If
you could afford it, of course, you’d install an alarm system, since it’s an
excellent way to protect
your home. But if you don’t have that kind of money, there are still inexpensive
ways to secure your place of residence ~ numerous steps you can take yourself, and
others you’ll want to hire a professional to do for you.
No
property is completely impervious, but you can adhere to one main goal: Keep out potential intruders as best you
can, and make it as difficult as possible to prevent a burglar from entering.
Here’s how:
Establish home rules. Set up a brief list
of rules, and involve everybody in the family, so everyone can cooperate to make
your home safe and secure:
·
Don’t
answer the door, unless you know the person. (Install a peephole if you don’t have
one already.)
·
Whenever
you’re not using your garage, keep the garage door closed and locked. Leaving
it open tempts a potential prowler.
·
Whenever
you leave, and before you turn in for the night, lock all the windows and doors.
Replace worn-out
and weak locks.
Deadbolts provide extraordinary security. Install
grade-2 deadbolts, which penetrate the door frame.
Don’t have a
“hidden” key.
A thief will locate that extra key you stash inside the mailbox, above the
door, under the mat, or beneath the flower pot. Even if you have a fake-rock
keyholder, a burglar will probably already know what it looks like. It’s better
to trust a neighbor or friend to keep aside a spare key for you.
Don’t keep keys and
remotes next to the door, visible to someone peeking in. Instead, hang them on
hooks inside a cupboard door or hidden in a drawer.
Install outdoor lighting. Install a light at
each door, and surrounding the perimeter of your property. Better yet, put them
all on timers. Motion-sensor floodlights illuminate anytime anyone passes by.
Some exterior lights respond to fluctuations in temperature, sound, and daylight.
Some light systems can be connected with your smart device so you can be alerted
to any suspicious activity and immediately respond.
Keep some indoor
lights on whenever you’re away. If you’re gone during the day, or out for
a longer time, you can make it seem like you’re still home by attaching timers
to lights, TVs, radios, and stereos. You may want to add smart-device
capability, so you can monitor all household activities, and make it look like it’s
occupied the whole time you’re out.
Bolster your air
conditioner. You
can prevent an intruder from getting in through an unsecured window by adding corner
braces, a bracket, or a sliding window lock.
Inside, keep your valuables
out of sight.
Shut blinds and drapes and if you have unusual possessions. Keep expensive
jewelry, treasured objects, and emergency cash hidden in unexpected locations.
Outside, don’t put valuables
on display that
would attract a potential robber. For instance, if you have a luxury car, store
it inside the garage.
Don’t be obvious. A criminal will case
your neighborhood before pulling a job, staying on the lookout for everyone’s
comings and goings. If they notice that you’re home during the daytime, they’ll
likely go on to the next house. Compare your place to your neighbors’, and tone
down your home’s façade accordingly. Display only modest responsible upkeep rather
than extravagance.
Don’t have windows near
or on your doors.
Windows obviously increase the risk of a break-in, because glass can be shattered.
If a door has glass, install premium-quality deadbolts. If you have a sliding
glass door, a latch lock actually isn’t worth much. Enhance your
security by adding a wooden dowel cut to exact size, or an adjustable
safety bar, in the floor track. You can also put in a floor bolt.
Reinforce the doors. A hollow door is susceptible
to break-in. A solid-core door made of wood or metal is far superior.
Make it difficult for
a prowler
to hide. You don’t want a trespasser
to be able to hide, so keep your shrubs, trees, hedges, and all other plants trimmed.
Avoid tall fences, also.
Don’t leave your ladder
out in the yard.
A crook could pretend to be a contractor or handyman, and climb up your ladder
to enter through your balcony or a second-floor window.
A guard dog can be a good
deterrent. If you don’t have a dog, play a recording of a big dog barking whenever
you’re away, and post a “BEWARE OF DOG” sign.
Put up warning
signs.
Post a “NO TRESPASSING” or “TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT” sign. You can even stick
an alarm company logo on the front door or front window (even if you don’t really
have an alarm system).
The following measures
are more costly, but worth considering. If you want additional security at your
property, there are some more measures you can take:
Install an
electronic gate.
Depending on your living situation, investing in a security gate can enable you
to approve which individuals can enter your property. With a keypad, an
intercom system, or even more sophisticated features such as biometrics, it’s
possible to select various security clearance levels.
Buy a home safe, especially one that
anchors to the floor, which will guard important documents, emergency cash, and
irreplaceable valuables. Choose one with an appropriate level of fireproof and waterproof
certification.
A video surveillance
system might
be worth the investment, depending on your circumstances and location. Decide on
the level of image resolution you desire, and think about additional technical aspects.
Do you want to record 24/7 footage? What about software with capture
capabilities ~ time-and-date stamp code, vehicle number plate recognition, facial
recognition, and so on? The decisions you make will depend on your environment,
your budget, and your property. When people with criminal intentions see any
aspect of your access control system, they’re liable to think twice and move on.
Do your research. There are so many ways
to augment your home security. If you live in Atlanta, Georgia, you should hire
a reputable locksmith company such as Atlanta
Fast Locksmith, where expert staff mobile locksmiths work 24/7 to assist
you, and free consultations are available.
