Imagine the unsettling feeling of returning to your home only to discover it’s been invaded, leaving you frightened in the one place you should always feel safe. Home invasions can have a lasting emotional impact, which is one of the many reasons it is important to prioritize home security.
In this blog post, we reveal proven strategies on how to prevent a home invasion, from essential security measures to advanced features and personal safety habits. By implementing these strategies, you can prevent home invasions and protect your family and property.
Key Takeaways
Implement strong doors and locks, window reinforcement, alarm systems & advanced security features for home protection.
Utilize exterior lighting, & secure fencing/gates
- Enlist trusted neighbors to prevent invasion while away.
Exercise caution with social media usage & spare key management
- Create an emergency plan for preparedness.
Essential Home Security Measures
The foundation of a secure home starts with essential security measures such as sturdy doors and locks, window reinforcement, and alarm systems. These basic measures may seem like a no-brainer, but taking them seriously can significantly reduce the likelihood of a home invasion.
After all, the harder it is for intruders to gain entry, the less likely they are to target your home.
Sturdy Doors and Locks
Strong doors and high-quality locks are crucial in deterring burglars and preventing easy entry into your home. Upgrading to a thicker, sturdier door and doorframe is an investment in your home’s security, making it more difficult for intruders to break in. Additionally, consider the following tips to secure your entry points further:
Install a deadbolt or other locking mechanism in a position where it cannot be reached through a window.
Reinforce doors with panes of glass by adding security film or installing a security bar.
Ensure that all doors have a peephole or a door viewer to see who is outside before opening the door.
Consider installing a security system with door sensors and alarms for added protection.
By implementing these measures, you can enhance the security of your home and provide peace of mind for you and your family.
Smart locks offer another layer of protection, allowing users to program a code that can be changed as needed. With doors and windows locked using smart locks, users can even lock and unlock them remotely using a smartphone, making adding temporary codes for friends or family members easy.
Investing time and resources in sturdy garage doors and high-quality locks significantly boosts your home’s security, ensuring your family’s safety and peace of mind.
Window Reinforcement
Windows are a common entry point for home invaders, making window reinforcement an essential aspect of home security. Applying security film or installing bars can greatly strengthen your windows, making it difficult for intruders to access your home. Consider installing privacy film on windows to restrict visibility into your home, making it harder for would-be burglars to survey your valuable possessions.
For sliding door security, inserting a dowel or piece of wood into the track can help prevent the door from being forced open. Reinforcing windows and sliding doors effectively slows down or deters potential intruders, affording you time to respond and authorities to arrive.
For more information, see our blog on how to secure sliding glass doors.
Alarm Systems
Installing a reliable alarm system is one of the most effective ways to protect your home from invasion. These alarm systems can alert homeowners and authorities in case of a break-in, providing an essential line of defense and quickly mobilizing help when needed. When selecting a home security system, consider features such as magnetic sensors for windows and user-friendliness.
Investing in an alarm system significantly enhances your home’s security and ensures a rapid response from law enforcement during a break-in.
How much does an alarm system cost?
The cost of installing a home security system can vary, with the average price being around $475. However, alternative options, such as smart home security systems like Vivint, often offer remote garage door controllers and garage sensors. Another option is AlfredCamera, a mobile app that provides 24/7 surveillance, motion detection, and push notifications for security.
Advanced Security Features
For added protection, consider implementing advanced security features such as surveillance cameras, smart home integration, and professional monitoring services. These advanced features can help you stay one step ahead of potential intruders and provide even greater peace of mind.
Surveillance Cameras
Surveillance cameras allow you to monitor and record activity around your home, providing real-time visibility and documented evidence in case of a break-in. When selecting a security camera, consider features such as motion detection, which can alert you to any unusual activity around your property. The Ring Spotlight, for example, is a spotlight camera that combines motion detection with bright lighting, making it an effective deterrent for would-be intruders.
Installing security cameras around your property helps you monitor your home and deter potential burglars, thereby ensuring the safety of your family and belongings.
Smart Home Integration
Smart home integration allows you to remotely control and monitor your security system from your smartphone or other devices, providing an additional layer of convenience and control. Some of the most effective smart home systems for home invasion prevention include ADT Command, Vivint, and smart locks.
Motion-sensing smart lights can also be used as a security measure. These lights can detect intruders when your home is unoccupied, alerting you to any potential threats. Integrating smart home technology allows you to stay connected to your home’s security even when you’re away, ensuring constant protection of your property.
Professional Monitoring Services
Professional monitoring services provide round-the-clock security and prompt response to emergencies, ensuring that your home is always protected. Subscribing to these services usually involves a fee. It can vary from $10 to $60 on a monthly basis or between $120 and $720 yearly..
Companies such as:
Vivint
ADT
Frontpoint
SimpliSafe
Ring
offer highly effective professional monitoring services for home invasion prevention. Employing professional monitoring services gives you peace of mind knowing that your home is always under vigilant watch, thus providing an added layer of security.
Outdoor Security Strategies
In addition to securing your home’s interior, it’s essential to focus on outdoor security strategies, such as landscape design, exterior lighting, and secure fencing and gates.
Implementing these strategies can deter burglars, making it more difficult for potential intruders to approach your property undetected, further reducing the risk of a home invasion.
Landscape Design
Designing your landscape to minimize hiding spots and improve visibility from the street and neighboring homes can deter potential burglars and make your property a less attractive target. This can be achieved by trimming trees to make them more difficult to climb and keeping bushes trimmed to eliminate hiding spots.
