If there is one place in this world that you should be able to feel 100% safe, it is inside your own home. Whether it is a condo, apartment, or a multilevel house, you should have a sense of security when you are home. Of course many of us do not always have this feeling, it may be due to the neighborhood we live in, the new neighbors that moved in, or our own paranoid self-conscious. If you are feeling any of these, there are several ways to increase security within your castle.
When I was younger, a teacher of mine told me he hung a moose head just inside his front door, suggesting that a burglar would move to the next house assuming that he had a gun and knew how to use it. I was not sure I agreed with the logic at the time and to a certain degree I still find it a bit ridiculous. However, perception is reality and making someone think that breaking into your home is a bad idea is just about as good as really making it so.
Using a moose head in your foyer may not suit you, placing ADT or some other well known security system’s stickers on your windows and doors may be an alternative. Presenting the illusion that you have a security system, even if you don’t want to spend the $30 or more a month, plus installation, can be a great deterrent to the opportunistic burglar. If you want to subscribe to the idea that a burglar avoids homes in which the occupants have firearms, a nice National Rifle Association sticker on your front door may serve your purpose well.
Burglaries are more common in empty homes rather than when someone is home. You would probably rather someone break-in when you are gone anyway, who wants to experience something like that. A good idea is to either leave lights on or purchase an inexpensive timer which will turn the lights on at a certain time each evening if you get home a bit later. Keep the doors and windows locked. It is nice to get fresh air, many windows these days have a method of opening a few inches and locking so that someone cannot simply crawl in through the open window. Depending on the area, a closed window may not be enough to stop a criminal. You may need to install steel bars over windows and the door. It should be remembered that even the strongest barrier is only as strong as what it is attached to. If you take a seriously sturdy bar and attach it to sheetrock, you will find that it is quickly removed.
To reduce the visibility of barricades (maybe you want extra security without the appearance of a jail or prison) there are a few inexpensive steps you may take. A simple door stop can be used to prevent a door from being kicked-in. This consists of a bar attaching against the inside of the door and attaching to something inside the home, behind the door. This will absorb significant impact and will most likely prevent entry as the perpetrator will move on after a few unsuccessful attempts. Arranging landscaping to prevent easy access to windows is another tool to discourage entry. If they cannot walk up to a window it will significantly lower the chance that someone will even attempt to break-in. People tend to take the path of least resistance, making your home just a little more difficult to breech could be the difference between being a victim and sleeping peacefully.
These suggestions cannot guarantee safety or that your home will not become the target of a criminal. I make them in order to provide an added layer of security which is non-existent in most cases. A security audit of your home by a professional should be performed if you have serious security concerns. These measures are intended to deter opportunistic criminals, if someone has deemed you or your home a target, a significantly higher level of security should be explored. Dominion Group Inc. prides itself in offering state of the art security systems and solid advice to clients. Nothing can match a customized audit of your security needs from a professional with years in the industry. Visit Dominion Group Inc. or call 516.554.9823 to learn more.
Living in New York city or Long Island? We can arrange a free consultation onsite.
The next discussion will explore self defense within the home. Are firearms a necessity or dangerous weapons to be avoided?
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