Whether your home is a sprawling estate, a house in the suburbs, a high-rise condominium unit, or a tiny apartment, effective security requires precautions beyond locking the door. The solution is to make your home a fortress. Luckily, much of this can be a DIY project.
Setting Up Security Around Your Home
To create the outer deterrence zone, “trim back or remove any overgrown trees or shrubs that could offer concealment for burglars,” he said. “Don’t give them a place to hide while they wait for you to leave. If you can see them, call the police, making sure all doors and windows are locked, and turning on exterior lights.”
Alarm Systems
Dene Josham, co-founder of Streetwise Defence based in England, was in the Royal Marines before going on to spend 30 years in the security industry, including 15 years as a bodyguard to celebrities Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Russell Crowe.“We teach people how to secure their homes; the basics are the same whether it is a mansion or a normal house,” he told The Epoch Times. When Ms. Jolie and Mr. Pitt were still together and living at their southern France estate, Miraval, “they had just had their twins, and there was a $1 million price tag on the first photos of the babies,” Mr. Josham explained. “We utilized the basics, using security systems such as CCTV and alarms, patrolling the grounds, being alert, and being aware of what was occurring at all times.”
“Your home is your castle,” he said. “You don’t want anyone invading it. Install an intruder alarm system in your home. I recommend a combination of motion sensors and shock sensors on windows and doors.”
Think Like a Thief
Allen Baler, co-founder of 4Patriots, an online provider of preparedness products, told The Epoch Times that “security is not just about locking your doors and installing cameras. It is about having a real understanding of what is happening around you in order to protect yourself and your loved ones.”“People tend to view their homes from the inside-out instead of how intruders view them—from the outside-in,” he said. “Looking at it from a different perspective gives you a better insight into how to deploy your system.”
Be Prepared for Crisis Scenarios
Mr. Baler said making your home a fortress also requires it to withstand natural disasters, power outages, or being cut off from supplies such as food and fuel. “Whether it’s wind knocking out security cameras and lights, or a power failure rendering the most sophisticated system inoperable, you need an alternate power source to run your system,” he said. A compact gas-powered generator will keep the lights on and the refrigerator running during power outages.
“Think medieval times,” he said. “Castles gave owners and their community the opportunity to shelter in place for extended periods of time. In this sense, societal needs haven’t changed much in hundreds of years.”
What to Expect From Your Security System
Security systems come in all different forms. Anything that can deter, detect, and notify of a possible issue is a security system, from a dog to a high-tech electronic system. Choosing a system that contacts first responders is an added bonus, Mr, Baler said.He also addressed the potential loopholes in home security systems, warning that “improperly installed or inadequate systems can create a false sense of security. Also, having a strictly internet-based system or a grid-tied system can leave you vulnerable to power outages. Weak pass codes or unsecure signals can also lead to the possibility of people hacking your system and monitoring you, which is a privacy concern.”
DIY Your Home Security
Anyone with basic DIY skills can fortify their homes themselves, whether they live in a house or an apartment. An alternative to a professionally-installed and expensive security system is installing a basic system, which can be surprisingly easy.
Mr. Petrino, the former SWAT commander, said that older doors and windows can be easily forced open, and that “updating to steel doors and impact windows is best, but can be expensive.” He offered this more affordable modification: “Replace existing screws in the hinges and strike places with three-inch stainless-steel screws, and add a deadbolt. This makes even old doors nearly impenetrable. Apply security film and add locks to windows to help prevent them from being opened.”
Lighting is the number one nighttime crime prevention feature a home can have, Mr. Petrino said. He recommended installing motion-sensor lighting by all points of entry and perimeter lighting around the property, along with this tip: “use timers to alter the times for the lights to give the appearance someone is inside turning them on and off, especially when you are away on vacation.”
Security cameras can help police identify a burglar should a crime occur. That’s why installing them at visible locations by doors and windows can deter criminals from trying their luck. He added: “Some cameras feature two-way audio and motion alerts. If you are going to be away for an extended period of time, have a neighbor or friend collect your mail. Put your television on a timer so that it looks like someone is home watching it.”
Garage doors are soft spots in many homes, he told The Epoch Times, “especially if the door leading inside is not hardened and secured, so keep them closed and locked.”
The bottom line is simple: make the home inhospitable to criminals, be aware, and be prepared.