Paying attention to your landscape design ensures that your home’s exterior is just as secure as the interior, making it more challenging for intruders to access your property.
Exterior Lighting
Exterior lighting is a key element in home security, as it serves as an initial deterrent to potential intruders and provides better visibility at night. Motion-sensing floodlights are an economical way to protect your property from unauthorized access, illuminating your outdoor space whenever movement is detected.
Effective exterior lighting systems for preventing home invasions include motion sensor outdoor lighting, flood lighting, and outdoor spotlight cameras with motion sensors. Installing exterior lighting around your property deters intruders and provides better visibility during nighttime hours, further enhancing your home’s security.
Secure Fencing and Gates
Secure fencing and gates can act as a deterrent for potential intruders and provide an additional layer of protection for your home. Ensuring that fences and gates are well-maintained and secure can prevent unauthorized access and make it more difficult for intruders to gain entry.
Focusing on outdoor security strategies such as landscape design, exterior lighting, and secure fencing and gates helps you create a comprehensive security plan that protects your property from all angles and ensures your family’s safety.
Home Invasion Prevention While Away
Even when you’re away from home, there are steps you can take to prevent a home invasion. Here are some tips:
Create a lived-in appearance by using timers for lights and electronics, and leaving a car in the driveway.
Manage mail and packages by either stopping delivery or asking a neighbor to collect them.
Enlist the help of trusted neighbors to keep an eye on your property and report any suspicious activity.
By following these home security tips, you can help reduce the risk of a break-in while you’re away, ensuring that your home remains secure and protected.
Creating a Lived-In Appearance
Making your home appear occupied while you’re away can deter potential burglars, who may be more likely to target homes that appear empty. Using timers for lights, TV, and radio can create the illusion of occupancy, and scheduling routine lawn maintenance can help maintain the appearance of an occupied home.
If you anticipate being away during snowy weather, arrange for a snow removal service to clear your driveway, further reinforcing the appearance of an occupied home. Taking these steps helps protect your home from potential intruders when you’re away.
Mail and Package Management
Visible packages or uncollected mail can signal an empty home, making it more vulnerable to burglary. To avoid this, arrange for mail and package holds or pick-ups while you’re away. You can also utilize alternative delivery options, such as lockers or having packages delivered to your workplace or a trusted neighbor.
Managing your mail and packages when away prevents potential burglars from identifying your home as an easy target, ensuring your property’s security.
Trusted Neighbors
Building relationships with neighbors and asking them to watch over your home while you’re away can be an effective home invasion prevention strategy. Neighbors can work together to create a deterrent for would-be burglars and increase the safety of their community.
Discuss the possibility of neighbors keeping an eye on your residence when you’re away, and request that they contact the police if they observe any suspicious activity. Enlisting trusted neighbors to help protect your home gives you peace of mind, knowing your property is being watched when you’re away.
Personal Safety Habits
In addition to securing your home with the strategies mentioned above, it’s essential to practice personal safety habits such as exercising caution on social media, managing spare keys, and being prepared for emergencies.
These habits can further reduce the risk of a home invasion and ensure that you and your family remain safe and secure.
Social Media Caution
Be mindful of what you share on social media, as posting travel plans or personal information could potentially alert intruders to an unoccupied home. To ensure your safety, avoid sharing personal information such as your address, phone number, or other identifying details.
Setting your social media accounts to private and only allowing individuals you are familiar with to view your posts can also help protect your home by limiting the visibility of your personal information.
Spare Key Management
Properly managing spare keys is important for maintaining the security of your home. Avoid hiding spare keys outside, as this can present a security risk, with potential intruders easily discovering them.
Instead, consider investing in a smart lock that uses a code or entrusting a neighbor to securely store a spare key inside their home.
Emergency Preparedness
Developing an emergency plan for home invasions and ensuring all family members are aware of what to do in case of an emergency is crucial for personal safety.
Discuss the plan with all family members and practice it regularly, ensuring that everyone is familiar with the plan and feels comfortable with it.
Summary
In summary, securing your home and preventing home invasions requires a combination of essential security measures, advanced features, outdoor security strategies, and personal safety habits. By implementing these proven strategies, you can effectively protect your home and family from potential intruders and ensure that your property remains a safe haven.
Remember, the safety of your home and family is priceless. By taking the time to invest in comprehensive security measures and practicing personal safety habits, you can create a secure environment that deters potential intruders and provides lasting peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can we protect against home invasion?
Secure your entry points with door and window sensors, keep windows and doors locked, look out for suspicious people in your neighborhood, don’t enter the home if you suspect a break-in, and keep your garage door closed to protect against home invasion.
What are 3 ways you can keep your home safe from intruders?
Secure your doors and windows, upgrade door locks, install home security systems, use motion detectors and outdoor lighting, lock down your Wi-Fi network, and add security cameras to keep intruders from entering your home.
How do most home invasions start?
Most home invasions start by burglars attempting to gain access through the first floor, such as twisting the doorknob, using an open window or entering through the back door. Garage doors and second floors are less commonly used entry points.
What are some effective methods for reinforcing windows?
Effective methods for reinforcing windows include adding security film or bars to windows and garage doors for added protection.
What features should I consider when selecting a home security system?
When selecting a home security system, be sure to look for features such as magnetic sensors for windows and ease of use. This will ensure optimal performance and a user-friendly experience.