Home Security and Deterrents You Can Use

home security deterrents include not talking too much

Spreading the news can hurt home security

You take care of your family and home. You teach your children the dangers of speaking to strangers. You’ve invested a lot of time and energy to make your home an inviting entertainment space for family/friends. Beyond the classic home security measures most people take, have you ever wondered if your home is really safe? What home security deterrents could you use that you have not thought of?

Sometimes, the very things we do at home are the things that put us most as risk. In this post, we’re going to talk about some things you can do to make sure your home is the safe haven you believe it is. We’re focusing on your behaviors here. Safety is as much about using behavioral home security deterrents as it is about security cameras.

Home Security Deterrents

Outside

Burglars check out a neighborhood before robbing it. That means they know when you leave for work, what time you get home and what day is your late day. When possible, change up your routine.
Make friends with your neighbors, especially if they’re home during the day when you’re not. Alert them to any work crews at your home while you’re out, including landscapers. Telling a neighbor who will be working at your house and when the crew is expected can prevent phony contractors from robbing your home.
Privacy features may improve your curb appeal and re-sale value, but some are also invitations to criminals who hide their illegal activities in plain sight. Be a little paranoid and think about how privacy features might enable dishonest use.
Invest in a good motion sensor floodlight. It can spook even experienced criminals into fleeing.
Have a security system? Don’t advertise it on your front lawn with a brand-name sign. A generic sign keeps burglars from learning how to disarm your system without alerting authorities.

Inside

Don’t hide valuables in obvious places. Hollowed-out books or other accessories make great hiding places for family heirlooms/valuables and important papers. Change your hiding space regularly.
Keep your mouth shut. There’s no reason every parent at your child’s weekly soccer game needs to know every expensive item in your home. Save that information for only close family/friends. Bragging puts your family and your home in the crossfire.
Use timers to light your home whether you’re there or not. Set them to go on and off at different times throughout the night. Include outside lighting.
Don’t have a dog? Think about getting one. A barking dog is almost always a deterrent for a burglar. Hiring a dog walker to come at different times is another deterrent.
Shred paper with personal information after it’s been reviewed by you. Burglars will take your identity, too.

Social Sites

Social media sites have made it easier than ever for criminals to case your home, especially if you’re not vigilant in keeping your privacy settings at the highest levels. If you love to share where you are, who you are with and how long you plan on being away, realize that you are publishing that information not only for your friends but friends of your friends. You don’t really control how big that circle can grow. Police officers and home security specialists caution against posting such information because it places you, your family and your home at risk.

Be careful about what you share and where you share it. This isn’t just about Facebook. It is also about what you choose to talk about in any public social situation. Be aware of your surroundings. Can folks overhear you? Does your voice carry well? This is not just being aware of the people in your conversation – it is about those nearby, too.

Bottom line is that you can’t control a lot about who hears your conversations – either online or in person. You can ask family/friends to review their online privacy settings. You can ask them to be sensitive about mentioning your whereabouts. But you can’t control what they may do or not do. Control what you post and what you say. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

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