7 AFFORDABLE SOLUTIONS TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HOME SECURITY

Burglary and theft are some of the top threats that homeowners face in what should be their safe, personal space. No one deserves to have their home broken into, their valuables lost, and their safety threatened, but property crimes are an unfortunate reality wherever you live.

The fact is, break-ins are crimes of opportunity. Thieves and burglars will either plan to enter your home when it is most vulnerable, such as when no one is home, or it’s simply an easy target because it’s obvious that the door was accidentally unlocked.

The best theft prevention and protection for your loved ones are securing your home. This means limiting access and deterring break-ins, and ensuring that you can easily alert local authorities and apprehend threats the moment they breach your home.

Whether you live in a tight-knit and quiet community or a big city with higher foot traffic and security risks, it pays to take active steps to keep your home safe. Rayneau offers plenty of ways you can protect your home from invasion or burglary.  Here are some of the most effective theft prevention tips to reduce the risk of loss, where it matters most:

1 - Improve Door Security. It is very easy to kick in a solid door that has old hardware. With two kicks in only five seconds, a burglar can destroy the doorjamb and get into your home. A secure entry starts with a solid door and a Grade 1 or Grade 2 deadbolt with a solid 1-in. long throw bolt. Any exterior door that only has a lock in the doorknob isn’t secure. A sturdy screwdriver or small pry bar can quickly bow the doorjamb enough to release the latch.

Prevent break-ins by upgrading and strengthening your deadbolt and lock set - you need to upgrade the deadbolt and lock set plates of your exterior doors. 

2 - Reinforce windows with metal bars. It may seem an extreme step, but burglars will often break a small window in order to gain entry. Make it impossible for them to break through by installing safety glass or impossible to squeeze through by installing metal bars. There are plenty of decorative options for metal grills that can make the adjustment both practical and aesthetically pleasing. 3 – IP Cameras. IP security cameras offer many advantages over older, analog systems. They record at a much higher resolution, allowing for a clear image even when zoomed in, with a better field of view. They can also be set to automatically flag certain events, such as motion detection in a certain area of the image. They can also be a good option if you’re away from your home and still need to monitor them. These days, a fairly capable standalone IP security camera can be bought for anything from $75 upwards.  4 - Build a fence. If you don’t have one already, a fence can be an excellent way to keep unwanted visitors off your property.  Open chain-link or ornamental fencing tend to be preferable and are ideally secured into concrete to prevent lifting. Solid fences can be easier to climb and offer thieves a place to hide, though some homeowners prefer them for privacy and noise reduction. You can better secure them by having sharp pointed tops or, if you don’t mind rough barbed wire fencing. 5 - Consider buying a home security system. There are countless features with any security system, and some particularly valuable ones are outdoor motion detectors, sensors at exterior doors, windows, an outdoor alarm to alert other neighbors to an intrusion, and security cameras. Select the features that best fit your needs. Once it’s installed, make it a regular habit to use it.  6 - Install motion sensor lighting around your home, especially at entrances. Shine a spotlight on a potential intruder before he can even touch your doors or windows by adding extra lighting with motion detectors at entrances and especially dark corners of your home. Motion sensor lights are an effective way to increase your home security without spending a fortune on sophisticated alarms and lighting systems.  7 - Get a guard dog.  Aptly named, guard dogs are trusty companions that can look after your property and bark aggressively at trespassers. Hang a ‘beware of dog’ sign outside your home and burglars will think twice about forcing their entry. REMEMBER TO BE VIGILANT! Being vigilant outdo the cost incurred if your house is being burglarized. These preventive tips will guarantee to keep your home safe from burglary. A safe home will always be a happy home Pay us a visit at our Corinth (450-7247) Monchy (450-7248) Vide Bouteille (450-7246) or Babonneau (450-5759) branch, or visit our facebook page.  We’re always happy to serve you #ShopRayneau# #EverythingUnderOneRoof