20 Ways to Step Up Security Measures Around Your Property
I think it would be safe to say that your home, along with its security, probably means a lot to you. Having it invaded can not only be a scary ordeal but an invasion of privacy that’s hard to ever fully restore. Fortunately, there are a number of small things that you can do to prevent someone from even thinking about breaking into your home. These are 20 ways to step up the security measures around your property, protecting you and your family, as well as your possessions.
How To Prepare Your House Against Looters
Make Friends with Your Next Door Neighbors
Having a next-door neighbor as a friend is sure to come in handy at some point and can provide you with an extra set of eyes to keep an eye on your home. Your neighbors can also gather your mail while you’re away on vacation and they can get ahold of you if they suspect that unusual activity is unfolding at your residence.
Don’t Buy Doors that Have A lot of Glass
Doors that have too much glass in them only gives an intruder more of an opportunity of walking through your front or back door after they’ve broken the glass and unlocked the door hardware. The less glass in them the better.
Change Your Access Codes Often
Another thing to consider is to change the access code on your front door and garage door regularly if you have key code access available.
You Won’t Go Wrong with Deadbolts
It becomes increasingly more difficult, or maybe even impossible, for an intruder to get through a door when it’s properly secured with a deadbolt. I had something similar to this installed in my front door so I could see who was ringing the doorbell. Security Door Peep Hole
Hang Curtains
Be sure to have curtains hung in all your windows so that thieves are not able to peer in and see the valuables that you own or if someone is home. You also want to have timers on your interior lights so it appears, even through the curtains, that someone is home.
Make Sure Window Air Conditioners are Secured
A window air conditioner that is not properly secured creates a window of opportunity for a burglar to be granted access to your home. (No pun intended.) It may seem too difficult for them to remove the unit, but it may appear worth their efforts if they perceive you have valuables once they get inside the home.
Stop Advertising Your Belongings
We do this more times than we even realize. Don’t allow other people to see expensive items sitting out in your yard, including your grill, bikes, and yes, even your cars. You also don’t need to blare your car’s surround sound in your neighborhood, alerting others that you’ve returned home.
Put Up a Fence
If you want to go the extra mile, a privacy fence will keep others from snooping in your yard. (If you leave it locked, that is.) It also allows your pets to be able to run around the yard without a leash.
Strategically Plant Thorny Bushes Around Windows
One great way to keep a thief from trying to gain access through your windows around your home is to plant thorny bushes right in front of them.
Be Sure to Lock All Your Windows
Windows are typically one of the first entryways that intruders “inspect” when they are trying to gain entryway in your home. Be sure to keep them locked at all times, and double-check them often.
Keep Your Car Doors Locked
Keeping your car doors locked is huge, especially if you live close to the city and your car sits out at night. You’ll never know how many times people have already tried getting into your vehicle, so don’t forget to keep them locked.
Be Careful Who Comes Into Your Home
You also need to be aware of who you are allowing into your home, especially a salesperson. Even when they work for a well-known company, they may be taking a quick-glanced inventory of your possessions, making it only easier for them when they come back and work their “side job.”
Get a Bigger Dog
Having a big dog certainly has its advantages. For one, they bark louder. They’re also more intimidating when a burglar comes face to face with them. Even if you don’t own a dog, it wouldn’t hurt to buy a “Beware of Dog” sign, so you can throw an intruder off.
Lock Your Pet Door
If you have a larger dog, along with a doggie door to the backyard, there’s a pretty good chance that an intruder could actually fit through it. Don’t forget to lock it up at night and also when you’re gone.
Install Motion Sensors with Flood Lights
Improving the lighting around your house is another great way to keep unwanted visitors from snooping around your property at night. Floodlights that have motion sensors on them can even light up when a bandit raccoon is lurking in your yard.
Install Cheap Window and Door Alarms
Trying to keep it cheap but still effective? You can even purchase window and door alarms at places like Walmart, and they’re just as effective at keeping intruders out as a professional home security system.
Be Careful Where You Hide Spare Keys
There are homeowners who place their hide-a-key in some pretty terrible places, only making it easier for thieves to walk in without having to break any windows. Don’t be the person who places a spare key under the doormat or above the door frame.
Hide Your Valuables in Creative Places
Take the time to get creative when it comes to where you hide your valuables. A thief typically takes off for the master bedroom, so that’s not where you want to hide things that you hold dear. Thieves aren’t going to spend much time looking in your kitchen pantry or in your refrigerator, so those are great places to consider.
