Do you ever feel like your home security isn’t really providing you much protection?

Maybe there has been a series of break-ins in your area recently, or maybe you just have been wondering whether anything would actually stop someone from breaking into your property. Well here’s the good news. If you’re unsure of the level of protection in your home security, you can always improve it! Let’s look at some of the ways that burglars could enter your home, and some of the changes you can make to prevent this from happening. Here are some things you can do that will act as a deterrent, as well as ways to stop a thief who has already entered your property.

Are You Leaving Doors Unlocked Or Windows Open?

You would be amazed how many people leave their door unlocked when they are home. Police believe that almost one-third of property owners might be making this mistake. The reason for this is simple: most people think if they are home, someone is less likely to break in. Of course, this isn’t the case at all. Actually it’s pretty common for thieves to break into a property when people are home and/or asleep. It can even happen during the middle of the day. Imagine if you’re in your backyard and leave the front door unlocked; someone could easily walk in without you knowing! Clever criminals will often walk in, take the keys, and walk right back out again.

Have you ever found a key has gone missing? What if you didn’t lose it? What if someone took it? If that happens, they can come back and enter your house without breaking into it at all. Even worse, your neighbors probably wouldn’t try to stop them because they’d assume since they have a key they’re supposed to be there! This is why you should keep doors locked whether you are inside the house or not.

And what about your windows? Many people leave windows open at night to let the air circulate. But it might be worth investing in an A/C unit or a fan instead, to avoid leaving an open window as a point of entry for burglars.

New Tech For Your Home

If you are worried about your home security, you might consider adding new technology to your property. Let’s start by thinking about CCTV. It might seem like overkill, but that depends on how safe you currently feel at home. CCTV isn’t going to just provide you with evidence of someone breaking in, it could act as a deterrent. Take a second to put yourself in the mind of a criminal: imagine you have two houses that you could steal from, both with items inside that are equally valuable. One house has advanced CCTV systems at entry points, and the other does not. Which one would you choose? The implication here is not only that they have to watch out for CCTV, but that there may be more intense, advanced security systems operating inside as well.

Of course, if you are considering setting up CCTV on your property, there are a few things you should be aware of. First, it should not record any area of another person’s property. Though you may think you are helping by keeping an eye on your neighbor’s property, it could leave you open to a potential lawsuit in some places. Be careful how you angle those cameras! Second, it’s probably not as expensive as you think to set up this kind of equipment. In fact, most of the systems are now available at budget-friendly prices. (In other words, they can be used to protect your personal assets and your home.)

CCTV isn’t the only technology that you can add to your home to help avoid burglary. You could also consider motion sensor lighting. By adding it all around the outside of the property, it can be useful to detecting unwanted advances, particularly if you have an unfenced property. If someone is on the land without your permission, you will be alerted immediately. This can give you time to hide or call the police if you perceive someone as a threat. The only downside is that they can be too sensitive, going off when an animal crosses your yard.

Alternatively, you could consider adding smart tech. Smart tech such as a smart locking system on your home doors could be just what you need. Typical lock mechanisms are relatively easy to break, but with a smart lock system on your doors, it makes things more complicated and difficult for intruders. You certainly can’t break in with the old credit card trick. Again, these systems are totally affordable, so you don’t have to worry about an upgrade like this breaking the bank!

One other basic piece of tech you should have for your property is timer plugs. With timer plugs, you can set your tech or lights to come on at certain times throughout the day when you are away. The benefit of this is that it makes it look like your home is occupied. Some people believe the best option is to leave things switched on, but that won’t work. When someone drives past your house and sees all the lights on at 2am, they’ll know you’re not in.

Repairs and DIY

One reason you shouldn’t take too long to repair issues in your home? They can provide opportunities for intruders to enter. For example, consider if you have a back door to your garage and the window is broken. Putting plastic or tape over the broken window won’t stop a thief from getting access. Call a professional window repair company like Professional Glass to fix these issues as soon as possible.

Of course, that’s just one of the repairs that could leave your home vulnerable. Maybe one of the doors has a back lock, or your windows don’t have locks at all. Again, this could make it a little easier for burglars to get in. As much as possible, you should be completing repairs as soon as you notice them. Don’t leave it long enough for someone else to notice your home isn’t completely secure. If you aren’t sure whether you can handle the repair yourself, hire an expert to complete the job for you.

More Home Improvements

You may want to also think about improving your windows. Did you know that you can actually get reinforced glass for your property? Many break-ins do start with someone smashing a window, and this is a simple but effective way to get into a property. Reinforced glass obliterates this possibility because a hit to the glass won’t cause it to smash. And, if someone does try to break into your home, you can take comfort knowing they won’t be coming through the window.

You can even get roller shutters for your home windows. While this might sound absurd, it’s actually become quite common for homeowners to invest in this type of equipment that used to be exclusive to commercial properties. It’s a more expensive alteration for sure, but it will definitely provide you comfort when sleeping in your home at night.

As far as more basic features go, you should make sure that you have a fully functional alarm system on your property. I know this might seem like common sense, but a lot of people actually leave their alarm systems off to save the hassle of having to type in the code each time they leave or return home. The problem with that is pretty obvious. An alarm could be enough to scare off a thief and make sure they leave your property before they get the chance to take anything.

How Should You Handle a Break In?

Keep in mind, only a fraction of break-ins are violent. So in other words, most criminals really don’t care about you at all and just want your belongings. Pinpoint a place you can hide in the property if a break-in occurs while you are home. The attic would be a good option if you can get up there quickly and pull the ladder up behind you. Also, you might even try to leave the house and go to your neighbor’s instead. Once you are in a safe location, contact the police.

If you are out while the break-in occurs, make sure that you contact authorities and your insurance company as soon as possible. You will also need to arrange for your locks to be changed – you never know if they found a spare key to hold onto before they left.