Imagine you are alone at home after a tiring week at work. All you want to do is gorge on your favourite snacks and binge-watch your favourite K-drama. Everything was going as planned. But then, you hear footsteps and whispers in the other room.
Sounds scary, right?
Having someone break into your house is not just frightening but may also be life-threatening. You need to be proactive and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family, starting with investing in innovative business & home security systems. Additionally, avoid these common home security mistakes to make your property burglar-proof and save yourself from financial losses, security breaches, and personal damage.
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Hiding Spare Keys Outside
It’s not just you—most of us have this age-old habit of hiding a spare key under the flowerpot, doormat, or somewhere in the yard for a family member to find easily. Unfortunately, most burglars know these obvious spots and find them easily when you are away. Keeping your house keys in such open proximity is a mistake. If you want to hide it outside, do it further away from the house. For instance, if there are rocks outside your house, use a distinguished item like a fake rock to hide the key. Just don’t make it too obvious for the criminal.
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Keeping the Blinds Open
Most homeowners tend to forget that windows are a two-way portal. Just as you get to see the outside, potential intruders eyeing your home can also see the inside. You are inviting trouble if you have valuable items lying around, especially in first-floor bedrooms. The solution is to tuck them away and shut the blinds. Build a secret hideaway in your house to safely store your valuables far from the prying eyes. Remember to pull the shades each evening so you and your family can enjoy your private moments without safety concerns.
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Posting Excessively on Social Media
Social media is an excellent medium for staying connected and sharing updates. However, oversharing your life, travel stories, location, and plans can allow burglars to access your personal information, such as your whereabouts, street pictures, or neighbourhood. If you love posting your travel pictures and memories, we suggest you make your social media accounts private and wait until you get home to post pictures from your travels. Doing this won’t compromise your security.
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Not Using Doorbell Cameras
If you experience a break-in, you need to provide evidence to the police to claim insurance or help them solve the crime. That’s where a doorbell camera comes in handy. Smart doorbell cameras monitor the front doors and the porch and have a video and audio recording feature to capture detailed footage with clear audio, even in low light. So, choose a doorbell camera that you can monitor from your phone so you can always know who is at your doorstep.
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Leaving Mail Piled Up
Criminals don’t have to be rocket scientists to spot these signs and guess you are away. To maintain discretion and protect your privacy, contact your newspaper and local post offices to temporarily suspend services. If you don’t wish to cease delivery, ask a friend or neighbour to collect your newspapers or empty the mailbox. Setting up a mini spy camera on the mailbox for enhanced home security is also a good idea.
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Not Lighting Up the Exterior
Burglars are criminals. They don’t want to be seen. A dark home, entryway, or yard can make it appear as if you are away, allowing them to carry out their plan. Instead, light up the outdoors with motion-sensor lights. These days, porch lights have a timer so you can maintain security from burglars without racking up your electricity bill. You can also invest in high-quality outdoor CCTV cameras with night vision and set them up around the property. Keep the CCTV signs up to warn potential intruders about being captured on the motion-detected lights.
Remember, your precautionary steps can keep you and your family safe. Be cautious and upgrade your security systems with the above suggestions to stay safe.
