How To Make Your Home More Secure 

All opinions are mine and mine alone.

How To Make Your Home More Secure 

Winter is creeping in which means the likelihood of your home being broken into is creeping up. According to studies, home burglaries increase by around 35% in winter, with dark nights cited as the main reason because it’s easier for thieves to identify empty houses.  

Whilst it’s wise for businesses to invest in static security services to protect their premises, it’s not feasible for homeowners to employ such services whilst they’re at work or otherwise not home. If you’re concerned about protecting your home from thieves this winter, here are a few ways you can make it extra secure.  

Motion Sensor Lights
An easy way to scare thieves is with light. Putting a motion sensor light on the front of your house and one at the back or side (if applicable) will deter burglars as it will illuminate them, potentially alerting neighbours and people nearby.  

Camera/Alarm
Over the years, more and more people have started to invest in security cameras above their front and back doors. It’s thought that around 60% of burglars are deterred by alarms, and for many, cameras have the same effect. If thieves aren’t put off by these, there’s a higher chance of getting a conviction if you do have a security systems installed because it will be easier to identify the perpetrator.  

Doorbell cameras have been growing in popularity over recent years thanks to their high quality cameras, low price point and automatic mobile notifications when movement is detected. If you don’t want a larger camera outside your home, these are a good alternative.  

It’s not just the outside of your house that you can monitor, you can purchase discrete cameras for inside, too. Many of them are discrete and will blend is seamlessly with your home décor. There are many different ones to choose from, most of which use a Wi-Fi connection and allow you to monitor your home from your mobile phone. These are a good option for added peace of mind, particularly if you’re going away for a period of time.  

Blinds/Curtains
One of the ways thieves determine which houses to target is to assess if there are any items of worth within the house, so it’s a good idea to keep any valuables away from windows/doors and to have blinds or net curtains so people can’t see in.  

When it gets dark, make an effort to draw your curtains or close your blinds so that the contents of your home aren’t clearly visible to passers-by. Likewise, avoid posting flashy pictures of expensive items you own (TV’s, computers, jewellery) on social media as this could make your house a potential target.  

Indoor Lights
Thieves don’t tend to strike when it’s obvious people are home, so a good trick to use is to leave a few lights on when you’re going out and it’s dark out. This will give the impression that someone is home and deter opportunistic thieves. That being said, habitual thieves sometimes monitor houses to determine the best time to strike, and one thing they look out for is lighting. A good way to get around this is to install smart lights that can be controlled remotely. This way, you can turn lights in your home on and off at sporadic intervals, potentially throwing thieves off course.  

Hedge
Most burglaries take less than 15 minutes to complete. If you have no fencing or hedging, it could be even quicker because the entry and escape of your property is made easier by the fact there are no obstacles in the way. A hedge is a particularly good idea because it’s not as easy to climb as a fence, and if it’s well trimmed, it offers no hiding spaces either.  

Summary
Whilst there’s no guarantee that these options will 100% protect you from being burgled, there’s a strong chance they will prevent your home from becoming a target, so it’s well worth taking note and implementing a few small changes.