Keeping Your House Safe – What should we be doing?

**Collaborative post**

Home security is one of those things that suddenly seems to get more important when you have kids. Just like so many other things we didn’t really worry about pre-kids keeping the house safe and secure becomes important and relevant when we have little people to protect. But what should we be doing? There are so many things on the market its hard to know what’s what. Also, with Covid-19 seeing many of us at home more often is home security still an issue?

We are at home a lot more

OK so let’s look at why home security is important when it feels like we never go out anymore. Firstly, this won’t last forever (hopefully) so planning security measures now when things are much more normal in 6 months time is worth the effort. Also, just because break-ins may be down right now doesn’t mean they won’t surge when things open back up, criminals haven’t gone away sadly. There is also the scary prospect of people breaking into your home when you are there, it happens and it must be terrifying. The final point is that while we may not go out as much as we did people are still booking weekends away, nights out, sleepovers and longer holidays. We may be more likely to head to the Lake District than Lake Garda but we are still away from home. So, don’t think our homes are all safe because we go out less, they are still at risk and will be again when things change. 

Time of Year

We are about to enter a bad time for break-ins. When the clocks go back the dark evenings arrive and that gives burglars lots of freedom. Plus, Christmas is on the way and that means lots of expensive gifts laying under a tree that are easy to grab and run. It is really important to remember the things that make break-ins easier and winter is certainly one of them. 

Choices Choices

The problem with home security is there is just so much choice and a lot of it sounds expensive. For many people alarms and the like just seem out of reach but are they? Here are a few of the main types of security you can look at

CCTV

So, rewind 10 years or more and CCTV was something you would only have if you owned a mansion or a business. These days it is surprisingly affordable and really effective. The concept of CCTV can be confusing though. What’s the point of having footage of someone who broke into your house and ran off with your stuff? The police might get them but they may not. Well CCTV cameras also serve another purpose. Paul Kelly from Essex based 24-7 CCTV says “criminals will be looking for easy homes to break into, a CCTV on the front of a house just says “don’t bother” and more often than not they will move on”.  But they can do more than just film! Some cameras have speakers in them so you can actually talk to people you see on your property and tell them the police have been called! Prices vary massively for CCTV Blink and Nest cameras are very affordable and easy to install, they are great for front doorbell security and seeing if someone is knocking on the door when you are out to check the house is empty. Camera systems like Hik Vision are more expensive but still under £1500 for 3-4 cameras which, for a larger house is great value. 

Intruder Alarms

A classic burglar alarm is hard to beat when it comes to security. But things have moved on from the old days. Now all the sensors are wireless and you can turn the systems on and off on your phone and more. These alarms can bring peace of mind when you go to bed knowing you will know if someone tries to break in and will probably run away. But they would also alert a neighbour if you were away too. Again, seeing an alarm on the front of your home is a great deterrent and one that probably makes an alarm an excellent choice. Cost wise the range hugely but DIY kits can be as cheap as £250 to install which makes them quite appealing! 

Security Lights

Lights that come on with sensors are a no brainer if you have a garden or a front-drive and door set back from the road. They are simple and can be a great deterrent. Someone may be wandering around the rear of your home scoping it out and the moment a bright light comes on they will almost certainly run away. Again, it’s a matter of criminals trying to find an easy target and a house with security lights is harder than one without. There is a lot to choose from but even simple ones can be well worth the investment.  

General Tips

As well as the main three security options there are also some handy tips you can follow. The first is to get timers on some of your lights. These are not fancy gadgets just a plug extension that allows you to set a timer for a few lamps around the house. It means even if you are out it looks like someone is in. It is also worth keeping your garden pretty well trimmed, bushes and overgrown areas can make good hiding places for people checking out your home. Don’t leave ladder lying around, keep sheds locked and secure and don’t have your key hooks right by the front door. Simple steps like this can make things a bit harder and that’s what we are trying to do. 

You really don’t need to spend a fortune to secure your house but of course, you can and some of the high-end tech is pretty amazing. However, ultimately we are just aiming to make it clear you have security measures in the hope the criminals move on.