It’s natural to be worried about a break-in to your home. With hundreds of thousands of break-ins occurring each year nationwide, it is cause for concern. As a homeowner, you always want to make sure that there is no way intruders can enter your property. And you want to ensure that your family is safe, especially when there are kids asleep in different rooms. While there isn’t a 100% guarantee that someone won’t find their way inside, there are steps you can take to make sure nothing is overlooked, and you and your family are as safe as possible.
Walls and fences
Many people assume that just because there is a wall or fence outside that people will be discouraged from entering. This couldn’t be further from the truth. If walls or fences are low, intruders are simply going to climb right over them, especially if they are on the side or back of your house, as they won’t be seen by people passing by.
It’s a simple fix really: build a higher fence. Ideally, you want a secure fence or wall that is at least head height. This means that rather than people simply hopping over your fence in one swoop, they’re going to have to climb, which draws attention – something intruders never want.
Dark corners
The most common spot for an intruder to hide before pouncing on your property is those dark pesky corners. In many homes, backyards and side pathways just aren’t lit effectively because people focus so much on the front. While it’s not cost effective or environmentally friendly to have lights on all the time around your property, it is wise to install some motion detector lights, so they will go on when they detect some movement and alert you if people are walking around the space. Remember to consult an electrician if installation will be tricky.
Locks, keys and handles
Many people will move into a property, accept the keys and be done with it. Always, always, always change the locks when you move into a home. Not only can locks wear quickly, it’s also never wise to have a lock that accesses your home when someone out there may have accidentally forgotten to hand in their key.
Handles can also become quite loose, meaning it’s much easier for people to force their way inside and old locks can be broken within a matter of minutes. Don’t forget to replace the window locks as well.
Close the curtains
When you’re out and about, closing your curtains is just as important as closing and locking the front doors. It’s a known fact that many intruders actually case the premises before entering. This means they are watching your movements and when possible, peering inside to see if anyone else is home when you leave. Open curtains are just an invitation to have a peek.
Keeping your curtains open also shows potential intruders what is actually in your home and what valuables they can potentially steal.
So, whenever you leave, close the curtains and when you’re at home at night, make sure blinds are drawn – interior lights often make it easier for burglars to see inside.
Home security systems
Your neighbourhood may be the safest in Australia but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the need for a home security system. This could be as simple as an alarm or as complex as an alarm with back-to-base compatibility and security cameras. Whatever your preference, having an alarm is the safest way to protect yourself and your home.
Consider this: an intruder enters your home and the alarm goes off. They’re much more likely to run out the door without taking anything or hurting you simply because they know they’re much more likely to get caught now that you and your neighbours have been notified. Back-to-base systems also mean that the security company is notified when the alarm goes off, adding an extra layer of comfort.
Take care when you go out of town
Life today is lived on social media. When it comes to protecting your home from potential intruders, never ever post about going on holiday. This is a blatant alert that your home will be empty.
If you are in an apartment building, it’s much easier to lock the door and go without having someone take care of your home. However, it’s crucial to ask a neighbour or family member to check your mail. Nothing screams “I’m not home” more than an overflowing letter box. If you live in a house, consider finding someone to move in while you are away. If this isn’t possible, pop some appliances and lights on timers so it looks like someone is still living there.
Look at your doors and windows
Firstly, many people leave windows open at night to get some fresh air in. While this is ok to do in some circumstances, in others, it’s an open invitation for people to come on in. If you want to be extra cautious, install security screens on windows and doors. This means you can leave your door or window open, but still have an extra layer of security. For stylish and discreet screen designs, talk to the experts at Artilux about your screening needs.
