How to Increase Home Security With These Helpful Tips

You may be familiar with the feeling of sitting alone in your living room and hearing weird noises near the door or window. It is most likely a branch hitting your window or a door shaking with the wind on its loose hinges, but your mind immediately jumps to one conclusion: intruder. This is not to say that this thought process is entirely unreasonable as you never know who or what might be lurking outside your home.

Security for the home has become quite advanced. You can install a wide array of gadgets that will deter intruders and keep you notified in case of attempted break-ins. Thanks to home security, you can breathe a little easier, keeping yourself, your loved ones, and your possessions protected.

Next time you hear a questionable noise, whether it is an intruder, an animal, or even an alien, your security systems will ensure your safety and wellbeing.

Window and Door Alarms

Window and door intercom systems are staples of 21st-century home security systems.

A window and door alarm system is the simplest security measure to help you be aware of any break-ins or intrusions. When you lock all entryways and engage the security system will sound a loud alarm as soon as any of the magnetic locks on the doors or windows are opened.

The downside to this system is that someone from the household may arrive home a little later than usual and accidentally trip the alarm, waking up the entire house. Older security systems will have you running to the controls every time you step into your home to disarm the alarms before they go off. But modern alarm systems have found a workaround. You can use a smart device to temporarily disarm the alarms before heading inside, saving you the shock of hearing a whaling alarm every time you walk into your home.

When choosing an alarm you should pay attention to how loud it is. If you live in a big home with many interior walls you may not hear the alarm if you are at one end of the house and there is a lot of noise around you. So choosing a loud system or one with several intercoms is a better choice for bigger homes. Some of the best home security systems will pair with your smart devices so you can arm and disarm the alarms remotely as well as receive real-time notifications if they go off.

Bigger Door Locks

Complex locking mechanisms are no match to the dexterity of the average burglar.

While there are master lockpickers out there who can pick their way through any lock, they are most likely too busy trying to catch bigger fish, like attempting to open a comically oversized bank vault. Your garden variety thieves and burglars, however, are most likely not as good at picking locks. So installing a bigger, more complex locking mechanism can help you deter burglars from trying to make their way in.

When purchasing a lock, look for one that is labeled as an “anti-pick lock”. These are impossible to pick by your average burglar. Only those who have mastered the skill of lockpicking have even a slight chance of opening it. Unless you are storing the original Mona Lisa or Declaration of Independence in your basement, chances are they are busy making use of their skills in more valuable endeavors.

Stronger Window Latches

Windows are among the easiest methods of break-ins, so be careful.

Many homeowners underestimate the abilities of individuals who wish to enter their houses uninvited. As a result, they leave their windows unprotected thinking that the chance of someone trying to break in through them is very low.  Unfortunately, this is more common than you think, and many burglars prefer windows (especially if they are out of sight) since they allow easier and faster access into your home than your locked and bolted front door. Some intruders may even know the layout of your home and enter through a window they know leads to the room that houses all your valuables.

This is very common with older wooden windows which have become less sturdy with time. All it takes for an intruder to break in is a little push with a crowbar and whatever old locking mechanism you had on your window breaks without any fuss. You can always install window bars on the outside of your windows but these won’t do your curb appeal any favors. Your best bet is to get reinforced window latches that do a better job at keeping out uninvited guests.

You can buy a large pack of aluminum window latches for no more than $10, but aluminum is a somewhat bendable material and won’t stand a chance against someone who has mastered the art of breaking things with a crowbar. Stainless steel latches are a much stronger and more reliable solution to keeping your windows tightly shut.

Window and Door Motion Sensor

Motion detection is a foolproof method of catching intruders.

Let’s imagine for a second that the person trying to break into your house is a little more experienced in their line of work. They know precisely how to break through a door or window without making any noise or even setting off the alarm. How does one go about protecting their home from someone who has this kind of experience?

A way to secure windows and doors is by installing motion detectors. Regardless of how experienced this intruder is, they are going to be moving around which means they have no way of avoiding the motion sensors. If anyone passes through the doors or windows, even if they are wide open, the alarm will go off and let you know that there is someone in the house.

