The holiday season is upon us and homeowners aren’t the only ones with visions of sugar plums and tablets dancing in their heads. Unfortunately, the holiday season is a prime time for break-ins to occur as burglars know that homes will contain holiday gifts in addition to other items thieves covet.
Home security has grown leaps and bounds as technology has improved, so it’s easier than ever to secure your home. There are also some simple things you can do to help deter would-be thieves from burglarizing your home. Read on for our guide to protecting your home.
Know thy Neighbor
When moving into a new community, one of the easiest things to do is meet your next-door neighbors and anyone else in proximity to your home. Being able to recognize people who are part of your community and not can be beneficial in the event something happens. It’s also good to have a rapport with your immediate neighbors so they can let you know if something doesn’t look right whether you’re home or not.
Get Involved with Neighborhood Social Groups
Whether you’re using a service such as Nextdoor or Facebook, there are ways to connect with your community and meet new people. It’s a great way to meet and get to know your neighbors. These groups are also fantastic in alerting fellow residents of unknown people in the neighborhood, or other things that may not be on the up and up.
Limit Social Posts About Your Plans
While people get a thrill out of detailing and sharing every aspect of their lives with their friends and family, it’s not wise to tell the world about your plans for travel or holiday gifts, etc. For instance, sharing about a new computer, or that you’re going to be traveling to visit family for Christmas telegraphs to criminals what you have and where you’re going (or for how long). Telling a select few people about your plans is one thing but broadcasting to a potentially global audience may not be the best way to prevent danger from accessing your home.
Invest in Home Security
As mentioned in the opening, technology has advanced to where expensive home security systems with monthly monitoring and long-term contracts are quickly going the way of the dodo bird. Ring, Simplisafe, Blink, and others have made home security easy and affordable, without having to have a professional install the systems. Many of these systems are plug-and-play and can be bought as a package or as individual pieces. Home insurers will sometimes discount policies for homes that are protected by monitored systems, so that’s another benefit.
Having cameras installed to capture any access points on the front, sides, and rear of your house can help give you peace of mind with anything that’s transpiring at your house while you’re away (or even inside).
Install a Smart Doorbell
Speaking of cameras, Ring, the company that revolutionized the smart doorbell industry, as well as other companies, offer smart doorbells that could deter “porch pirates” from pilfering packages from your porch. Try saying that fast three times. The smart doorbells can alert you to the motion on your porch as well as allow you to communicate with anyone who rings your doorbell, all through a convenient app. And while Ring is the most well-known, Nest, Simplisafe, and others offer smart doorbells. Adding a smart doorbell is part of the many smart home innovations that are available for today’s houses.
Add More Lights
Installing motion-detecting lights at your home’s entry points can deter potential intruders by illuminating them in light. Utilizing smart home devices like Amazon’s Alexa-controlled devices or Google Home can also be used with smart plugs or timers to adjust or activate lights at designated times while you’re away.
Close Curtains and Blinds at Night
It’s a lot easier for people to see what’s going on once the sun sets and the interior lights are on. Closing your blinds or drapes helps provide you with privacy while providing some security from prying eyes.
Install a Storm Door
A storm door is an additional door at your home’s entry with its own lock, providing an extra layer of protection and deterring potential thieves from entering your home.
Work on Your Windows
Windows are one of the weakest components of home security, so if doors are locked, they’re where intruders will turn to gain access to your house. Investing in security film, a transparent film that when applied to windows, prevents them from shattering to pieces if broken, can slow down a criminal’s access to the home. It can also buy you time to get out or call for help if you hear someone attempting to break in.
Securing your home for the holidays and beyond using some of these tips can deter potential burglars. While it may cost a little more and require some time to implement, investing in your home’s safety is a modest price to pay for your peace of mind.
Photo Credit: iStock.com/Onfokus