Low Cost Home Security

DIY Security Systems

There are many simple practices that you can implement to beef up your home security without spending a fortune, in fact most are completely free. Most aspects of securing your home can be applied without any cost to you at all, just simple changes in your everyday habits and routines. In this article I am going to help you apply the necessary changes that could not only save you money but also help you low cost home security and feel confident that you are doing everything needed to keep your most precious place in the world safe and secure.

Start with Outside

A good place to begin with is to have a very thorough tidy of your garden and front/side areas of your home. You would be surprised how small things lying around your front garden can aide an unscrupulous individual. Make sure that you do not have any ladders in the garden or standing up alongside the house.

These can be useful for thieves to gain access to upstairs windows that may not be secured. Also, pieces of rubbish like old brooms or mop handles could help with jamming open a window or door. So, it is a good rule of thumb to keep gardens and surrounding areas free of old bits and bobs you’ve been meaning to chuck out that can be used against you.

Another area to consider is if you have any trees, bushes or hedges in front of your door and windows. It is advised to keep them trimmed back and tidy as they can provide the perfect cover of darkness to a burglar when trying to gain access to your property. They are more likely to steer clear if they are on show for neighbours and passers-by.

Neighbourhood Watch

Speaking of neighbours, they are a wonderful resource and you should always maintain good friendly relations with those living around you as they will be more willing to step in and provide assistance if they know you and your family members, should they spot an unfamiliar face gaining access via your garden or front door they can raise an alarm on your behalf. Lots of areas operate good neighbourhood watch schemes and they are a great idea to join and provide your community with support and vice versa.

Lock doors and windows even when at home

There are simple habits you should always employ around the house to ensure optimum security. We are very much aware of locking windows and doors when we go out, many of us tend to be more relaxed when the house is occupied.

Always make sure that you lock doors even when you are at home as opportunists may quietly slip in via an open door when you are distracted in the garden or kitchen and have a quick chance to pilfer through your front room unnoticed, picking up small valuables, handbags or even car keys.

The same goes for back doors. Never leave garden doors unlocked as intruders often make this their first point of call, hopping through back gardens and trying the garden doors. This is even more important in the summer months as it is so easy to forget when everyone is going in and out of the garden.

Don’t let your guard down when the weather is good

It may sound obvious but just as important is the closure of windows. As the weather warms up it is our natural instinct to open up the windows to cool off. Firstly, I would make sure that all your windows are fitted with locks, check which type is suitable for your windows and always opt for key operated locks if possible. Having good strong window locks is so important as the window is the easiest access point for intruders.

On the ground floor I would only open the window fully if occupying the room, if I was in and out of the room, I would open the window with the barrel lock or sash blocker blocking the opening from more than a couple of inches.

That way you can get some breeze but still maintain security. The same goes for when going to sleep, if you are on the ground or first floors, never go to sleep with the window wide open, that is an open invitation to a thief. Always sleep with the lock barring the opening from more than a couple of inches.

Night-time Routine

On the subject of sleep and going to bed, it is an excellent idea to get into a night-time routine of ‘locking up the house’. By that I mean go from room to room and check windows are closed and locked, front and back doors are locked with keys removed and put out of sight in a safe place. Door chains or bolt locks applied if you have them.

By going though these checks each night you will adopt the good habit or securing all access points to your home and it becomes second nature like brushing your teeth. It also avoids the nagging ‘did I lock the backdoor??’ thoughts from popping in your head when trying to get to sleep.

It is not a good habit to leave keys indoors as this promotes ‘fishing’. By this, I am referring to people trying to gain access to your door keys with fishing rods and coat-hangers. It is advisable to always place keys in an accessible place, which never changes so all occupants know where to find them in an emergency. However, they must be away from the reach of the front door. There are letterbox plates that you can buy to fit over the letterbox which prevents this from occurring. These plates also prevent people from peeping through the letterbox.