e never like to think about our homes being burgled, but there are people out there who are waiting to take advantage of a home that is lacking security.
Even in some of the most secure suburbs crime still occurs. If you think your home will never become a target, then you are already putting yourself at risk. Being pragmatic about the possibility of burglary allows you to appropriately prepare your home against it.
Break ins are rarely like the ones portrayed in the movies and TV shows we watch, and are often much simpler and quicker in nature. It is hard to believe, but most burglars enter your home the very same way you do. Here are 3 of the most common entry points for thieves, and how you should secure them.
1. Your Front Door
It’s hard to imagine that anyone would be brazen enough to enter your home uninvited, let alone walk straight through your front door without permission, but it remains one of the most common entry points for burglars.
Many people (who may not have caught up with the modern era of theft) tend to hide a key around their home under pot plants or door mats. It isn’t as hard as you think for an intruder to find those ‘hidden’ keys, and a thief will simply let themselves in if they know you aren’t home. If your door looks weak enough, they may even resort to knocking it down, leaving them passage to just waltz in!
So, how can you avoid this?
- Always lock your front door, whether you are home or not.
- Install deadbolts as an extra precaution
- Install a monitored alarm system
- Put motion detecting lights around major entry points
- Evaluate the sturdiness of your door, and upgrade to a sturdier model if necessary
- Install a metal security door
2. Garage Doors
Homes with garages attached to them remain one of the top 3 entry points for burglars for a number of reasons.
It is the key storage unit within our home. It is the place that has our expensive vehicles, tools, equipment and other big-ticket valuables that can’t be stored within the home. Thieves also know that beyond your garage door is another entry point into the home. It is common for people not to lock the door connecting their home to their garage, especially if they believe in the strength of their garage roller door.
There are easy measures that you can take to boost the security of your garage. These include:
- Locking both the garage door and the connecting door to your home
- Upgrading the locks if necessary
- Installing a camera which looks both down the length of the driveway, and directly at the door
- Removing any valuables from vehicles, including wallet and spare keys.
3. Back/Sliding Doors
Out of sight, out of mind. The back doors of our home are often away from prying eyes, which gives burglars the perfect opportunity to gain access to your home without worry. It is common that these doors are accidently left open, allowing a burglar to walk right in. Glass sliding doors are extremely vulnerable when not paired with a metal safety door, as they can be easily smashed or lifted off their tracks.
Protect your back/sliding doors with the following tips:
- Always double check they are locked
- Install heavier duty locks
- Add a dowel to the tracks of your sliding doors
- Install a CCTV system that monitors back entry points
- Install a motion sensor light
- Install a metal security door
To find out more about how you can secure your home, get in touch with ART Security .
