Making Sure Your Home is Secure When You’re Not There

We all desire security in our homes and want to know that our valuables are safe while we’re at work or away for a quick getaway. Here are a few basic tips to make sure your home is secure when you’re not there. 

Deadbolt your doors

Would you believe that almost one third of all burglaries happen with the crook walking right through the front door? This is a scary fact. It can happen because the locks are older and don’t do much to prevent a thief from kicking in the door, or it can happen when the homeowner is preoccupied elsewhere in the home. 

Carefully inspect the locks on your front and back doors, including any other doors that are entry points into your home. Make sure the locks are sturdy and can keep intruders out. Experts advise that the deadbolt should extend at least an inch into the doorframe to be considered effective. 

If you are leaving your home for any period of time, double check to make sure the doors are properly secured. If you know that you’re going to be preoccupied in a different area of the house then keep your doors locked to prevent any thieves from just walking right into your home. 

Lock the windows

Remember that your windows are also entry points, so it’s important to always close and lock your windows when leaving the home. It’s fairly common to open up a few windows on a nice day to let in some fresh air. But sometimes we can become distracted or called to leave the home suddenly, innocently forgetting those open windows. This can be a golden opportunity for some crook who wants to exploit the situation. 

Make a habit of quickly checking windows before leaving the home or when you plan to be occupied in a distant area of the house, to avoid becoming a victim. 

Additional security

Along with these simple practices of locking doors and windows when you won’t be home, there are many ways of adding additional security to your home. There are wireless home security systems that can fit any budget and address specific needs. These options can range from standard security systems to video motion detectors and all the way to smart robots that actually patrol the premises. Adding a home security system will provide an added layer of protection for homeowners and renters alike, plus they can also bring peace of mind. 

Illuminate walkways

This is not only a good idea for basic safety, to avoid any nighttime stumbles walking to the front door, but can also act as a deterrent for would-be intruders who prefer to operate in the shadows. These options could include motion detecting lights aimed at pathways and the driveway, or solar powered lights lined along walkways to illuminate the path to the front door. 

Lock the garage doors

Don’t forget to give some attention to your garage doors. Since we’ve been talking about locking all entry points, remember to check the locks on your garage door. This is especially important if your garage is connected to the home and offers access inside your house.

Keep valuables in a safe place

We’d be remiss to remind you that it’s important to keep valuables in a safe place. This could include expensive jewelry, family heirlooms, guns, and private documents with sensitive information. Get a small safe or lockbox and keep your valuables locked and hidden away.