Raise the alarm and step up your safety with these do-it-yourself home security tips guaranteed to keep your home secure from intruders.
1. Hide Your Stuff Strategically
Store valuables in your child’s sock drawer, not your nightstand. Thieves often scour the master bedroom but tend to leave kids’ rooms untouched.
2. Keep Your Keypad Concealed
If there’s decorative glass in your front entrance, install your security keypad in a spot that’s not visible from the doorstep. That way, burglars won’t be able to peer in and see if the alarm is set.
3. Reposition Your Mail Slot
A mail slot goes against the wood grain, weakening the horizontal integrity of a door and making it easier to kick in. Opt for a mailbox, or install your slot near the bottom of the front door, no higher than a quarter of the way up.
4. Plant a Deterrent
Plant thorny shrubs, such as rosebushes, beneath ground-floor windows. They’ll pretty up your garden and make robbers think twice.
5. Keep an Eye on Your Mail
While you’re on vacation, ask a neighbour to check daily for flyers stuck in your front door. Crafty criminals have been known to leave pizza ads to see how long it takes residents to remove them.