Home Security Tips You Can Do Yourself

By the time you read this sentence, another burglary will have occurred in the United States–one every fifteen seconds to be exact. Over half of those burglaries are residential, usually occurring between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

You might think that you are safe because you have an alarm system. However, the average burglar will have come and gone in about five minutes—that is about fifteen minutes before the police will arrive.

This is not to say that a burglar alarm is not a good idea. They can be good deterrents, but they should not be the sole component of your home security system. You should consider doing several things that will help secure your home and protect your family. You should especially consider doing these things if you are renting because renters are more likely to be the victim of a property crime than homeowners are.

Replace Hollow-core Exterior Doors with Solid Hardwood or Reinforced Steel Doors.
Almost eighty percent of the time, burglars enter a home through the door, usually by kicking it in. Hollow-core doors are the easiest to kick in. Solid hardwood or reinforced steel doors are much more secure. Make sure that the door fits the frame snugly with no more than 1/8-inch between the door and the jam.

Reinforce the Doorframe and the Door Jam.
The best door is pointless if the frame is in bad shape or weakened. Reinforce the small screws in any door jams with 2-1/2″ to 3″ stainless steel or nickel-plated screws. Also, make sure the door jam is solid metal and secured with similar length screws.

Install a Heavy-Duty Strike Plate, a Door Reinforcer, or a Door Barrier.
Strike plates are protective metal plates that are installed in the doorjamb. Door reinforcers will help secure the door and prevent it from being kicked in. A door barrier is a device that rests against on the inside of the door when it is shut. They come in a variety of styles and will add extra security to the door when you are home.

Install Double-Cylinder Deadbolts on any Door Located Next to a Window.
A double-cylinder deadbolt is one that uses a key on both sides to open it. Using them on any doors that are next to a window will prevent a burglar from being able to break the window, reach in, and open the lock. If this seems inconvenient, purchase a deadbolt with a captive key lock, which has a removable thumb latch. When the latch is removed, they work as a double-cylinder deadbolt would. Make sure that you keep the removable latch or the key nearby in case of a fire.

Replace or Reinforce Doors with Decorative Glass Windows or Panels.
Glass doors and panels can be replaced with ones that have break-resistant plastic panes or double-paned laminated glass. Decorative grilles can also be installed over the glass.

Fortify All Sliding Glass Doors.
Glass doors can be fortified by installing a keyed lock, a door pin, or a removable drop bar (also known as a Charlie bar). You can also install locks that have their own alarm, which will alert you if the door is opened.

Install a Door Peephole.
A peephole will allow you to see outside without making yourself vulnerable by opening the door. They are easy to install. Purchase one that allows you to see at least 190 degrees and that is the right size for your door’s width. Then, use a pencil to place a mark in the center of the interior side of the door. Make a slight indention using an awl and a hammer, which will make it easier to insert the drill bit. Then, drill a hole all the way through the door using a small drill bit. Then, drill a hole halfway through the interior and exterior sides of the door using a larger drill bit. The peephole can then be installed using your fingers.

Install a Keyed Sash Lock or Window Pins in All Windows, Including Ones on the Second Floor.
Thirty percent of all burglaries are classified as unlawful entries, which mean the thief entered without using force. Secure locks on all your windows can prevent this. Sash locks are generally not enough because they can easily be opened by slipping a thin wire and undoing the latch. Instead, install keyed locks or use window pins to reinforce heavy-duty sash locks.

Install Glass Block Windows in Basement Windows.
Glass blocks are the safest windows because they are almost impossible to break through. Of course, they cannot be opened and block the view. But then, how attractive is that view from your basement window anyway?

Apply Window Film over Glass to Make it Shatterproof.
Consider purchasing tinted or frosted window film that will make it impossible for thieves to see into your home. They will also block UV rays to protect your furniture from fading.

Use a Security Bar or a Special Window Lock Around Any Removable Air Conditioning Units.
Special window locks can be purchased for windows that have air conditioning units that prevent them from being opened. You could also drill screws into the window frame to secure the window into place.

Do Not Forget about Skylights and Garage Windows.
They, along with any other roof-access areas, should be secured with heavy-duty hardware.

Install an Automatic Garage Door Opener.
This will make it almost impossible to open the door from the outside without breaking the door. Purchase one that uses a non-repeating “rolling-code” remote control. This will change the code each time it is used and prevent thieves from being able to grab the code.

Change the Security Code of Your Garage Door Opener.
The preinstalled setting is usually all zeros, which would make it very easy for a burglar to gain access. Burglars often scour neighborhoods with common brands of remotes looking for garage doors that open. Also, change the code if you ever discover your door open after you are positive that you had closed it because one of your neighbors may have set his opener to the same code.

Replace an Older Automatic Garage Door Opener.
Garage door openers that were manufactured before 1978 can be cracked by burglars by using a “code grabber.” Code grabbers pick up the codes transmitted by the remote and copies it onto a computer chip. This allows the thief to retransmit the code and gain entry to your home. Older garage door openers are also more vulnerable to “code scamming,” which allows the garage door’s code to be scanned and triggered in just a few minutes.

Install Lights with Motion-Sensors.
Lights with motion sensors should be installed on the rear and side of your house in an out-of-reach location. Inexpensive detectors can be installed onto any existing exterior fixture or purchased as part of a new fixture. Purchase ones that have a photocell that will prevent them from activating during the day.

Keep All Entry Points of Your Home Well Lit.
This will allow you to scan the area safely from inside the house. Try to use lights that have motion detectors, but can also be turned on with a switch. This will ensure that you never have to fumble with your keys in a dark entryway, but also allow you to turn on the light even if the motion-sensor has not been triggered. Also, make sure that garage lights can be turned on from inside the house so you do not have to walk into a dark garage.

Keep a Record of Your Home’s Contents.
Use a video camera and sweep each room to record the contents. In a clear voice, identify the item, the date you purchased it, the price you paid and the model and serial numbers. This tape can then be updated every time you purchase something new. Be sure to keep the tape in a hidden fireproof lock-box or safety deposit box.

Mark Valuable Items with a Permanent Identification Mark.
You can also mark the items with your driver’s license number or another unique number. This will make it difficult for thieves to fence your stuff and better the chances of you getting your items back. Whatever you do, do not use your social security number. After all, you do not want to give the thieves that personal information along with your belongings.

If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.