You probably don’t spend a ton of time thinking about the security of your home. After all, your house is probably the one place you feel most safe and secure. If this is true for you, that’s great! However, it doesn’t change the fact that there are some things you should know about home security. For example, according to Statista, there were nearly 6 million burglaries in the United States in 2016. Even if your home isn’t likely to be one of those houses broken into and ransacked one day, it never hurts to have a basic knowledge of how to keep yours safe from intruders. The following article will tell you everything you need to know about the importance of keeping your house secure no matter what kind of property you own—from a humble apartment to a sprawling mansion.
Why is Home Security Important?
The Statista report above illustrates the fact that homes are broken into every day, but what do these statistics actually mean? The first thing to understand is that burglary is a broad term that encompasses many different kinds of crime. The most common types of burglary you’ll hear about are residential and commercial burglaries. Residential burglaries are exactly what they sound like: crimes committed in the homes of everyday people. Commercial burglaries, on the other hand, occur in places of business, like convenience stores and gas stations. Burglaries can also be categorized as “unlawful entry with the intent to commit a felony” or “unlawful entry with the intent to commit a misdemeanor”. Regardless of what kind of burglary you’re dealing with, it’s important to lock your doors at all times. If a criminal is able to get inside your home without any effort, they’re likely to take anything they can get their hands on and run. If they have to break in and run the risk of getting caught, they’re less likely to steal anything at all.
Install a Security System
If you have a house and are looking to keep it safe from intruders, the first thing you should do is install a security system. Security systems come in all shapes and sizes, but your best bet is a fully analog system with a control panel and a telephone dialer. With this kind of system, you can arm and disarm it as you please and control it from virtually anywhere in the world. Some systems even come with cameras you can set up to monitor your property from your computer or phone. If you don’t have the money for a new system, there are other things you can do to keep your home safe. Make sure all windows and doors are well-secured. This means locking them every time you leave the house, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Make sure to lock your garage door too—an open garage door is an open invitation to criminals looking to rob your home. Keep trees and bushes trimmed away from windows. They provide easy access to your house for burglars and also prevent people from being able to see inside your home.
Lock All Windows and Doors
It’s true: burglars prefer to enter through the back door or a basement window. These are the weakest parts of the house, so burglars know you won’t have as much security there. However, you can prevent them from gaining entry to your home if you simply make sure all doors and windows are locked at all times. Most burglaries take place during the day when people are at work. This means it’s important to lock your doors and windows at all times, even if you’re home. Your windows are a great way for burglars to get inside your house without having to break in. All you have to do is forget to lock a window and you’re giving a criminal a nice, easy way to get into your home without a struggle. Even if you are home, you may have left a door unlocked or a window open without realizing it.
Install Motion Detectors
If you have a large property, you may want to consider installing motion detectors. You can set these up near your backyard, on pathways leading to your house, and even in your garage if you keep expensive items in there like power tools or motor vehicles. This will alert you if someone is approaching your home or backyard and give you a chance to catch them before they get too close. You can also use them to monitor your kids’ playtime and make sure they’re not sneaking out of the house after bedtime. Burglars are always looking for signs that nobody is home. They’re more likely to break into a home if they think nobody’s there. That’s why it’s important to always keep your porch and driveway clean and free of clutter so it looks like someone is living there. You should also make sure to keep your curtains closed so people can’t see if you aren’t home. These are all signs that you have a clean, well-kept home. If it looks like nobody lives there, burglars are more likely to break in.
Use Video Surveillance
If you’re simply not able to install motion sensors in certain parts of your property where you want to monitor activity, video surveillance is a great alternative. You can set up a camera in any area of your house, including the front porch. While there are plenty of indoor cameras you can use, it’s important to remember that outdoor cameras need to be weatherproof if they’re going to survive in your backyard or on your porch. Make sure to set your cameras up so they can monitor the areas you need them to. If it looks like nobody is home and you have a camera set up, a burglar may try to break into your home anyway, but if you have video surveillance, you can see what’s going on and call the police. It’s a good idea to have someone check your camera feed at least once a week or whenever you’re expecting the mailman or a friend. It’s important to make sure you’re getting all the footage you need before you set up your camera too. You don’t want to miss an important event because your camera was set up poorly.
Conclusion
Home security is important for all kinds of homeowners, but it is especially important for those who live in high-risk areas. If you live in an area with a high crime rate, you will likely want to make sure your home is as secure as possible. There are many ways to increase the security of your home, from installing locks to adding security systems. No matter what type of home you have, you can keep it secure by taking these steps.
