11 Home Security Improvements This Winter

Winter is not only a fairy-like time of the year full of joy, festivities and family gatherings but also the most tempting period for burglars to try their luck breaking into your house 20 per cent more often. In winter days are shorter, people tend to keep their curtains shut and pay less attention to their neighbours’ homes.

Even though the risk of a break-in depends on security cameras, burglar alarms and other solutions that are already in place, it is worth mentioning several more things you may consider doing this winter to improve your overall home security.

1. Play pretend. It sounds foolish, but it can give you ideas on what kind of improvements your house needs to be safe. Test your home security by trying to enter your own house without a key.

As an intruder, do you feel safer trying to break-in when it’s dark outside and there is no lightning? Are you relieved that there are no security cameras in sight? Collect the ideas and do the opposite of what the burglar would want to encounter. 

2. Ensure reliable locks on your doors and windows. You are going to make it much less attractive for a burglar to attempt breaking in if you have 2 visible locks on your patio door. This way a potential intruder knows, it will take much longer to get in, so there is too much risk. 

3. Install a modern burglar alarm system. Today’s home security solutions (using video, light and noise devices) address the features that intruders hate. Burglar alarms attract attention to the incident in progress by emitting noise or sending alerts.

Recording security cameras can act as a detergent or help to identify the burglar in case the break-in happened. Moreover, the alarm system can send an alert to the local authorities. 

4. Test your existing home security system. If you already have burglar alarms and security cameras, don’t forget that they require timely servicing and maintenance.

5. Install lights near outside entrances. It is better if your house is well-lit during this dark season. However, if going out, consider installing a light sensor. Make sure it doesn’t stay for a long time, as a flashing five-second sensor would attract much more attention in the case of suspicious activity by your doors. 

6. Get rid of the packaging. If you buy some expensive appliances, for example, flat-screen TV, don’t leave the boxes outside your house.

7. Keep your blinds up. People tend to shut the curtains in winter, although this way the thief is tempted to check if you have something to hide. Moreover, when they gain access to your home, they are hidden from view if the blinds are down.

8. Keep your valuables secured. Don’t leave your jewellery and cash lying around or hidden in the obvious places. Store them securely in a safe.

9. Cancel deliveries. If you are going away this Christmas season, make sure to cancel milk, newspaper or other deliveries. You can as well ask your neighbours to come to pick things up.

10. Keep your pathways shovelled. Leaving your yard and driveway covered in snow may signal the potential burglars that you are not at home.

11. Keep shrubs trimmed. Thus, the burglars would not think that you are away, and also they won’t be able to hide in the shadows. 

Did you know that a significant number of burglaries in winter happen while the owners are at home? Breaking-in can be devastating as it may result in losing not only your valuable possessions but also family heirlooms.

There are some things you can do to minimize your risks: keep your yard, driveways and pathways clean from snow and organized, make sure your house is lit up and the blinds are open etc.

Consider improving your internal and external home security by installing security cameras, burglar alarms and light sensors. Such a system will not only deter potential perpetrators but also help to identify them in case the incident happens.