Protect Your Home with Our Top 10 Security Tips

Ensuring your home’s security is paramount in today’s world.

At Northern Suburbs Locksmiths, we believe in empowering our customers with the knowledge they need to keep their homes safe and secure.

Here are our quick top 10 security tips to help protect your home:

1. Upgrade Your Locks: Ensure all exterior doors have high-quality deadbolts. Consider smart locks for keyless entry and the ability to monitor access remotely.
2. Secure Your Windows: Install window locks and consider adding security film to make glass harder to break. Keep windows closed and locked when not at home.
3. Light Up Your Landscape: Use motion sensor lighting around your home’s exterior to deter intruders. Well-lit properties are less appealing to burglars.
4. Install a Security System: A monitored alarm system can provide peace of mind, deter potential intruders, and alert you to suspicious activity.
5. Use Timers on Electronics: Timers on lights, TVs, and radios can make your home appear occupied even when you’re away.
6. Secure Sliding Doors: Add extra security to sliding doors with a metal or wooden dowel in the track, and consider installing additional locks.
7. Don’t Advertise Your Absence: Do not post about your absence on social media. Instead, have a trusted neighbour collect mail and parcels or use a mail hold service.
8. Rekey Locks for New Homes: If you’ve recently moved, rekeying your locks is critical to ensure previous owners or tenants no longer have access.
9. Install Surveillance Cameras: Visible security cameras can deter would-be burglars and help you monitor your property remotely.
10. Join a Neighborhood Watch. Active involvement in your community can enhance neighbourhood security. Share tips and keep each other informed about suspicious activity.

Here are our expanded Top 10 Security Tips for Your Home

1. Upgrade Your Locks:

Ensure all exterior doors have high-quality deadbolts. Deadbolts provide robust protection against forced entry attempts. Opt for deadbolts with a minimum of a one-inch throw bolt to resist kick-ins effectively.

Additionally, consider installing smart locks for added convenience and security. Smart locks offer keyless entry, allowing you to unlock your doors using a smartphone app or key fob. They also enable remote monitoring, so you can monitor who enters and exits your home, providing an extra layer of control over your property’s security.

2. Secure Your Windows:

Windows are a common entry point for burglars, so securing them is crucial. Install sturdy window locks on all accessible windows.

For added protection, consider applying a security film to the glass. This film makes it harder for intruders to break the glass, delaying their entry and potentially deterring them altogether.

Always keep your windows closed and locked when you’re not at home.

For extra peace of mind, you might also consider installing window sensors that alert you if a window is opened unexpectedly.

3. Light Up Your Landscape:

A well-lit exterior is a powerful deterrent to burglars.

Install motion sensor lights around your home’s perimeter, including pathways, driveways, and entry points. These lights activate when they detect movement, startling potential intruders and illuminating any suspicious activity.

Solar-powered options are available for energy efficiency.

Ensure all entry points are well-lit to eliminate hiding spots for would-be burglars.

Additionally, consider using smart lighting systems to remotely control and schedule your outdoor lights.

4. Install a Security System:

A comprehensive security system is a cornerstone of home protection.

Invest in a monitored alarm system that provides 24/7 surveillance. These systems can detect break-ins, fire, and carbon monoxide leaks, immediately alerting you and emergency services.

Modern systems offer smart features such as remote monitoring through a smartphone app, allowing you to check in on your home from anywhere.

Visible security system signs and stickers can also act as a deterrent to potential intruders.

5. Use Timers on Electronics:

Timers on lights, TVs, and radios can create the illusion of occupancy when you’re away from home.

Set timers to turn on and off at various intervals to mimic your routines. This simple strategy can deter burglars who target homes that appear unoccupied.

Smart plugs and smart home systems can also be programmed to control your electronics remotely, allowing you to adjust settings while away.

6. Secure Sliding Doors:

Sliding doors are particularly vulnerable to break-ins.

Enhance their security by placing a metal or wooden dowel in the track to prevent the door from being forced open.

Additionally, secondary locks or security bars should be installed for extra protection.

Consider adding glass break sensors that trigger an alarm if someone attempts to break the glass.

For an added layer of security, choose sliding doors with shatter-resistant glass.

7. Don’t Advertise Your Absence:

Avoid sharing details about your absence on social media, as this can alert potential burglars that your home is empty.

Instead, inform a trusted neighbour of your plans so they can keep an eye on your property.

Arrange for them to collect your mail and parcels, or use a mail hold service to prevent an overflow that signals you’re away.

If you’re going on an extended trip, consider using a house-sitting service to ensure your home appears occupied.

8. Rekey Locks for New Homes:

Rekeying the locks is a critical security step when moving into a new home.

This process involves changing the internal mechanisms of the locks so that old keys no longer work.

It ensures that previous owners, tenants, or anyone with a key can’t access your home.

Rekeying is a cost-effective alternative to replacing the lock system and provides immediate peace of mind.

Contact a professional locksmith like Northern Suburbs Locksmiths to perform this service promptly after moving in.

9. Install Surveillance Cameras:

Visible security cameras can deter would-be burglars and provide valuable evidence in the event of a crime.

Install cameras at key points around your property, such as entrances, driveways, and other vulnerable areas.

Modern surveillance systems offer high-definition video, night vision, and remote monitoring capabilities.

If the cameras detect motion, you can receive alerts on your smartphone, allowing you to respond quickly to suspicious activity.

10. Join a Neighbourhood Watch:

Active involvement in your community can significantly enhance neighbourhood security.

Join or form a Neighbourhood Watch program to collaborate with neighbours on safety initiatives.

Regular meetings can help share tips, report suspicious activity, and stay informed about local crime trends.

A strong sense of community vigilance can deter criminal activity and create a safer environment for everyone.