Keeping Your Home Safe

Keep Off My Property! Ways to Keep Your Home Safe without Trying Too Hard

Turn on the lights
Start with the exterior of your house. If you have a garden or lawn, you might want to install some lighting to illuminate the area. You might also like to do the same for your front porch or rear door and garage. If you like, buy lighting powered by photoelectric cells for a cheaper alternative.

Doors and windows
Assuming you don’t have an alarm system in place, fortify your entry/exit points -- your doors and windows. Make sure there are proper locks in place and if necessary, you might want to install double locks and bolts. Double locks are also recommended for patio doors, especially if yours are the sliding type. You might also want to install patio or rear doors with an anti-lift device.

Large glass panels for doors are quite vulnerable to burglars because they are easy to break. You might want to replace these with laminated glass, or install a metal or steel grill as a security device. If your doors are made of wooden panels, they should at least be of good quality plywood.

Install alarms
Alarms are one of the best choices especially for condominiums and apartment homes. One of the most popular alarms are audible-only systems which emit a loud bell or siren if triggered, while some alert a central monitoring company who will inform the police if the alarm is set off.

There are three main types of alarms: the hard-wired system, the wireless and the hybrid. The hard-wired system is probably the most expensive type and is best installed during the construction of the house. The wireless system is the most popular among do-it-yourselfers because they are easier to install. Wireless alarms often use infrared, acoustic or dual-technology sensors. Hybrids combine the best features of both the hard-wired and the wireless systems.

Be organized
Keep your work and garden tools and ladders away from sight, preferably in the shed or garage. Don’t let a thief use your stuff against you, so make sure you don’t leave things lying around.

Be careful where you place your keys, especially the spare. Avoid obvious areas like under the mat or on top of the door frame. Thieves will likely check these places. If you lose your keys, replace your locks immediately.

Keeping your home safe is mostly common sense. Don’t give any burglar the opportunity to enter your property. Know where you are most vulnerable and reinforce these areas or secure them with locks and bolts. Keeping your home safe not only means keeping your valuables intact, it also means protecting your life.