How to Prevent Home Invasion

Securing the Exterior of Your Home

Getting outdoor security is essential to ensure your property is always protected.

• Security cameras

Having exterior cameras allows you to monitor what happens around your house, so you’ll be able to detect any unusual presence from your phone or any security devices, even when you’re not physically there. If there is any suspicious activity you’ll receive immediate alerts, enabling you to take appropriate action promptly. This early detection can help prevent potential threats or intrusions.

• Door and window sensors

By installing sensors on your doors and windows, you create an added layer of security for your home. You can stay informed about any unauthorized entry into your house. This allows you to promptly alert the authorities in case of a break-in attempt, providing them with real-time information on the situation, helping you prevent potential robberies, and ensuring the safety of your property.

• Glass-break sensors

A glass break sensor acts as a deterrent to a home invasion by quickly detecting the vibrations or sounds of broken glass. It triggers an alarm or notifies you and the police immediately. This quick response can stop intruders and allow for swift action, preventing any burglary attempts, even when you’re not present.

• Motion sensor lights

Outdoor motion sensors play a vital role in improving the security of your property as they eliminate the factor of darkness often used by thieves when targeting homes at night. These sensors use passive infrared technology to detect the presence and movement of individuals. When triggered, they activate the lights, alerting you and your neighbors about any unusual behavior, so in case you’re not around, they can take necessary action and contact the relevant authorities.

Securing the Interior of Your Home

While exterior security is commonly necessary, paying attention to indoor security is equally important. The following are some tips for fortifying your home from within.

• Security cameras

Having internal security cameras helps you see what’s happening inside your residence. The mere visibility of indoor cameras sends a clear message that the property is being monitored, deterring criminals from attempting to trespass. Additionally, indoor video surveillance allows you to remotely monitor your home which can give you peace of mind.

• Use the peephole

Using a peephole is essential for home security, it offers a secure way to verify someone’s identity at your door. With this tool, you can confirm credentials, such as law enforcement officers, without needing to unlock the door. However, it’s advisable to never open the door without checking who is there first. You might also consider installing an electronic peephole or video doorbell to see and communicate with visitors without compromising your safety.

• Leave your TV or radio on

A good way to protect your sweet home is to make it look like your house is occupied even when you’re away. An effective method to create this impression is to leave the TV or your radio on. This can deter potential criminals from trying to break into your house as they’ll think someone is inside. This strategy is useful when you go out so that it doesn’t appear that your house is unprotected which can make it a target for possible robbery.

• Keep valuables away from the window

It’s very important to keep valuable items out of sight from windows to minimize the risk of theft. When expensive possessions are visible from the outside, they can attract the attention of potential thieves. So, it’s best to try to avoid leaving your expensive belongings, or that special gift you received on your birthday near a window, as this makes it easier for someone to break the glass and steal it. By keeping your valuable items away from windows, you decrease the likelihood of opportunistic theft.

• Keep valuables in locked spaces

Another effective measure to protect your belongings is to leave your valuables such as jewelry in locked drawers for additional security in case thieves manage to enter your home. An alternative option is to use a bank’s secure vault to store your money, jewelry, and other expensive things you have, as this can provide an additional layer of protection. By keeping your cherished objects locked up, even if thieves gain access to your house, they won’t be able to reach them.

• Keep curtains closed

Keeping curtains closed is another way to safeguard your home. This practice prevents criminals from seeing your belongings and taking inventory of what you possess. It also reduces the risk of becoming a target for burglary if the interior of your residence is not visible, by making it difficult to determine if there are people inside or if your home is unoccupied. An option that some people choose is to install motorized blinds that can be controlled remotely via an app, allowing them to be raised and lowered from a distance.

On Vacations

Taking precautions to secure your home while you’re on vacation is vital to keeping your property safeguarded from potential intruders, as your house becomes more vulnerable to potential break-ins during your absence.

• Share with caution

Try not to share too much information about your vacation in public spaces or on social media to prevent many people from knowing about your departure, especially potential burglars. However, it’s a good idea to keep your trusted nearby neighbors informed about your trip, as they can alert the police if they see any suspicious activity around your house while you’re away.

• Make a plan for your mail

Having a lot of mail or packages piled up in your driveway is an obvious sign that you haven’t been home to receive it, which can attract the attention of people, especially thieves. That’s why it’s recommended that you ask one of your neighbors to help you by storing the mail and shipments that are placed in front of your door in their house so that yours doesn’t attract the attention of intruders.

• Double-check locks

Before going on vacation, it’s important to prioritize the security of your home. A good practice is to thoroughly ensure that all doors in your house are properly secured. This includes checking the locks, deadbolts, and any other security measures in place. Additionally, it’s crucial to verify that your security alarms are activated and functioning correctly, as security alarms can promptly alert you or the authorities in case of any unauthorized entry or emergencies.

General Tips

There are some popular tips that you can easily adapt to your daily life and that will surely improve the security of your residence.

• Protect your keys

Although your keys should always be properly stored, there is a chance of losing them or leaving them in the wrong place. In such instances, it’s recommended to immediately change the door lock of your house. Also if you have just moved to a new house, you should change the lock with a new one to ensure the privacy of your property. And please don’t listen to that movie line about leaving a key outside your house under the rug, as this may be more counterproductive than beneficial for you.

• Modify your routines from time to time

A common advice to stop potential burglars is to make sudden changes to your daily routines, that way you’ll be less likely to become an easy target for theft. Varying your departure and arrival times, as well as making subtle alterations to your activities outside the home, prevents anyone from consistently monitoring your movements and predicting when you’ll be away or at home. These changes disrupt the patterns that burglars may observe, making it more challenging for them to plan a robbery.

• Protect your Wi-Fi

Protecting your Wi-Fi key is another factor that can contribute to the security of your house as it’s something that will prevent thieves from entering your home network. This is mainly relevant if you have security cameras connected to your internet network. Make sure that your password meets the basic security parameters such as having at least 12 characters and that it is made up of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters, since this will make it much more difficult to hack it and access your security system to block it and subsequently attempt a robbery.

Conclusion

Finally, there are many aspects to consider when taking precautions to protect your home. By implementing the simple strategies mentioned above, you can improve the overall safety of your house and reduce your chances of becoming a target for burglary or other security breaches.

When you invest in security systems such as cameras, motion sensor lights, and door/window sensors, and also if you practice good habits like locking up valuable belongings and double-checking house locks before leaving, among others, you’re significantly improving the security of your home. However, it’s important to remember that the best way to protect your house is by getting insurance coverage to safeguard it against unforeseen circumstances.