10 Tips For Better Home Security

Home Security Tips

Make your home less of a target for burglars. Burglars are opportunists. They look for the easiest prey. Consider any of the following home security tips:

No Large Shrubs At Windows

Avoid tall or large shrubs around your windows and doors. Trim them back! Don’t make it easy for a burglar or intruder to conceal themselves while breaking in. Home privacy fencing also provides shielding between the burglar and the street, giving them more freedom of movement without being seen by others. If you have fencing like this, then you especially need outdoor motion lights within the perimeter.

Outdoor Security Lighting

Surround your home with the best outdoor motion lighting you can afford. Motion lights are better than ‘always on’ lighting due to the sudden alert of lights coming on and the attention it attracts.

Watch For Watchers

Burglars often case a neighborhood before they rob it. They will observe your home schedule, your coming and going routines, and also your neighbors schedule. Be aware of this, and look for strangers in the neighborhood who may be gathering data. Situational Awareness.

Visualize From A Burglar’s Perspective

Look through the ‘burglar’s eyes’. See what they would see. They will see whatever you have outside in plain sight – visual clues as to the potential valuables inside. Anything that looks expensive outside will indicate that you probably have expensive stuff inside. A new car in the driveway, a swimming pool in the backyard, expensive outdoor furniture, you get the idea…

Check Your Doors

Avoid doors which have glass near or within reach of the doorknob. This is a home security “no-no” which creates an easy “smash and twist” to get in your home. This is one of the first things a burglar will notice when casing the neighborhood. They are looking for easy access. Use a door security bar, which I wrote about (here).

Install A Good Deadbolt Lock

Most all home burglars come in through the front door! So get yourself a quality deadbolt lock in addition to your doorknob lock. If you can’t install it yourself, it’s worth paying to have it done!

Lock & Close Windows

Unlocked or open windows, even when you are away for a short time are easy access for a burglar. Even in the backyard, a burglar will look for an easy way in – which could simply be through an unlocked or partially open window. Get in the habit to lock ALL doors, even the garage – when you’re home or away. It’s not like it was many decades ago when this wasn’t so much a potential issue…

Window Air Conditioner Security

Window air conditioners in any of the first floor windows – be sure to secure them into the window sash or frame. How to secure an air conditioner in a window.

Seeing Through The Windows

Window coverings. If you have nice-expensive things in your home, don’t make it easy for a burglar to look through a window and see inside. It’s especially easy to see into a home at night when the lights are on inside. Be aware of this and use window blinds, shades, etc..

Pretend You’re Home

Appear like you’re home. Use lights on timers, or at least leave a few turned on. Consider leaving on a radio. If you are on vacation or away from home at night, there’s a clever fake TV deterrent which will create an effective illusion that someone is home.

Whether or not your home appears as a target for a burglar will largely depend upon what the burglar sees from the outside.

They are looking for opportunities of easy entry.