Home Security Basics - Part 2

  This isn't everything, but it's a start   -  Download part 1 here 

  • Professional thieves will find a way into your house no matter what you do. The least you can do is not make it easy for them.
  • Shut and lock your external doors, even when you are home.
  • If you like the breeze, get a good-quality security screen with quality locks
  • Install anti-tamper plates on all screen doors.
  • Install decent door locks.  Your cheapo ones aren’t even going to stop an amateur
  • Install good quality key-operated two-cylinder deadlocks to all external hinged doors
  • Make sure you have solid doors and solid door well-fitted jambs 
  • Install good quality dead latch front and back ( and use them)
  • Don’t hide a key outside.  Crooks are smarter than you. They will always find it.
  • Install a wide-angle peephole on your front door.
  • Get a dog. 
  • If you can’t stand dogs, get a recording and put it on a sensor play
  • For sliding doors use a wood dowel in the track or cylinder window locks
  • For windows - Install cylinder window locks or wood dowel in all tracks or both
  • Close windows when out even just a short time.
  • Put decent locks on your shed.  Cheapo shed locks can be activated with a flathead screwdriver.
  • Place security company warning stickers in highly visible places.
  • Use light timers if you are away or just leave some internal lights on.
  • Leave the TV on (loud)– 20 cents a day is the best security you can buy
  • Close the curtains when you are out. If the crooks can't see in, there is always some doubt that someone is home.  Maybe leave a curtain open a crack so the crooks can see that the TV is on.
  • Install exterior lighting - if you are away, put these on a timer. Crooks will notice them on all day.
  • Install motion sensor external lights
  • install Alarm systems and/or internet-connected video surveillance
  • Get a home safe installed.  Crooks know where to look. You think you cleverly hid your stuff, but they know every trick you thought of and more.  
  • Don’t advertise to crooks that your house is unattended. 
    • Facebook is a treasure trove of “on holiday” snaps.
    • If you are away, cancel deliveries including mail & papers
  • Protect your online identity.  I don’t even know where to start.  
    • If it seems too good to be true, or 
    • if it seems too bad to be true, 
    • or if you are offended, outraged, confused or afraid, 
    • it’s almost certainly a scam.  Aussies are getting smarter, slowly. It’s not as easy to fleece us of our hard-earned savings. Crooks are always 3 steps ahead of you. Now it’s not just your money they want its to be you, then they can easily take what they want from you.
  • Be careful what you advertise in your garbage bin.  Leave a new TV carton out for pick up and you just told everyone that there is a nice shiny new TV ready to be lifted.
  • Take photographs of all your valuables
  • Engrave all of your valuables.  Police will give you a code and some will even lend you an engraving pen.
  • Keep receipts for all big-ticket items
  • Protect your identity. Photocopy or scan your passport, driver’s license, and all the cards in your wallet 
  • If you are going on holiday leave a car in your driveway
  • If you are going on holiday, take ALL of your keys with you.
  • If you are going on a long holiday, get someone to mow your lawn while you are away.
  • If you are going on an extended holiday get a house sitter
  • Keep bushes and trees pruned.  This is a trade-off.  People like the privacy of high fences and shrubbery however it gives the crooks a hiding space. Some say that you're less likely to be broken into if your house is in clear view of the street and others say that if crooks can't see into your yard, they won't risk a closer look. Either way, crooks are brazen. They'll walk straight up to your door, knock on it like they're supposed to be there, and if no one answers in they go. Your task is to give them enough doubt. High bushes and block-out fences give you privacy, but also them more evaluation time.
  • Get off your butt and go and say hello you your neighbours. 
    • Swap phone numbers with at least 2 up 2 down and 4 across.  Get the whole street if you can
    • Tell your neighbours if you are going away and for how long. ( unless they are one of the crooks of course in which case, don’t tell them )
  • Get insurance, because your best efforts may come to naught up against a serious crook who needs their next fix.

Coming SOON  - Personal Security Basics