8 Home Security Tips
With more than 45 years of experience in the home and business security industry, here are our top eight tips for discouraging intruders and burglars from targeting your home.
1. Create the illusion that someone is at your house.
If you are going to be gone for an extended time, leave a light or TV on in a room near the front door or other entry points like side doors or first-floor windows. You also can use exterior lighting and exterior motion lights to minimize places where a burglar could easily hide. There are a lot of ways to Vacation-Proof Your Home.
2. Make sure all exterior doors have reliable locks.
Install 1-inch deadbolt locks on all exterior doors and lock all doors before leaving your home or going to bed. Replace the ½” screws provided with the dead bolt strike plate with 2 ½ – 3” screws.
3. Double check before opening the door.
Always check to see who is at the door before opening the door. Install a peephole if needed or consider purchasing a video doorbell system.
4. Hide the spare keys.
Spare keys are a fantastic way to have an added level of access to your home in case you get locked out or lose a key. However, intruders are likely to peek under a doormat or to spot a fake rock. Give your spare key to a neighbor or close friend that you can trust.
5. Secure your sliding glass doors.
Growing up we used a 3/4” dole rod in the door; when I became an adult, I learned that rod wouldn’t stop anyone. Use a metal spring-loaded bar in the middle of the door.
6. Keep the garage doors closed.
Your garage door leads directly into your home, so it is important to keep it closed even when you are at home. Your garage door can be connected to your home security system by using a garage door contact, such as a magnetic switch.
7. Hide cash and expensive items.
Keep cash and high dollar items in a safe place, such as a locked box in a child’s toy chest or on a bookshelf. If possible, keep these items in a safe with a secure lock.
8. Ladders and trash cans
Ladders and trash cans can be used by intruders to enter your home. For that reason, these types of items are best kept out of sight and away from the side of your home. You can keep trashcans and ladders in your garage or lock them to your fence.
Home security systems are easier and more accessible than ever before. Installing a system can keep your home and the ones you love safe, even when you can’t be there. Home security can be automated and accessed from your smartphone. Some of our clients love the ability of being able to quickly lock a door if they forgot on their way to soccer practice or turn on the lights when your kid gets home from school. Even if you are not in the mood to get off the couch, you can open your phone and see who is at your door. Using these practical safety tips along with a home security system are important tools to keep your home secure.
If you are interested in learning more and want to talk to our friendly team of experts, give us a call!
Explore Our Other Blogs
Theft Prevention Tips for Businesses
Theft, unfortunately, can take a wide variety of forms. Theft in a retail business might include the loss of physical property from shoplifting or can come in the form of embezzlement. In the retail sector, a 2019 National Retail Security Survey reported the average cost per shoplifting incident is $546.67. According to the…
Will Renter’s Insurance Give a Discount if You Have a Security System?
Home invasions or burglaries are a threat to any household, regardless of where they are located. One of the biggest deterrents for burglars is a home security system that could record evidence of their actions or could notify the authorities at the time of a break-in. This is a huge motivator for homeowners when deciding…
Fire Systems for the Restaurant Industry
Companies in varying industries face fire hazards in their standard operations to a certain degree. Businesses that operate commercial kitchens, however, are at significant risk for fire-related hazards because cooking equipment is a leading cause of commercial fires. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an estimated 50% of non-residential fires were caused by cooking in…
Lowe’s Iris Line Goes Under
Many consumers are seeing red with the recent news that big-box retailer Lowe’s is shutting down service to its Iris smart home platform. Lowe’s launched its Iris cloud service in 2012 so it could sell its own smart home products to the public. Customers with an Iris smart hub, the heart of the network, could…
ADT Home Security Settlement
ADT home security is facing a class-action lawsuit. The plaintiffs allege that ADT failed to disclose wireless sensors’ vulnerability to evasion and jamming. Why should you care? Although this settlement is for ADT, this is a vulnerability all wireless security systems face. Let’s talk about wireless technology for a second. All home Wi-Fi…
How Often Should You Inspect Your Fire Alarm System?
Everyone dreads the day when fire alarm systems are being tested because they are often loud and annoying. However, the importance of making sure your fire alarms are working properly outweighs the small distraction of lights and noise. Putting off a fire alarm inspection can be both risky and negligent for business owners as it…
Ring Doorbell Cons
Video doorbells are a great addition to home security, and Ring is the popular choice for many who prefer wireless security. Although there are some pros to the Ring Doorbell, it has some cons you should be aware of before purchasing from Ring. Monthly Fee for Storage The cheapest Ring doorbell is $59.99, with…
What Causes False Alarms on Home Security Systems
False alarms on home security systems are not only an annoyance for homeowners, but they take up the valuable time and resources of our local law enforcement officials. In fact, many cities and towns now charge homeowners a fee for false alarms. In order to save you the frustration and potential financial hit, let’s look…
Best Small Business Security Systems
While no two small businesses are the same, they share commonalities when it comes to what they want in a security system. Most small business owners want to do three things: Protect their people, property, and assets from fire Protect their people, property, and assets from theft See what is happening in their business even…
7 Tips For Small Business Security
We hope it never happens to you, but workplace crime is something that all business owners should be prepared to encounter. With one-third of our life spent at work, it is an important place to secure and monitor for your safety, and that of your employees. Luckily, there are many simple, proactive steps you can…