, installing one will make it plain to potential attackers that your home is not a simple target.
Is the brand of your alarm reputable? The group of professionals in home security claims that burglars may identify the less trustworthy systems. If you want to make an investment in a home security system, it’s crucial that it offers comprehensive security. Watch out for systems with motion sensors, easy smartphone control (excellent for when you’re away on vacation), and even ones with automatic police response, which increases the likelihood that your intruder will be apprehended.
A smart alarm will alert you to activity and is simple to monitor remotely, giving you control while you are away. The Ring Alarm is a wonderful choice.
VERIFY THAT YOUR DEADLOCK IS ACTIVE
If you’re unsure of what a deadlock is or where to find one, it’s usually the rectangular lock positioned beneath the handle. It’s crucial to make sure this is in working order because if it doesn’t go all the way into the door frame, criminals can enter a building unnoticed.
Even if you believe you have locked everything up, it could not be burglar proof because all they need is a credit card to slip it through and open the door.
RENOVATE THE FRONT AND REAR DOORS
Even if homeowners are spending more time in their homes than ever since the epidemic, there is still a risk of theft and burglary to be aware of. Old, flimsy doors with subpar locking mechanisms are an easy target for thieves, so updating your home’s access points will assist to keep it secure.
Additionally, replacing your property’s front and rear doors, patio, sliding, or bi-fold doors will enhance your home’s appearance and security. Quality doors will increase the heat retention of your home, which may help you save money on energy costs and keep you warm and cozy as you spend more time indoors, especially during the winter. To give you peace of mind, make sure to opt for front door designs that use multi-point locking mechanisms that adhere to security requirements.
LOOK FOR A SPOT TO POST AND PARCELS
More people than ever are turning to online shopping to buy anything from food and white goods to garden and DIY equipment as a result of the closure of numerous local stores and enterprises. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, there has been a huge increase in e-commerce, and many of us admit to regularly purchasing online and doing so at the same pace or more after the lockdown.
It’s crucial to think about the effects of getting an overflow of parcels through the mail that are frequently left outside the home, if homeowners are out or unable to answer the door, as more people transition from shopping trolleys to mobile gadgets.
To prevent opportunists from taking advantage of the rise in packages left outside of homes, it’s a good idea to have a secure location to receive mail and packages, such as a secure lockable parcel box. The same is true for leaving notes for mail carriers and package deliverers that let them know you’re gone and specify where they should put your packages. When recycling or throwing away anything like packaging, mail, or envelopes that contain your name, address, or other personal information, keep in mind that they could be a target for identity thieves.
CONFIRM THE SECURITY OF YOUR WINDOWS
An excellent investment that will increase your home’s security and thermal performance is the installation of new windows. Your home’s exterior is shielded by windows with shatter-proof laminate glass, internal beading, and strong security locking mechanisms.
With up to eight locking points and customizable twin-cams, window locking systems like the Twin-cam Security Locking (TSL) provide even greater security against burglary. It’s crucial to check that the parts of all sash window locks and other window security locks are durable and functionally built.
INSERT OUTDOOR LIGHTS
A sensor-activated yard security lighting system surrounding your home is useful for increased safety, especially during the darker winter months. This will frequently dissuade anyone from trying to break into your house, garage, or garden shed at night.
LOCK THE DOORS AND STORE THE TOOLS AND LADDER
Since many thieves are opportunists, they will enter your garden through an open garden gate in order to look around your home’s backyard secretly. Naturally, they will help themselves to obtain entry more readily if you have left a ladder and hand tools out, even in an unguarded outhouse or garage. Keep gates shut, and store tools and ladders away.
DON’T TELL BURGLARS THAT YOU ARE GOING AWAY
It’s crucial to make sure your home appears occupied, whether that means installing lighting timers, buying smart lights you can link to and manage from your phone, or even purchasing smart blinds that can be opened and closed on a timer setting or be controlled remotely.
Other simple, low-tech safety measures? Have a driveway and are leaving town? Have a neighbor use your unoccupied driveway. Do you have a calendar in your kitchen that is also visible from the outside? Move it so that burglars keeping an eye on your house won’t be able to easily determine when you’re not home.
DON’T ADVERTISE YOUR ABSENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Those who have grown up using social media and are aware of the dangers associated with posting anything online might find this one clearer, but it is nonetheless crucial. If at all possible, keep your profile private. If you insist on keeping it public, there are a few things you need to watch out for.
Till you return home from the trip, refrain from sharing any group vacation images. Additionally, you should double examine your online sharing of your address and remove anything that could direct a burglar to the appropriate location.
KEEP VALUABLES SECRE AND HIDDEN
Be careful where you put important objects because thieves may take advantage of any opening to steal valuables from your home. While robbers may keep away because they know homeowners are likely to be at home, they may target your property for a later date once you have returned to work if you have pricey technology that is visible from the street.
This also applies to assets in your yard. If, like many homeowners, you enhanced your outdoor space over the summer with furniture, a grill, a fire pit, or even plants and flower pots, make sure things are stored in a secure location throughout the winter to prevent theft.
As burglars frequently attempt to unlock doors by retrieving keys with a hook device, make sure that keys are kept in a secure location as well. Never leave keys in locks, and keep them out of the letterbox.
IMPROVE VISIBILITY OF YOUR HOUSE
Although we all appreciate our privacy and work to grow tall hedges at the front and rear of our homes, the thief can also take advantage of our privacy. Burglars are more likely to attempt to approach your house from the front if your rear yard is rather inaccessible to them, and if your front yard has tall hedges, you’re giving them the ideal concealment. Therefore, keep the height of those hedges just low enough so that anyone walking by can easily see someone hiding behind the bushes.
WHAT IS THE PRIMARY FACTOR PREVENTING BURGLARIES?
The most effective deterrent to robbers is proved to be visible security devices, such as CCTV. However, tools like motion sensor lights and burglar alarms, which reveal an intruder’s location, are also useful. There are several cost-effective alternatives to CCTV systems that don’t require professional installation, making them more accessible these days. For instance, video doorbells can replace your current doorbell and capture video of the front of your house to deter unauthorized visits.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CHANGE MY HOME’S LOCKS?
Ordinarily, household locks don’t need to be changed unless there is a problem, as if they are starting to stick and are getting hard to open. If you believe someone may have access to your home, you might also want to alter your locks. It might be worthwhile to replace your locks for peace of mind if you have purchased or rented a new property, or even just gave a spare set of keys to a builder or cleaner with whom you are no longer working.
HOW DO I PROCEED IF I LOSE MY KEYS?
It’s advised to have your home locks changed if you’ve lost your house keys while you were out and about. Even though the likelihood of a stranger tracking your keys to your house is remote, the danger is not worth it. It’s possible that you dropped them beside your car or misplaced them with your purse or wallet. It only takes one minor clue like this for a thief to figure out where you reside.