home-securityDig a moat around your house and a burglar will beat a path to your neighbor’s door, or so goes the notion. But the problem is that no matter how security-conscious you might be, it’s uncomfortably confining to live in a fortress.

In the real world, protecting your home and valuables comes down to a compromise between what makes you feel secure and what level of inconvenience you’re willing to tolerate. Homeowners in the inner city, for example, tend to hide behind iron bars, while those in more affluent communities generally count on alarm systems.

A dark-color house that has big overhangs and a recessed front door with no exterior lights but lots of trees and heavy shrubbery is an invitation to trouble. Setting up multiple roadblocks that steer intruders away from your house is a homeowner’s best protection. The more obstacles, the better chance of keeping the crooks out or at least slowing them down.

Even so, there’s no such thing as a foolproof home security system. Burglars can pry open a window in a matter of seconds, cut through iron bars in minutes, climb in and out of a house long before the cops show up and trick a guard dog into forgetting what it’s trained to do.

Home security should be a total package that considers everything from the structure itself to lighting, overhangs and landscaping. Motion detectors are a good idea, too.

The bright light not only discourages break-ins, but also alerts homeowners to potential problems. Security devices need not be expensive, either. Recommendations include dowels as well as nails, shims, screws or slide blocks to keep windows and sliding-glass doors from opening all the way.

There’s little homeowners can do to make louvered windows more secure. If you can’t afford to replace them, you can glue the panes into the window frame. All windows need to be at least 6 feet from door locks. If a window is too close, homeowners might be able to switch the lock to the opposite side of the door.

Exterior doors themselves should be solid-core, with hinges on the inside. Avoid glass-pane doors that make it easy for intruders to reach inside for the lock.

Also be wary of door styles with -inch wooden panels that burglars can easily kick in. Home security experts recommend deadbolts with a 2-inch throw on front doors. Double-key entries, which require a key on the inside as well as the outside, also are a good idea. But a double entry defeats the purpose if you leave the key in the door.

If you’re moving into an older house that already has iron bars on the windows, make sure they have a quick-release mechanism. Otherwise you could get stuck on the wrong side of a fire or other emergency. If you can’t get out, you’ve bought your own prison.

Monitored alarm systems are another good alternative. Prominently placed security company signs and stickers also act as deterrents. But be advised that troublemakers are wise to the generic alarm signs that some homeowners use in place of real systems. Sirens are better off inside than outside the house, because they tend to disorient intruders.

Homeowners should have have a backup to the basic alarm system. Consider a motion detector, heat sensor, magnetic contacts and glass-break detectors.

Landscaping is another important home security consideration. Shrubs should work with you, not against you to help keep you and your property safe. A wide-open, front-door entry, for instance, is far safer than one hidden behind trees. You don’t have to have a naked-looking house to be safe, but you don’t need to plant a jungle, either.

So-called security plants, including bougainvillea and natal plum, are a good choice. Nobody likes to hide out in bushes filled with thorns and stickers. Tall, substantial trees should not be close enough to the house to provide easy access to the second floor. And a 6-foot fence around the back yard isn’t going to do much good if you leave a 10-foot ladder, a sturdy trellis or a stack of pallets sitting in front of it.

No matter what type of security you choose, make sure it encompasses the entire house. Too often, homeowners concentrate on the front of their house, neglecting the rest. It’s all too common, for instance, to find an iron gate on a front door and unprotected louvered windows on the back.

Police officers suggest these additional security precautions for keeping out home intruders: Change all door locks when you move into a new house. Paint your address prominently on the front of the house and consider putting the numbers on the side facing the alley and on the roof. This will make it easier for police or other emergency help to find your place quickly.

Make sure all security devices are installed properly. Install a peephole in your front door, and use it. If you don’t know the person at the door, don’t open it. Make sure your window air conditioners are firmly secured. Often, all a thief has to do is push one through the opening. Examine greenhouse windows; some have bottom panes that easily lift out, providing easy access to the house.

A barking dog might scare off some burglars or at least alert a homeowner to potential trouble. But realize that an intruder can easily sidetrack the animal by tempting it with a treat and, perhaps, lacing it with a knockout drug. Keep your property clean and tidy.

An unkempt appearance says that you don’t care about your home and probably haven’t taken strong steps to protect it. An unprotected back yard is an open invitation to trouble. If you have a gate that can be locked, take the time to lock it. An open padlock is not going to fool anyone.

Inspect your mail slot to make sure someone can’t stick a hand through it and reach the door lock. Remember that most burglars expect you to hide an extra key within 10 feet of your front door and to use alarm codes keyed to your birthday, middle or maiden name. Be original.

Tagged with: • • • • •

Possibly related posts