Did you know that a house on the planet is robbed every 15 seconds?
Many of these burglaries occur in neighborhoods, and nearly half a million of them occur each year during the daytime.
Despite these statistics, most homeowners take minimal steps to protect their homes from burglars.
Luckily, there are many quick and easy steps you can take to make your home safer right away.
In this article, we'll look at simple home security tips you can use to make your home safer for you and your loved ones.
Simple and obvious steps like locking doors and windows and installing a home security system are the biggest deterrents to home invasions.
More than three-quarters of burglars use social media to identify potential targets.
Wi-Fi networks should always be password protected to prevent outsiders from accessing private information and connected home security devices.
You can protect your most valuable items by hiding brand and product names from boxes you place on the curb, securing garages and sheds, and using a safe.
Simple home security tips you should know:
Lock your doors and windows.
It may seem obvious, but a third of all burglars enter a home through unlocked doors and windows. We tend to feel comfortable in the communities we know and love, but it’s important to always exercise caution and secure all possible entrances to your home. Many burglars go from house to house looking for easy opportunities, and this smart move could take your home off their list.
Install a home alarm system.
Homes with an alarm system are as much as 300% less likely to be burglarized than homes without one. Even just a sign in a window or on your lawn advertising your home security system is enough to deter many potential burglars.
Some homeowners may be put off by the high maintenance costs of an alarm system.
In reality, however, there are many options available, and smartphone technology has made it easier than ever to conveniently control your alarm system from anywhere in the world.
Install motion sensor lighting.
It's not yet clear how much lighting will actually deter burglars.
After all, many burglaries happen during the day, when lighting doesn't even matter.
However, some studies have shown that motion detectors deter burglars due to their sudden appearance and ability to alert neighbors to suspicious activity, especially when those neighbors know you're not there and won't turn on the lights themselves.
Motion sensor lights are easy to install and extremely affordable (as little as $10-$15), so we think they're worth installing to add an extra layer of security to the outside areas of your home.
Add Door Lock Protection
Most burglars know how to pick your locks, even the ones that seem pick-proof.
One way to give your main doors extra security is to add a deadbolt protector, which slides the lock onto the deadbolt to prevent it from turning. You can find these at most hardware stores.
Reinforce Sliding Doors.
Sliding doors on patios and decks are more vulnerable than the main entry door.
Locks are easier to pick, and even a very strong tug can break many locks.
The best option is to add extra security to sliding doors. This can be as simple as placing a block, broom, or piece of plywood in the door frame, but many homeowners prefer a more complex method.
In this case, you can buy locks that attach to the bottom or top of the door to provide additional security.
Buy a home security camera.
Today, you can usually find a comprehensive home security system that includes cameras, or you can buy them separately to complement an existing system.
Cameras can both deter burglars and help you get justice if you are faced with a home burglary.
You've probably seen plenty of home security camera footage posted on social media — they're becoming more popular than ever as online shopping grows, putting people at risk of becoming victims of «porch pirates» who quickly steal packages right from your front door.
Many homeowners also like the extra daily sense of security that home cameras can provide.
Products like Ring and Google Nest Cam allow homeowners to check on their home while they're away and see a clear image of visitors knocking on the front door before they open it.
Keep spare keys in a safe.
Think about it: where would you look for someone's spare key?
Probably under a doormat, in a mailbox, or under a rock or flower pot near the door.
These obvious places to hide front door keys are essentially an invitation for home burglars.
Sometimes you can't avoid leaving a key with someone, but if you do, keep it in a safe so no one else can access it.
Don't share on social media.
You may not even realize how you're making your home more vulnerable to burglaries on social media.
Posting photos of your home with a visible address sign, disclosing your address in online event invitations or public comments, and sharing details of your upcoming long vacation all put you at increased risk of home invasion.
In fact, a staggering 78% of burglars use Facebook, Twitter, or other social media platforms.
In short: keep your address and home information offline.
Double check photos you post, never enter your address in public places, and keep vacation information offline until you get home.
Secure Garages and Sheds.
People often let garages and sheds fall by the wayside because they don't actually live in them.
But most people keep valuables in their garages and sheds — things like cars, lawn mowers, furniture, and other things packed away for storage.
Don't think that your home is the only part of your property that can be burglarized.
Protect your property by locking your garage and shed doors and securing them with additional locks if needed.
Password-protect your Wi-Fi network.
Even amateur hackers can connect to your Wi-Fi network and access your personal information.
They can use this information to monitor your home and even control Wi-Fi-connected security devices like cameras and alarm systems.
Securing your Wi-Fi network is an important part of keeping your home safe.
Always use a strong Wi-Fi password and don't share it with anyone.
Don't advertise large purchases.
The boxes and bags you put out on the curb on trash day can tell potential burglars a lot about what valuables are in your home.
To avoid this, take extra steps: disassemble the boxes and stack them so that brand and product names are not visible.
Use extra bags to cover them if necessary.
The extra effort is worth it to avoid the heartbreak of having your hard-earned possessions stolen right after you buy them.
Make it look like someone is always home.
There are a few simple ways to make it look like someone is in your home, even if they aren't.
One obvious tactic is to leave the lights on inside, although this is done so often that most burglars don't think twice about turning on the living room light.
Some other effective ways to make it appear that your home is occupied, especially when you're away for an extended period of time, are to park your car in the driveway, use timed lights (indoor and outdoor) that turn on at different times, have a friend or neighbor pick up your mail, and leave the radio or TV on inside.
Put valuables in a safe.
Sometimes, no matter what we do, burglars break into our homes.
We can't protect everything we own, but it is recommended to keep your most valuable items, such as jewelry, money, important documents, and family heirlooms, in a locked, immovable safe.
This way, you will know that the things that are most important to you will always be safe.
There are other aspects to home security.
For example, the problem of remote monitoring of children on the territory of a private house is solved with the help of GPS trackers, which are used to determine the location of people, animals, goods and transport.
A GPS tracker for children is indispensable — it allows you to set the zone in which the child is located, and send an alarm signal to the computer or mobile phone of the parents.
Engineering security means. A competent approach.
When developing a security concept for a private house or country cottage, an important role is played by ensuring the protection of the adjacent territory.
Engineering security equipment is widely used as a guarantor of reliable protection of the perimeter of the facility.
These include various types of structures and constructions, mechanisms, barriers designed to prevent unauthorized persons from entering the territory of the protected facility.
The developers of this type of security equipment will offer you the most acceptable solution, as well as further operational maintenance.
Electric gates of various types are in growing demand today: swing, sliding and lifting (electric gate drives depend on the configuration).
They are installed both in the general fence of the house and in garages, hangars, warehouses.
You can protect yourself from uninvited guests, as well as ensure the safety of the territory of the cottage village with the help of various types of fences.
The customer only needs to decide on the price segment and the aesthetic solution of the installed fence.
An additional obstacle to penetration into the territory of the protected object will be the installation of a barrier.
The price depends on the manufacturer and material: some work in almost any weather, others are not designed for harsh winters and at low temperatures it may be necessary to raise and lower the boom of the barrier manually.
Anti-ram barriers also serve as reliable protection of the perimeter of the object, which ensure the detention of vehicles that have entered the territory without authorization.