Your home is supposed to be the one place you can feel safe and relax in. When it’s compromised by intruders, whether they are thieves or people with more malicious intentions, that not only puts you in danger in the short term but also wreaks havoc on your mindset every day after.
Fortunately, break-ins of all kinds can mostly be avoided with just a few safety precautions to secure your property and deter all but the most brazen criminals from targeting you and your family.
Today, we’re going to cover ten ways you can protect your home from intruders to save your peace of mind and in the most extreme circumstances, your life and the lives of your loved ones.
1: Install a Home Security Camera System
Hands down, one of the best ways to protect your home is to make it painfully obvious that any would-be intruders will be caught on camera and exposed for their wrongdoings.
Most criminals, especially when they’re simple thieves, commit crimes when they think they can get away with them. Covering your entrances and potential “makeshift” entryways with cameras will instantly deter most common threats.
In fact, while we highly recommend only using fully functional security cameras, even the presence of cameras that aren’t recording will deter most threats if the thief doesn’t know they’re not working.
Of course, using real recordable feeds is key for another reason too. If a particularly stubborn criminal decides to disregard the cameras and go ahead with their deeds, you can identify them to the police and have a better chance of seeing them brought to justice.
For both reasons, home security cameras are a great investment for your home.
2: High-End, Area-Appropriate, Locks
Locks are probably the most obvious items you need to install to protect your home. However, it’s not enough to just install the cheapest locks you can find.
You need to install reliable locks that are appropriate for the area they’re being installed, and you need to focus on quality over price. The sad truth is that advanced criminals have made an art out of picking or otherwise bypassing the most basic locks on the market.
By choosing the latest lock technology you can stay ahead of the thieves in your area. Often just the sight of a high-quality brand such as Lockwood will be enough for them to move on to the next target.
3: Avoid Presenting Your Home as Valuable
Obviously, all homes have a ton of value. However, a thief can’t waltz up to your house, rip it off the foundation, and tow it away. They must rely on the valuable items you have inside. So, common sense dictates that you should avoid letting potential thieves know you have belongings worth stealing.
You can do this by not leaving tons of delivery boxes near your trashcan or high-end items such as e-bikes, fancy lawn equipment or other possessions that are tell-tale signs of affluence out in the open. Those things can draw a thief’s attention and cause them to target you when they otherwise wouldn’t.
4: Invest in a Dog
A small dog yapping can do a good job of alerting you to an intruder if you’re home. But if you really want to deter would-be threats, you need to invest in a canine companion that can protect your home reliably. Larger breeds trained for loyalty and to take decisive action can deter a thief when they’re scoping out your property, and if they decide to come in anyway, they’ll soon regret it.
5: Avoid Dog Doors and Opened Windows
Dog doors, while small and seemingly safe, can be easy entryways for criminals if they are large enough. They’re most often signs of smaller dogs living inside of the home, and while those can deter less brazen intruders, an experienced burglar or someone looking to do worse than steal isn’t going to be bothered by it. If you do opt for a dog door, ensure that it locks and is sturdy enough to withstand a relatively good beating.
The same goes for smaller windows around your property; ensure they’re locked when you’re not around and they’re not in use.
6: Use Signage
Deterrence is the best protection you can have against intruders. So, if you have a way to make an intruder think twice before attempting to victimize you, you can avoid all the drama of dealing with them in the first place. A good way to do this is to post signage.
Do you have a large dog? Put up beware of dog signs. Are you a firearm owner? There are signs that make that known to guests and potential intruders. Just little notices that let them know they’re not dealing with a pushover.
Of course, some folks may think these will be unsightly. Luckily, there are some tricks to make them blend in a bit more effectively without affecting the look of your home.
7: Install an Alarm System
Alarm systems can be crucial for protecting your home, and they’re getting cheaper everyday thanks to advances in modern technology.
There are various systems available, from basic options that sound an alarm and call the police when a door opens, to complex light-based tripwires that let you track an intruder’s movements via your smartphone. Neither is too expensive for most average homeowners.
8: Consider Re-Keying
If you lose a key or lent it out to a non-trusted house sitter or similar service, you should consider getting all affected locks rekeyed as soon as possible. The key borrower, or someone who picked it up off the road, can have it duplicated for easy access when they’re not welcome.
9: Utilize Window Jams
Intruders usually don’t want to break windows unless they’re dead set on harming you. Doing so is noisy, messy, and leaves a ton of evidence around. So, a simple window jam can make it impossible to open a window even if the lock is bypassed; making most intruders abandon their attempts at entry.
10: Request a Security Audit
Even if you have followed all the steps outlined and feel like you have done a great job in securing your home, an expert’s review may highlight some gaps.
Ask a local locksmith or security expert to review your home. Most companies offer this as a free service, and you may be surprised at what is revealed. Their experienced eye can often highlight simple oversights, which criminals can take advantage of.