Securing your home, family and possessions should be on the top of everyone’s list of priorities but it’s not always easy to know where to start or sometimes certain measures are overlooked. Here are some steps to take to improve your home’s security:
- Install a gate in your driveway that can be automated and opened via remote. You put yourself and others in danger by driving into the driveway, getting out of the vehicle and manually opening a gate. Wait in your vehicle in the street and open the gate automatically once you’ve inspected the surroundings. Once opened, only then turn into your driveway and ensure your gate closes behind you.
- Make sure someone you trust is expecting you home even if it’s SMSing them once safely inside and you’ve inspected the house.
- Try to keep the bushes and plants short and trimmed in your garden especially around the gate and driveway. You want to have a good view of your property. Try to keep trees away from windows and second story balconies. Perpetrators use these to climb up and get in.
- Ensure that you have good lighting facing your driveway, driveway gate and its surroundings. Install bright flood lights facing away from the house, giving you a clear view of the entire grounds. It is advisable that these are set to turn on by a motion sensor trigger.
- Installing a fence around most of your property rather than a solid wall may be beneficial as you and your neighbours can have a clear view of your property at any time of day. Taking measures further and having a fence with sharp spikes on top can really deter an intruder.
- An alarm system should be installed and associated to a trusted security company. Panic buttons linked to the alarm system should also be installed in various places around the house and in every bedroom. Some panic buttons should be linked as “silent” alarms that are triggered at the security company’s premises but does not sound a loud alarm at the house.
- If you’re going out of town, notify neighbours of the dates you will be away and give them a direct number to reach you or your security
company in case of any suspicious happenings on your property. Purchase a home security Indoor IP camera linked to your phone that
has motion detection, night vision, audio and alarm notification. This way you can check up on your home at any time. - Securing windows and doors around the house with sturdy burglar bars, security gates, padlocks and alarm triggers on windows will help prevent intruders from entering.
- Ensure that if you leave the house and plan to return in the evening that lights are either left on in certain rooms and by the entrance of your door or that you set a timer for them to come on at a certain time – to potential intruders this also makes it seem as though someone is home even if you’re not.