Once the door and window sensors are installed, make sure to keep your pets in a room during the night. The last thing you want is your cat setting off the alarms as they take their nightly strolls through the house. Also, warn any of your nightly guests or the household night owls to mind the motion sensor and remember to disarm the alarm before they head inside.

Reinforcing Strike Plate

Never take regular door locks for granted, and make sure your strike plates are properly installed.

The strike plate is a little metal cover installed on door frames where the deadbolts (those long metal bars that extend when locked) of the lock go into. It is a very important component of the locking mechanism. If the designated deadbolt slots are even slightly off the mark or the holes are too wide, the locking mechanism is not going to fit correctly and the door will rattle when it is closed.

This is why one of the most important security measures you can take is to ensure the strike plates on your doors are perfectly aligned with the locking mechanism and are tightly screwed onto the frame. With a thick and properly reinforced strike plate, the door lock should work properly, making it harder for intruders to pick it. These are also quite inexpensive so you can purchase them in batches of 5 or 7 and reinforce all the exterior doors in your home and even some of the bigger windows.

Discreet Exterior Door Camera 

Modern times have allowed us to use very small cameras as a way of ensuring security around our homes.

Why wait for the intruder to make their way into your home when you can catch them before they even get a chance to enter? That is what an outdoor home security camera system

is for. Back in the day, closed-circuit cameras used to be very bulky and quite conspicuous. This bulky camera design was somewhat of a double-edged sword, as it would ward off potential intruders who could see that the area was under surveillance. On the other hand, more experienced burglars could use this to their advantage and locate blind spots in your security where they could break in from.

Modern home security systems are far more discreet. They can connect to your smart device and give you a real-time feed. The technology has gotten small enough that you can easily conceal all the cameras. Furthermore, the dome design of some surveillance cameras makes it difficult to see which way the camera is pointing, making it harder for criminals to know whether they are in a blindspot. You can hide your cameras inside fake potted plants, bury them into one of the posts on your porch, or even disguise them as the peephole or a video doorbell. Use the landscape to your advantage and gain the upper hand against any burglar or thief looking for trouble.

Sliding Glass Door Locks

Regular glass door locks won’t cut it; opt for specialized sliding glass door locks.

Many homeowners make the mistake of overlooking the security they have in their backyard thinking that the surrounding fences are enough to keep any intruders out; this is not the case. There are all kinds of fences that help protect your property, but a cheeky intruder will have no problem finding a way around or over them. While sliding glass doors by default come with a locking mechanism, these are typically quite easy to pick or break.

There are specialized sliding glass door locks that reinforce the door and make it much harder to open. These are installed over the hinges themselves on the inside of the door, providing extra reinforcement from an intruder trying to pry open the door with a crowbar. Additionally, if the intruder resorts to brute force after failing to pick the lock, you can also install glass break sensors that alert you to any broken window or door glass panes so you can act accordingly.

Extra Tips and Tricks for Home Security

Hiding your cameras from pryers makes it easier for intruders to be caught.

Camouflage your interior security cameras that are located near the entrances and windows. You can purchase ones that are made to look like other objects, such as a book, vase, or a digital clock. There are several reasons to keep the interior security system discreet. First of all, the last thing you want to do is make your guests feel like they’re being spied on even though the security cameras are off. Going to someone’s house to see a camera in the corner of the room is not a pleasant sight as you never know if it is on or off.

Is your security system intact, updated, and functional?

Regularly update and test the security system to ensure that everything is working properly. The last thing you want is a malfunctioning camera, motion sensor, or alarm right when an intruder breaks in. Your security system should always be armed and ready to protect your home.

Smart security systems are widely available and you can speak with a home automation specialist to help you install everything from security cameras to smart locks on your doors. This added bit of security can go a long way in preventing any intruders from entering your home. Additionally, pairing your security system with a smart device allows you to keep a close eye on your home remotely. So even when you are not at home, nothing will get by your surveillance system.

Hiding your keys under your welcome mat is never a good idea.

Do not leave your keys under the doormat. This is one mistake that many homeowners make thinking they have outwitted everyone around them. Many burglars have made it second nature to check under doormats, inside potted plants, bushes, and even the mailbox. Anything from a simple home security system to the most advanced security you can find cannot keep you safe if your front door key is in the hands of someone else. Instead, store the keys in an external safe that will keep them safer than under a doormat.