The coming winter months mean that evenings will be getting darker earlier. During the winter, burglars are protected by the cover of darkness and they can tell when no one is home for longer in the mornings and evenings. Take a minute to stop and think about how you’re currently protecting your home and family from intruders. This is the perfect time of year to consider adding home automation to keep prospective burglars at bay.
Not all home automation needs to be fancy; you can take these simple steps to deter burglars from entering your home:
- Light all entryways, including doors and driveways. Burglars (obviously) do not like to be seen and will avoid well-lit homes and areas. Use motion sensor flood lights to discourage prospective burglars without annoying your neighbors or wasting electricity.
- Light up the interior of your home well with timer switches to turn lights on and off when you are not home. If you travel a lot or get home late, purchase a few timer switches to turn lights on when it gets dark.
- Remember to close curtains and drapes as it gets dark, as it prevents burglars from studying the inside of your home. With smart blinds, this can be done via an app or remote control.
- Keep ALL doors and windows secure ALL the time. Even if you are stepping out of the house for 5-10 minutes make sure to lock all doors and windows. You can also take extra security measures with windows and sliding glass doors, including adding security bars to discourage entry.
- Hide all your keys in a safe place inside. Keep them away from mail slots and windows, as well as out of the “line of sight” of anyone looking in through the windows. It is best to leave a spare key with a neighbor and to make sure all family members have their own key. Consider a smart lock, like the Morning Industry RF Remote Control Deadbolt for secure keyless entry.
- Secure your garage door(s) and lock the door from the garage to the house if you have one. Burglars will look for easy access into your home through the garage doors and windows. You also likely have expensive equipment stored in your garage during the winter, like lawnmowers, ATVs or motorcycles. Is your snow blower or snowmobile easily accessible for your convenience? It’s convenient for burglars too if you don’t lock your doors!
- If you have an existing smart security system, inspect their condition to make sure they’re running smoothly. Investing in a few minor improvements and adjustments can save you a lot of heartache down the road.
This guest post was contributed by Robert James of Safe Home Blog. You can find more easy ways to automate your home on their blog!
