Most people know to lock their doors, close their windows, and look through the peephole before opening the door to keep their homes safe from intruders. While these practices are a great start, there are several other things you can do to keep your home, your possessions, and your family safe from burglary and other unwelcome invasions. Below, we discuss essential ways to keep your family home safe:
1. Install New Locks
Your old locks may be working fine, but advances in technology have produced smart door locks that can make your home more secure than ever before.
Smart door locks add an extra layer of security to your home by sending you notifications on the comings and goings in your home. They also enable you to grant access to people who may need to get in while you’re away via an access code or digital key. These access codes expire eventually, restricting access to these individuals once their business in your home is complete.
2. Use Timers to Fool Outsiders into Thinking Someone is Home
Studies show that most apartment burglaries happen in the middle of the day when no one is home. Alternately, most home invasions happen after dark. To fool would-be intruders into thinking your home is occupied when it’s not, set timers to turn on lights, radios, and TVs to simulate inside activity.
To save the life of your TV, you can purchase a fake TV that gives off a soft, flickering light that looks like your TV is on.
3. Add Extra Security to Horizontally-Sliding Windows and Patio Doors
Horizontally-sliding patio doors and older windows can sometimes be lifted off their tracks to grant entry to a burglar. To make it more difficult to gain entry, even if they happen to bypass the lock, place a curtain rod or dowel in the track to prevent sliding.
Alternately, you can install window sensor alarms to notify you if someone opens a window in your home.
4. Put Up Warning Signs
The first thing a burglar looks for is an easy target. As such, the last thing they want to do is tangle with an angry, protective dog. Even if you don’t own a dog, placing signs in the windows that say “Beware of Dog” can deter a potential thief.
If you pay a monthly fee for a security system, be sure you put of signs announcing its presence, so burglars think twice about trying their luck on your turf.
5. Embrace the Lights
A well-lit home is a safe home as most thieves prefer dark, shadowy places to ones lit like it’s noontime. Make sure your home’s outside is equipped with motion sensor lights and use timers to turn lights on once the sun goes down. Even if you’re home, turn on a light or two because a burglar might not realize you’re inside, which is a recipe for disaster.
6. Be Aware
Being aware of your surroundings is key to keeping your home safe. Put your phone down once in a while and pay attention to your surrounding neighborhood. Notice any changes or strangers that don’t belong and don’t be afraid to point them out to authorities if it seems suspicious.
Your home should be the safest place you know. Use the tips mentioned above to keep it and your family secure – even when you’re not at home.
