AN alarm system and armed response are practical measures to protect your property and to prevent crime at your home, but what could happen if criminals were to try to gain entry into your house while you and your family were inside?
ADT Security advises homeowners to look at home security in layers. A simple but effective comparison would be to compare the ‘layers’ of your home security to those of an onion. Start with the outermost layer, which can be interpreted as the exterior of your property and work through to the core, which can be seen as the innermost, protected layer being a bedroom or living area.
The outermost layer of security is your suburb. You need to take into account whether your area has a neighbourhood watch or community cecurity ccheme. He said it was important that residents act as the eyes and ears of authorities like the South African Police Service and security companies reporting any suspicious persons or situations to them.
Also take note of whether there is sufficient street lighting and whether your house look well-kept if you stand in the street and look at your home.
The second layer of defence is the exterior of your home. A good way to assess your needs is to evaluate if your home is a target. Look at things such as whether there are overgrown bushes or trees in your gardne or if you keep large shrubs or trees, especially near doors, garages and gates, whether these are trimmed back to ensure that criminals do not use them as hiding places. Garden tools or any item that can be used as a means of gaining entry or a weapon must be packed safely away in a locked garage or shed.
Install CCTV cameras near entrances or under the eaves and have security company signboards displayed in first-floor windows or mounted against outside walls.
Outdoors beams are an effective, pet-tolerant way to detect an intruder and trigger the alarm before they are able to break-in. Using advanced technology, some models can distinguish a moving person from swaying trees or heavy rain, and so virtually eliminate false alarms.
Security systems wired to doors and windows are also important as a blaring alarm siren could scare off a burglar before they can get into your home.
Fit good quality locks, burglar bars and safety gates to the inside of windows and doors. This will surprise and possibly even frustrate and deter a burglar who believes they have easy access.
The third layer of security is inside the home in your bedrooms and living areas. This final layer of security aims to protect your family from harm and safeguard your belongings. Take note of whether there is easy access into the home through the roof and whether placing sensors in the ceiling to detect intruders be considered.
Strategically place panic buttons throughout the house, for example in bedrooms and living areas, so in the event that a member of the household was to come across a burglar they could quickly and easily be able to activate the alarm.
CCTV cameras, motion sensors or passives can detect movement in the house when the alarm is activated and protect your valuables when you are away from home.
Store small valuables, like jewellery, cash and passports safely in a locked drawer or safe.
Layered security measures are very important because it will take a burglar longer to enter your home and to have access to your belongings.
