You don’t have to build a great wall or install an electric fence around your property to secure your home. A high wall can be scaled with the right tools, and an electric fence will make your electric bills shoot up.
There are better (and cheaper ways) you can increase your home security. Some of these security measures are simple yet incredibly effective at deterring bad guys. From changing door locks to getting to know your neighbors, here are seven ways to safeguard your home.
Change Your Locks
If you’re moving into a new home, the first thing you should do to secure your place is to change the locks on the doors. You don’t know who else has the keys on the door except for the previous owners. If that home has been burglarized before, there’s a higher risk for you and your family.
Replacing the locks on your doors is the easiest way you add a bit of security in your home. If you can afford it, upgrade to an electronic lock or even a smart lock. An electronic lock only needs a pin to open. On the other hand, smart locks can be unlocked remotely using a registered smart device.
With these types of locks, you don’t have to worry about lockpicking your doors when you lose your keys. Just make sure you don’t forget your passcode or you have your smart device with you all the time.
Humans are fallible, and it’s easy to forget or lose some things when you’re stressed and exhausted. Most especially if your door looks are of the traditional ones and you can’t remember the last time where you kept your keys, consider getting a high-quality lockpicking gun so that you don’t have to embarrass yourself by calling the police or fire department. Warn your neighbors, though, or they may call the authorities on you as soon as you start picking your locks.
Hang Decoy Decals on Your Gate and Door
Those signs and stickers that say Beware of Dog, 24-Hour Surveillance, or Protected by Home Security System may look flimsy, but they pack some deterring power against burglars and thieves. Most burglars will hesitate to break into a home when they see these kinds of signs because they don’t want to risk getting caught.
But these types of signs should be used wisely to be effective. Don’t just rely on fake signs to safeguard your home. It’s better if the signs are backed by reality. If you stick a Beware of Dog warning, you should have an actual dog to back up the claim. When a burglar or thief sees the sign and hears barking, they won’t be so confident to enter your home.
Install CCTV Cameras
Although CCTV cameras certainly can’t do anything to a burglar when they’re inside your house, the cameras can give you a warning when your home has been invaded. If you have remote access to your CCTV cameras, you can check on your home at all times in the day using your smart device, and you can call the police immediately when you see something wrong.
CCTV cameras also capture the evidence and help the police catch the criminal when a crime happens. Plus, cameras can deter petty criminals from trying anything.
Use Outdoor Lighting
There’s something about the dark that encourages rule breaking. Maybe it’s the cover it brings, so you can do things you usually don’t without the fear of being found out. Whatever it is, it makes criminals more likely to strike out.
If you want to add another deterrent for burglars and thieves, install outdoor lighting in your home, preferably one that you can control even when you’re not home. Outdoor lighting may not completely stop all bad guys from breaking into your home, but it will make them think twice, which can be enough to save you.
Secure Your Windows and Doors
Many burglars get into houses through windows and sliding doors since these are easier to break into. That’s why you should install secure locks on your windows and reinforce your sliding doors. For windows that are ground level or easy to climb, put a metal rod or wooden dowel or install window grates to add an extra security measure.
Make every entrance inaccessible for burglars or thieves. Trim the trees and shrubs outside your home. Don’t leave ladders and tools lying around the yard. Cut grown vines, which bad guys can use to climb into your home, or your house facade.
Get to Know Your Neighbors
A close neighbor is better than a faraway relative. It’s especially true when it’s necessary to ask for help to safeguard your home. A faraway relative can’t watch over your home while you’re away, but a close neighbor certainly can.
Depending on how close you are with your neighbors, they may even offer their help with looking after your home if you need to leave for some time. You can also return the favor when it’s their turn to go on a trip.
Make It Appear like You’re Home (Even If You’re Not)
Burglar and thieves are always watching out for homes that are easy to break into, and unoccupied homes are one of them. If you’re going to be away from home for some time, you should make every effort to make it look like you’re home even if you’re not.
An overloaded mailbox and newspapers scattering the entrance are some of the signs that broadcast absence of people in a house. Make sure to put a stop to your mail, newspaper, and other deliveries before you leave on your trip. If you won’t be away for too long, ask someone (like your neighbor) to pick up your mail and newspaper every morning.
Burglars can also tell you’re not home by looking at the trash outside your house. Most people throw their trash out every day to be picked up by the waste collector. If your front lawn is free of any trash bags for consecutive days, bad guys will think that your house is easy picking since no one is home. Don’t clear out your trash outside before you leave, and ask your neighbor to leave some of their trash on your lawn too.
You should also hire someone to do yard work and water the plants to make the place look well taken care of in your absence. If your house is automated, turn on your house lights remotely every night.
Final Word
You don’t need an expensive, state-of-the-start security system to add some protection to your home. There are simple and inexpensive things you can do to safeguard your place. Changing or upgrading the locks of your doors can instantly add a little bit of security to your house.
Good lighting and fake signs can also deter bad guys from entering your home. If you have the resources, you can install CCTV cameras that can be accessed remotely. A close neighbor can also help watch out for the safety of your home, especially when you’re away.
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