Home security systems are a hot topic these days. More and more households are equipped with this sort of equipment every year. We can see that this trend results in fewer burglaries in the United States. In 1990, there were more than 1,200 cases per 100,000 people.
In 2020, this rate was around 340. We can expect that this rate will drop even more in the future. Awareness of these potential problems has risen significantly. Not to mention that the technology we have today can offer us countless possibilities to protect our property.
Since there are so many to choose from, many are unsure which ones will protect them most efficiently. That’s why we would like to provide you with six essential tips on how you can improve your home security.
“Hide-a-Key” is a Mistake
The first thing we would like to talk about is forgetting all about “hiding-a-key.” The reason is quite simple a vast majority of people will find the place they can remember relatively easily. With that in mind, burglars will not have to invest too big of an effort to break-in.
Just think about the places which are usually the same, like hiding the key under the doormat. There are countless examples of people having this habit. To prevent this from happening, install a smart door lock. So, you can use much more than just a key, like a unique user code.
Only your close friends and family will be aware of it. The risk of someone getting in there without your consent will be practically impossible. Plus, you can always add a steel front door and make the entrance impenetrable, which is the whole point, right?
Securing External Buildings
For some reason, many are not sure whether they should secure external buildings like sheds or garages. They would be surprised with how many burglaries have these as the key goal. These usually have something valuable inside them, like high-quality tools kits.
Not to mention that garage is where the vehicles will be most of the time. You’ll be happy to know that it’s unnecessary to invest a lot of money in securing these. First, make sure you’ve covered the windows.
That way, you will prevent any potential burglar from having an insight into these. With having a proper home security system, you can cover pretty much all the gaps that can arise in this case. Keep in mind that systems can increase your home’s resale value significantly.
Window and Door Alarms
The first option burglars have to enter a property is through windows or doors. Therefore, it’s no surprise to see a majority of burglaries are occurring like this. The most obvious way for anyone is to lock these completely.
Still, there is always a chance we can forget to do this, especially when we are in a rush. Therefore, we can say that this is not the most efficient way to do it. Instead, installing alarms, both for doors and windows, is the safest bet it will not happen.
Typically, these are a part of the complete home security system. However, many people cannot afford these. Thankfully, you can invest in only alarms and get at least an additional layer of protection. Since burglars don’t want to attract any attention, these will discourage them from entering.
Security Cameras
Without a doubt, security cameras are the most effective ways to protect your household. Even if some burglary happens, you will have the whole process recorded. The days when cameras cannot say much more than a shade are long gone. We are talking about high-quality resolution these days.
There are many ways police can identify the perpetrators from the material you provide them with. Plus, police will see what’s the time when the robbery occurred, and they can easily track the movements of those responsible for it.
The best thing about security cameras is that you can have a look at your property whenever you want. Today, homeowners can monitor their property through a mobile phone or other devices, like PCs, laptops, or tablets. Don’t hesitate to invest in these.
Wi-Fi Security
It would be a mistake not to include Wi-Fi security in a list like this. We use electronic devices for many of our daily activities. Plus, many devices that have the goal of protecting our homes from outsiders will require the internet to run, like monitoring through security cameras on your device.
Not having the proper level of protection, in this case, is a grave mistake. You probably heard about cybercriminals, but we are sure you didn’t know that this is a possibility with burglaries. Still, having a complex password will not do all the work for you.
Besides that, consider renaming and hiding your home network from appearing on devices outside a certain radius. Plus, think about using a firewall to increase the protection. Thankfully, many professionals can do this for you these days.
Enough Lighting
Finally, it’s important to point out that lighting plays a pivotal role in keeping your house safe. Many studies confirm that fewer criminal activities occur in streets with enough light. So, there is no reason why your household should be an exception.
Perpetrators don’t want attention, and they prefer staying in shadows. When they see that lights are on inside, they will conclude that it’s not worth the risk. If there is some activity inside a house, they will abandon the whole idea.
It’s of the utmost importance to place the light in all the parts vulnerable to this entering. There are places like garages, pathways, front and back yards, and external buildings. Otherwise, the risk of burglaries is significantly higher.
In Conclusion
Many believe that protecting their home requires a lot of investment. But, it doesn’t have to be like that. Here, you can see a couple of tips that can help you do that with minimal investments. We are sure you will find all of those helpful in protecting your household efficiently.
