Tips on Home Surveillance Systems
Everything you need to know about securing your home can be summed up in a few recommendations. You can choose to get complicated about home security, but you really need some basic equipment, an Internet connection, and understand a few basic rules recommended by police departments nationwide.
Many home surveillance systems overdo security by adding lots of fancy tools that don’t get used and essentially just raise your bill. The truth of the matter is, home surveillance systems with a few cameras and a motion detecting light will be enough for most people.
Controlling Access Points to Your Home
The best way to keep someone out of your home is to deter them from ever opening the door. A reinforced door is a moderately priced item that you can easily install to prevent someone from caving in your doorway with a strong kick or crowbar. The San Diego Police Department recommends single cylinder dead-bolt locks on your doors, with a minimum of one inch throw distance. Doors should be reinforced with strike plates, and hinges should be on the inside wherever possible.
Reinforced glass is another option, although some may find it out of their price range. A simple and inexpensive work-around is to plant thorny bushes around the windows that you cannot reinforce.
Security Cameras
Wireless camera setups are available at your local hardware store, but a simple webcam with some computer software will also work. All you need is a place to store the video that is recorded, and then you’re set up to detect when someone enters your house. Your system can be configured to detect motion, and activate in stealth mode, turning an open laptop into a security camera for your living room. Cost effective ideas exist too, if you are willing to put more of the work in to installing the system, and you do not need to archive a lot of footage. The things to think about are:
- Who is at your house most of the day?
- Who has access to the inside of your house?
- How long are typically not at home?
The answer to these questions will help you determine how many cameras you will need, where to place those cameras, and ultimately how much storage space you need to store the footage you record. Just remember to arm your cameras when you leave.
Security Lights
Security lights detect when things move around them, and trigger a fairly bright spot on a driveway or walkway. These types of lights work well for lighting would-be thieves, deterring them from your property lack of wanting to be identified. A report from the Department of Justice shows that in areas where lighting was increased, criminal activity either decrease or shifted to other poorly lit areas. It will also save energy because they automatically turn on when they sense motion.
Neighborhood Watch
Adopt a neighborhood watch system, and get signs posted in your neighborhood. This is another deterrent against criminals, as they notoriously despise noisy dogs and nosey neighbors. Talk to your neighbors frequently, you might even make friends with people.
Identify Your Property
Mark your valuables (like a laptop) with an etching of your initials on the bottom of the unit. A distinguishable mark that does not damage your device can be helpful when police seize stolen property. You may not immediately recover your device, but you might be able to see it in the future if you can prove that it belongs to you. Receipts with serial numbers are also great for recovering stolen items.
The Mindset of the Burglar
Burglars don’t just appear from the ether, they are often people you’ve hired to work on your property before, or people you’ve seen in your neighborhood. Some of the best ways to deter would be thieves are to secure your belongings. Teach your children the meaning of keeping a clean home, it’s not just good for hygiene, it increases household safety too!
Avoid leaving your windows wide open so that people cannot see valuable art pieces, flat screen televisions and other gadgets you have lying around. Game consoles in plain sight are especially hot targets, so keep those hidden whenever you can.
Keeping a safe is a good idea. Keeping a safe in your room, unbolted to the floor is not a bad idea. If you are gone for long enough, and the thief has an intimate knowledge of your home, don’t be surprised to find that safe stolen right from the closet.
Keep your home well maintained, groom your plants around the house to hide visibility into your home, and remember to arm whatever security measures you have taken. Visit your local police station and ask them for tips on preventing home invasions. If you do find evidence of a break in, report the incident to the police immediately.
Guest post by Becky W.
The sky rocketing index of crime present almost at every corner of the world makes it necessary for each one of us to be on the watch basically 24/7. All tips on home surveillance systems ought to be put together to guard off our beloved ones, our property and all those things that we have worked so hard to obtain. I personally use exterior surveillance cameras as a deterrent at home due to the high incidence in my area of burglars getting into houses at any time of the day or night and even when people are at home. This has caused many deaths when the owners try to stop them.
Crime is not stopping any time soon, so we should rather be prepared and if at all possible show whoever goes by, or whoever we invite into our household to realize a house call, that we have the means to identify any wrong doing at any time of the day or night. A burglar would rather go visit someone else if at the very moment he/she shows his/her face into a property there is a visible camera that could probably be recording. Even at the work place surveillance cameras have proven to diminish, if not completely stop, the incidence of all types of wrong doing.
With the increase in the crime rate it is absolutely necessary to take some security measures. You have mentioned some good points that really need to be taken into consideration. Like teaching children the importance of security is really necessary make them understand that these security systems are not toys to play around and that how important is not tell your security codes to strangers or matter of fact to anyone. These crimes are not going to stop the best way to protect our homes are security systems. But these systems are needed to be installed carefully.
This is a great website. I like the idea of a neighborhood watch system in your local area. Thanks!