According to statistics put forth by the FBI, a burglary takes places once in every fifteen seconds. Regardless of the neighbourhood 
you reside in, the risk of a break-in is a real possibility for those who have inadequate security. Thankfully, there are ways you can increase the safety of your belongings without having to purchase an expensive home alarm system. As your home security is only as strong as your most vulnerable entry points, focusing on these areas will enhance the overall protection of your home. Here are 5 ways to improve your home security:
1. Weak Locks
Check your home for any handle locks, as these can be opened with nothing but a rudimentary credit card. Make sure every lock is reinforced with a deadbolt, especially one that offers keyed access from the outside and a thumb latch from within. This allows for exterior safety while providing a way to quickly lock and unlock the door in the event of an emergency. Modern deadbolts even have a function that prevents a duplicate key from being activated, which offers protection for those who have contractors, neighbors or housekeepers that have access to your house keys.
2. Bad Doors
It’s more common in movies to see law enforcement kick down doors rather than pick locks when pursuing a suspect. While this is mainly in the interest of time and burglars tend to be more clandestine, the point is that if push comes to shove and an infiltrator wants entry, a strong lock is worthless on a door that can be easily kicked in. The weakest area of a door is typically the area around the lock, particularly in doors made of wood. If replacing the entry with a durable fiberglass door is out of your price range, a decorative door reinforcement can secure the area without much cost. Sliding patio doors are also a major culprit of poor security, as many models can simply be removed from their tracks with a simple lift. Patio bars or fingerprint devices can be utilized to prevent such doors from sliding off the tracks, even if their locks have been damaged.
3. Visibility
Burglars often depend on the element of surprise. They cling to the shadows and avoid direct lines of sight, not only from the homes they are targeting but from the wandering eye of nearby neighbors. Some burglars will only target homes they can adequately move in and out from without being seen. Homes with high hedges, trees, and shrubbery can decrease visibility and make it easier for burglars to caper about unseen. In addition to proper landscaping, make sure your front door is equipped with a wide-angle peephole, as some burglaries occur when residents unwittingly open their homes to strangers or those hiding outside the peepholes range of view.
4. Security System
A simple security system can go a long way toward preventing burglaries. Security light systems are a common deterrent, but be sure they cover the breadth of your property to ensure maximum effectiveness. Motion activated sensors are a cheap and effective way to brighten areas and reduce cover.
5. Spare Keys
Installing a complicated lock has little effect if the burglar has the key to your home. Not only do we hand out spare keys to family, friends, and hired service personnel, but many insist on hiding spare keys in obvious locations like under the door mat, flower pot, or key rock. Limit the number of keys you hand out and never put a spare in a hiding place, as most burglars are keenly aware of their general location.
John Hill writes on behalf of PublicLiabilityInsurance.org an online resource for business owners providing public liability insurance for building trade.
