I promise that you will learn how to be more prepared with these easy home security tips you never taught of.
Your home should be as hard as possible to enter, with multiple security layers that are hard to get around.
Let’s face it, the world is already a dangerous place, and with over 1% of all Americans getting burglarized every year(according to 2023 burglary statistics) is terrifying. Home security is more important than ever!
Unless your home is completely secured in a fortified castle, you will have to make adjustments and enhancements to ensure maximum security.
Before we start, why should you listen to me? I am an expert in home security and have been studying home security case studies and cybersecurity case studies for years now to bring you the most relevant home safety tips in this article.
Without further ado, let’s jump into this article and cover 24 SHTF home security tips.
In This Article
- 1. Reinforce Everything
- 2. Putting A Security Sign
- 3. Get Lights
- 4. Hide Your Valuables
- 5. Don't Forget About The Alarm System
- 6. Start Landscaping
- 7. Keep Your Doors Locked
- 8. Change the Locks if You Haven't Already
- 9. Off Your Home Phone Ringers
- 10. Invest in a Safe That Doesn't Look like a Safe
- 11. Mark Your Valuables With a UV Pen
- 12. Replace Rotted Window and Door Frames
- Conclusion
1. Reinforce Everything
Your first home security tip, without a doubt, is to reinforce your fence(which you should have), doors, and windows.
First, you must secure the fence. It would be best if you had a fence, and the fence must be above seven feet high. This will serve as a significant deterrent, which decreases your likelihood of getting burglarized or worse.
You should change wooden posts to steel posts, wooden slats covered with corrugated tin, and steel fence spikes/bird spikes, or sharp barb wires at the top(you can find fence spikes here on Amazon).
You should check your cities fencing regulations to ensure that you aren’t breaking any of them.
Secondly, you have to reinforce your doors for maximum home security after SHFT. You will be surprised at the number of people who use the front or back door when entering your home illegally.
In fact, according to 2023 burglary statistics, 34% use the front door, and 22% using the back door. That is exactly why this should be one of your top priorities.
You have to insert deadbolts or replace old deadbolts(you can find deadbolts here on Amazon for the lowest price).
Then, replace your lockset door strike plate with an electronic door strike plate, install metal frames, add a steel conduit, and perhaps a few more enhancements for your front and back door(s).
Finally, get reinforced windows. 25% of burglars use your windows to break in. 23% use the first-floor windows, and 2% use the second-floor windows.
You have to (optional) replace your window with laminated safety glass, get window grills(which you can find here on Amazon), and get professional-grade window locks(which you can find here on Amazon).
The doors and windows should prevent over 80% of burglars, and the fencing should deter burglars looking for an easy house to pick on.
Now, for the most important part. You should be keeping your fence locked when you aren’t entering or leaving, keeping your doors locked if you aren’t entering or leaving your house at that moment, and locking your windows for all the security to take effect.
2. Putting A Security Sign
A simple home security tip is to put security signs, which is the 9th most considered security sign, burglars commonly look for. This makes sense because property invaders want the least trouble possible.
Having a security sign will actually deter 54% (as an estimation), according to a study conducted by us (here is a cheap pack of four signs).
This may rest assure some of you, but you may be thinking about the other 40%. The additional 40% is usually the impulsive type that just breaks in without any deliberate planning in advance.
This will not stop them, and the chances are that if you don’t have a real security system or reinforced fences, doors, and windows, you will get your home invaded.
So, if you have a security sign, it is always best to actually have a security system with that.
The 40% could also include those who spotted the fake security sign, which is easy. They could just do a Google search and find out right there(which most deliberate planning burglars do.)
Putting a security sign is a great deterrent(and is better than nothing), but a security system to go with that is much more secure.
3. Get Lights
Outdoor light definitely ensures less crime at night. More crime happens in the day(so you shouldn’t slack off security during the day), but it close to a 50/50 split, so night security is still essential.
You should have two types of light, a light that is automatically at a set time and motion sensor lights that will deter most burglars and may make them reconsider attempting to break into your fortress (here is a great motion sensor and automatic light for cheap). This is one way to upgrade your home to a smart home.
Of course, having flashy outdoor lights by itself may get rid of most of your problems, you still have to consider the minority. They will be looking out for a security camera, and if you don’t have a home security system with cameras, that minority will do their best to break in.
While outdoor lights are an obvious choice, considering their massive benefits, indoor lights can make your life easier and eliminate the majority of that minority I discussed above.
Burglars don’t want to be noticed, and if they figure out that they just triggered indoor sensors, they probably won’t risk it, or at least steel whatever they can at right that moment(which is why you shouldn’t have valuables at entries or near windows).
If you don’t like sensory lights, another alternative is leaving a couple of lights near windows on.