Don’t Share Your Travel Plans on Social Media
Many people make the terrible mistake of announcing their travel plans all over social media before their plane even leaves the runway. You may think that they’re your “friends” on Facebook, but trust me, they’re not all your friends.
Get a Home Security System
You’re going to spend a decent amount of money on this one, but getting a home security system can bring you even more peace of mind. It will alert you on your phone, even if you’re away on vacation. This is one of the best ways to step up security measures around your property.
Final Word
These are 20 ways that you can keep your house safer and more secure, especially when you are away from home. They’ll provide you with so much less to worry about, and more obstacles and barriers to turn away thieves. What are some ways to step up security measures around your property? May God Bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Family Homes Deposit photos_81300700_s-2019
If it gets bad turn the motion lights around where they face out. Right now most folks have it towards to door for the key or on the sidewalk. Point them out at eye level.
Replace the screws in the door locks and hinges with at least 3″ ones so they get into the frame. Mine had 1/2″ screws when I moved in.
Hi Matt, great comment, everyone needs to be aware of how flimsy the door hinge screws are. Thanks for the reminder! I like the idea of turning the motion lights to face out! Great tip! Linda
We’ve done all of these since we were broken into. I have been putting darkening film on most of the windows. We also have mini blinds and curtains. We keep the windows locked when not open, which isn’t often. We also keep the cars locked at all times. We have a storm door on our I closed front porch and lock it at night. We have Private property signs also. We also have a electronic gate that uses a remote to open. It is solar powered, but can be opened without power. IF you k ow how.
One other thing is, don’t keep your keys near the door. We have a chain link fence with a strong hot wire on top. We do have a privacy fence in the back. Our neighbors back there have dogs that love to bark at night. No, it echos back to them.
When we bought this home, we changed the 1927 era front door to a steel door, installed metal sleeves that strengthen the lock area of exterior doors. We added kickplates on the back door.. Used the 3″ screws for all the door mounting hardware & heavier hinges.
We have a small key storage lockbox mounted in an unobtrusive spot on our property that holds an extra key to the front door & garage. We regularly check that the combination dials work & replace the lockbox if necessary.
Our keys for the lawn tractor, camper, friend’s house, gates that are padlocked are kept in a larger lockbox in the house. The lockbox is not easily visible or noticeable. It is kept locked.
Hi BDN, smart thinking my friend! Having extra keys is critical and having them hidden is a must. I’m glad to hear you beefed up your door. Stay safe, Linda
Dogs and burglars aren’t the only things that can come in through pet doors. Two years ago a neighbor who lives about 200 yards from me found a Mohave Green Rattlesnake in his laundry room. Instead of killing it, he tried to catch it and move it outside, got bit and spent 3 days in the hospital.
In my opinion, beefing up your doors with 3″ screws (like Matt said) and security plates, or even getting a wrought iron storm door is one of the best ways to make your home more secure. And a big dog will let you know if someone is approaching your place faster than almost anything. Also, there are window security films that are the next best thing to storm shutters.
Hi Ray, wow! I can’t imagine a snake coming into my house, but I do have a small doggy door. YIKES! The poor guy should have called someone. I agree with you on beefing up our doors like Matt mentioned. I have two little dogs that “sound the alarm” for me when someone even comes close to the house. Storm shutters would be awesome! Stay safe, Linda
When Jane and I lived in Las Vegas many homes had Wrought Iron security doors AND the same treatment outside their windows. We’ve always had the security doors but neither one of us wanted the iron bars over our windows as I think it would have made us feel like we were living in jail.
Here in Kingman we don’t have the bars because it would detract from our mountain views. I’m not saying it isn’t a good idea but the aesthetics isn’t for us. That’s what led to me checking out the window security film. It’s expensive, and I’m not sure how well it holds up to UV radiation, so I haven’t done it yet, but it’s on the agenda.
Hi Ray, oh my gosh, I grew up in Las Vegas and graduated from Valley High School! Small world! I sure couldn’t live there now, too much crime, too many drugs and gangs. You would need them on all doors, and windows now. I would feel like I lived in jail too. I like looking outside at my trees and flowers. No window bars or coverings for me. I don’t want to live in fear. Life is too short. Stay safe, Linda
Life IS too short to live in fear. That’s why Covid hasn’t changed my behavior much. I wear a mask, but out of consideration for others, not because I think it will keep me from getting the virus and definitely not because our Mayor issued a mandatory mask order. The main thing my wife and I missed was going out to eat and we can do that now.
