***Collaborative post***
Buying a new home is a significant milestone for any property owner. However, that investment is not complete if you don’t go to all lengths to secure your house and protect your family. With grim statistics showing that burglary attacks are increasing, putting the best home security measures in place is worth it. Here are ten ways to protect your home with robust security systems and boost your first line of defence.
Secure the doors
A responsible homeowner will want to inspect their interior and exterior doors to ensure that the frames and hinges are strong enough. If you do not want to help a burglar break into your home, simply secure your doors. A mail slot in your door is one thing that can compromise your home security, as burglars may be able to reach through and unlock your door. If you have just moved into a new home, consider changing your door locks. This will bar strangers who might have had access to your key from burgling your home. Reinforce the security systems around your vital entryways by upgrading to smart locks.
Reinforce your sliding glass doors and windows
Since burglars love taking advantage of the downsides of sliding doors, it makes sense to reinforce your sliding doors. Install conventional window bars when necessary to prevent your sliding windows from being forced open. Homeowners ready to use high-tech security solutions will find systems like the Ajax security system to be very effective. Do you want to protect your home with a tap of a button? The Ajax app turns your security system into a manageable device. Add door sensors and glass break sensors to receive quick alerts when intruders try to tamper with your home.
Secure your wireless network
Thieves are not the only threats to your properties; cyber-criminals can also ride on your Wi-Fi networks to plot attacks on your home. Wireless networks act as central doorways for hackers to target your sensitive information, including financial data. If you use home automation systems, these tools can make your home vulnerable to attackers. For example, if your insecure wireless network is linked to your smart home gadgets, criminals can exploit this loophole to gain direct access to your home. Secure your computer systems with anti-malware protection, build a firewall, and secure your Wi-Fi routers.
Protect your children with parental control software
Parents with little ones around them may want to monitor the online activities of their kids. The internet is a good platform for education and entertainment, but it can also expose children and adults to cyberbullying. Keeping your kids safe from web-based predators can be done using parental control apps and other software solutions. These systems allow parents to control their children’s screen hours and enforce device-free dinners.
Get to know your neighbours
Sometimes thieves don’t come from afar but within your immediate surroundings. When you move into a new place, one of the first things to do is get to know your neighbours as a security measure. Protecting your home from break-ins is more effective if you have trusted people nearby to keep an eye on your properties. Get to know those who live around you, and inform them to watch over your house when you are going away for extended periods.
Get a dog
If you love pets that much, you may want to get a dog. This domestic animal can keep you company, protect your house, and bring you joy as well. Dogs that bark loud can scare home intruders from coming near your residence. They will also make some noise to alert you when a stranger is at the door. Get the right type of dog, and their presence will deter potential burglars from your home.
Install security cameras
In recent years, security cameras have been making headlines as they are known to foil burglary attempts. Surveillance cameras allow homeowners to monitor suspicious events around their homes – they can provide valuable information to help track down criminals who target your home. Security cameras come in different forms. Whether you buy surveillance cameras that work on their own or those that come with complete home security systems, the investment can improve your safety. Security cameras with mobile apps will allow you to view footage in real-time. Modern home security cameras now come with unique features such as motion detection, cloud storage, and night vision capabilities.
Don’t post your vacation plans on social media
It isn’t uncommon for potential burglars to eavesdrop on social media conversations to rightly time their attacks on people going on vacations. It’s normal to want to share your vacation plans with your social media followers. However, doing so can also compromise your security. Leaking your vacation plans to the wrong person online can land you in deep water, as burglars will know precisely when to attack your home.
Clear hiding places
Overgrown shrubs, weeds, and trees near your home create a perfect haven for thieves. So, consider pruning your yard shrubbery and trees to eliminate the risks of these hideouts to your home security. You may also want to trim the foliage near your windows as an extra security precaution. A good number of burglary incidents happen during the day time, so don’t let tree branches and shrubs provide cover to malicious individuals.
Get a safe
Since you can’t always trust your security systems to keep out bad guys, getting a safe is a good insurance policy. A safe in your home can be used to securely store valuable items like jewellery and travel documents, including passports. A good safe should be fire-resistant, waterproof, and heavy enough to prevent thieves from looting it. Ensure that the locks on the safe are up to two, choose the appropriate safe size to keep your precious items and install a safe that’s portal or anchored according to your need. A gun safe can keep your firearms out of the reach of criminals or unauthorised users. Annually, in the United States, about 230,000 firearms get stolen during household burglaries.
