Avoiding Common Home Security Blunders: A Guide to Protecting Your Residence
In today's world, ensuring the safety and security of our homes is more important than ever. Here are some key points to consider when setting up your home security system, based on recent trends and best practices.
Amy Willis, a homeowner in the UK, recently found herself a victim of burglary. However, her Google Nest camera footage helped bring the thief to justice, even though she did not recover her avocado sink. This incident underscores the importance of having a reliable home security system.
Perimeter security, including external detection and internal sensors, provides better coverage and peace of mind. However, installing the best home security systems incorrectly can still leave homes vulnerable. It's crucial to avoid common mistakes such as poor camera placement, relying too heavily on off-the-shelf, DIY security products without professional design, and neglecting system maintenance.
Poor camera placement, such as installing cameras too high, at wrong angles, or behind vegetation that blocks views, can result in missing crucial entry points or faces. Using only a single floodlight at the front leaves side and back areas dark, creating vulnerable blind spots. Failing to cover main doors and windows with cameras or sensors, despite these being primary burglary entry points, is another common oversight. Installing cameras within easy reach makes them susceptible to tampering or disabling by intruders.
Leaving doors and windows unlocked, even screen doors or sliding windows, is a simple but common way for burglars to enter. Hiding spare keys in obvious spots, like under doormats or flowerpots, enables easy access for burglars. Neglecting system maintenance, such as failing to update camera software, clean sensors and lenses, and regularly test batteries and components, can cause false alarms or failure to detect intrusions.
Best practices homeowners should consider include strategically placing cameras at optimal heights, using multiple motion-sensor floodlights around all vulnerable sides of the house, ensuring coverage of all main access points, securing cameras with anti-tamper mounts, locking all doors and windows consistently, avoiding obvious key hiding spots, and regularly maintaining the entire security system.
Implementing these practices reduces vulnerabilities, improves detection and deterrence, and ensures the security system operates effectively over time. Simpled Smart locks, Yale Linus smart lock L2, and the Chrome Conexis L2 smart lock are examples of digital access control solutions that can enhance home security.
Gravel driveways and paths are a simple, low-cost deterrent for intruders trying to move quietly around the property. It's important to read up on home CCTV laws and garden lighting laws to avoid invading neighbors' privacy unintentionally.
Lastly, consider if you want a doorbell camera recording all the time and if your video doorbell could be vulnerable to being hacked. Upgrading to a multi-point locking system can provide added protection. The Infrared Security Beam from Amazon is an example of external detection that can enhance your home's security. Proper planning and high-quality doors and windows during renovation can also enhance home security.
- Amy Willis' experience underscores the need for a reliable home security system, as her Google Nest camera helped with a burglary investigation, despite losing an avocado sink.
- Perimeter security, consisting of external detection and internal sensors, offers better coverage and peace of mind, but can still leave homes vulnerable if improperly installed.
- Common mistakes include improper camera placement, over-reliance on DIY security products, and neglected system maintenance, all of which can leave homes exposed.
- Strategic camera placement, multiple motion-sensor floodlights, and securing cameras with anti-tamper mounts are best practices to improve security.
- Locking all doors and windows consistently, avoiding obvious key hiding spots, and regularly maintaining the entire system can further reduce vulnerabilities.
- Digital access control solutions, such as Simpled Smart locks, Yale Linus smart lock L2, and the Chrome Conexis L2 smart lock, can enhance home security.
- Gravel driveways and paths can deter intruders, while being mindful of home CCTV and garden lighting laws helps avoid inadvertently invading neighbors' privacy.
- Upgrading to a doorbell camera, carefully considering privacy concerns and hacking risks, utilizing a multi-point locking system, and choosing high-quality doors and windows during renovation can all contribute to enhancing home security.