The only thing I miss about Vegas is Costco.
Hi Ray, Mark and I wear our masks whenever we go into any stores. I try and stay out of any restaurant right now. I like cooking at home, but I do like Black Bear Diner when my grandkids come to visit! They are so clean and space out customers. You know, now that you mention it, my life hasn’t changed much either. I’m a stay at home chick! I don’t even like driving through Las Vegas anymore even on the freeway. They sure have a lot of crime and it makes me sad to see so many homeless people in so many areas of Las Vegas. I’m glad you can drive to Vegas to visit Costco, all is well, my friend. Linda
So much sound advice in one post and comments. The only thing I can add is this: Think about how you would try to get out of the house (or in) in case of an emergency, because those places are access considerations for thieves or rioters. If you can get out, someone else could get in. And if you have personal protection items, keep them readily available, not where it takes minutes to access them.
Hi Terry, great comment, plan ahead for the unexpected. We must be prepared to deal with the bad that may hit our home and neighborhood. Linda
Could you say more about “Strategically Plant Thorny Bushes Around Windows”? What are some examples of stuff that works? Thanks.
Hi JoEllen, the problem with being specific about plants, ask any garden nursery in your area, and they will tell you the ones that grow the best in your area that are thorny but still look nice. Roses are the first one that comes to my mind (tall ones). Linda
Blackberry bushes are the thorniest things EVER! Or maybe non-hybrid roses…
HI Diana, that’s a great suggestion on blackberry bushes and non-hybrid roses. I Love it! Linda
One of the nastiest security hedges you can plant is Barberry, though Mountain Laurel, roses, raspberries, and goji berries will also do a decent job. Here in the Mohave desert we have some really vicious cacti.
HI Ray, wow, those are great ideas for a thorny bush, thank you!! Oh, the cacti, yeah that’s definitely a deterrent!! Great comment! Linda
I’m pretty proud of us-we’ve done most of the things listed here. As I’ve said before, we put a security film on all of our windows which will help also in earthquakes. It isn’t completely burglar proof (nothing really is) but it will definitely slow them down. If they go to smash the windows, the film holds it all together and they will have to take time to pick it apart which 1) makes noise and 2) takes time they don’t have.
Our front door has alot of glass however, it also has alot of lead-came which helps the thickness. The security film is on that, too. Our doors are steel and deadbolted, too. A person can fortify their doors really well but a seasoned burglar can just kick in BESIDE the door and get through just as easily. And what about skylights? I have 2 of those in our master bedroom and it worries be countless hours because someone could just jump on them and come through straight on to my bed. Hmmm…gotta research how to fix that.
We specifically did not put a pet door in because 1) it’s in the backyard where one can’t be seen if they try to get in and 2) we have a Golden Retriever who would require a larger door, big enough for a human…after the Golden welcomed them, licked them to death, asked them to play and then offered to show them how to get it!
There were alot of good ideas and I’m pretty happy that we’ve done as many of them as we have! Thanks again, Linda, for all the good work you do here!
Hi Robbie, thanks for your kind words. I work really hard to inform and cheer people on to be prepared. I just had some skylights installed. I can’t afford solar on my house but I want to save on electricity bills. The way these are installed no one could get in the house unless they are very thin and agile. AND they would get stuck, literally. They make several turns and are extremely safe. They make my house so much cheerier and bright. I wonder what you could do with yours? Mine are 14 inches in diameter called SolarTubes. The Golden Retriever welcoming the intruder and licking them is the best! My dog would do the same. Pets are the best! Linda
I have 3 of those solar tubes and I love ’em! I do, however, have 2 of the big, old fashioned type … the size is 2 or 3 by 3 or 4ft? Just the right size to come crashing through. I need to see what I can do to reinforce them. I love the sound of rain from them, tho. Wait, rain? What’s that?! Haven’t heard that on half of forever!
Hi Robbie, oh gotcha, I remember that size! I’m not sure how you can reinforce them but a handyman or handywoman would have some ideas. I bet the sound of the rain would be awesome! We haven’t had rain here either!! One day, a little, but in St. George, Ut they had some flooding. We never know when the rain will come, sprinkling or flooding. Stay safe, Linda