4. Hide Your Valuables
This is a no brainer. Valuables, especially near windows, are a serious attractant and will encourage any desperate burglar to break in at any cost because they already have an incentive.
Apart from that, you should definitely not brag about getting expensive new gadgets online, maybe with a close friend group and trusted family that can keep secrets, but probably not anyone else.
It would be best if you had either windowless garage doors or garage doors with one-way glass to prevent any peeking for your new flashy car or motorcycle.
You should also get a one-sided window privacy film so no one can see inside, but you can see outside (here is a great pick).
Another topic in this section is the packages. Bring those packages in right away because package theft is one of the most effortless property crimes to do, and if it’s easy, that means a lot of people will do it.
This is also another reason to get a proper fence because that could be one of the only barriers.
5. Don't Forget About The Alarm System
According to Reolink, 1/3 of homes without a security system will get burglarized and invaded, while 1/250 with home security will not.
If you don’t already have basic home security, like a home security system that should come with cameras, motion sensor lights, and alarms, you should get one.
Security cameras should catch all the footage and should have sensor lights and alarms to scare the burglar away.
Security systems often come with fire detectors as well, which could reduce the fire damage. Every 20 seconds, there is a house fire that is reported.
This will also make your home much more secure when on vacation. This can give you peace of mind.
To add on, this will lower homeowners’ insurance premiums, increase your house value, and ensure you are more secure (here is Amazon’s top pick).
6. Start Landscaping
This home security tip is more important than it sounds. Any burglar looking for an easy hit, faced with these obstacles, most likely won’t risk it. Even determined planners will give it a second thought.
You want to have minimal hiding spots on your property, and plants are great for hiding. You should consider having short plants that a home invader can’t hide behind.
You also should consider sharp plants around your house for anyone trying to find an easy way in, and having something like a few blackberry bushes will add some deliciousness and security to your home.
So, when a home invader tries to break in, you should at least give them a mark to make sure they don’t mess with you again.
Talking about landscaping, keep your lawn mowed even when you aren’t home(by hiring someone) because long grass is a major indication for no one home.
7. Keep Your Doors Locked
You may think that your neighborhood is safe. However, that doesn’t mean it is. There may be criminals that are waiting to prey when the right opportunity comes. According to a study conducted by Larms, there were 1,495,790 during the day in 2019.
In other words, burglaries happen 6% more in the day than at night, so it is important to keep your doors locked even during the day. We make it much too easy for criminals to break in during daylight. We have to stop that. If you are interested in checking how safe is your neighborhood, we have an article covering that.
8. Change the Locks if You Haven't Already
Even if your previous homeowners said they gave you every set of keys, it is still important to change those locks if you haven’t already.
This is a simple way to enhance your security. You never know if your previous family dog walker or babysitter had a spare key.
9. Off Your Home Phone Ringers
Turn off your home phone ringers whenever you plan to leave your house for a substantial amount of time.
If a burglar passing by hears a phone ringing with no answer, the chances of you getting burglarized skyrocket.
You also don’t want to say something along the lines of ” We aren’t home right now” on your voicemail.
10. Invest in a Safe That Doesn't Look like a Safe
I recommend you invest in a diversion safe. The common thief would look for a normal-looking safe to crack open. Having a safe that looks like an everyday item will greatly increase the protection of your most valued items.
I would recommend looking around here on Amazon for diversion safes you like.
11. Mark Your Valuables With a UV Pen
According to the 2010 report from the Department of Justice, 65% of all violent burglaries were committed by someone they knew.
Even if your property gets stolen by someone, there is an easy way to get it returned.
12. Replace Rotted Window and Door Frames
That rot isn’t only unsightly, it could be a security vulnerability as well.
Having rotted wood makes it easy for burglars to break in your brute strength and rotted wood can cause termites, which can cause all sorts of problems for your home’s security.
Conclusion
In this article, you learned some home security safety tips for after SHFT, so you can keep your family safe no matter what happens.
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Having a dog is a huge deterrent for most thieves. It doesn’t even need to be a big/mean dog but those traits can provide additional deterrence.
Getting to know your neighbors can be a great to keep everyone safer. Even simply introducing yourself can suffice.
A gun is more dangerous than most people are willing to be properly trained to use. You need to take it to the range and practice regularly or you’re more likely to be shot with your own gun than to thwart a home invasion. Ammo and range time are a lot more expensive than a lot of people realize. And taking a life is a lot more traumatic than in movies/video games.
Nonsense. A gun can be easily used in close in defense, and is the one deterent that can be relied upon. Millions of home owners have home defense guns which can be used with no training at all. Pointing a pistol at close range requires no training at (ask how much training a home invader has). Police and the military have much different weapons situations where training does matter. Get armed and stay armed. Just have the weapons secured from children and the home will be much safer.