Your home is your sanctuary, a place where you and your family should feel safe and secure. However, with rising rates of residential burglaries, ensuring your home’s safety has become more important than ever. One of the most effective ways to prevent break-ins is by investing in electrical security and installing a reliable security system. But here’s the unexpected fact. Even the most advanced security systems can fail if they’re not placed properly.
Strategic placement of cameras, alarms, and motion sensors can make all the difference in deterring burglars and protecting your home. This guide will walk you through the 10 best strategies for implementing your security devices on your property to keep intruders at bay and your loved ones safe.
- Front Door Security
It might surprise you, but statistics show that 34% of burglars enter through the front door. This makes it one of the most crucial areas to secure.
Best Practices for Front Door Security:
- Install a Camera at Eye Level: Place a CCTV or video doorbell camera at a height of about 4 to 5 feet for the clearest view of visitors’ faces.
- Cover the Approach Path: Ensure the camera has a wide-angle lens that captures the walkway leading to the door. This gives you a heads-up about anyone approaching your home.
- Integrate Intercoms: Adding an intercom system allows you to communicate with visitors remotely, even when you’re not home.
- Windows
Windows are the second most common entry point for burglars, especially those on the ground floor. Without proper security measures, they become easy targets.
Best Practices for Window Security:
- Install Sensors on All Accessible Windows: Window sensors detect when a window is opened or broken. Pair them with an audible alarm to deter intruders immediately.
- Position Cameras to Cover Exterior Windows: Outdoor cameras should be placed at an angle that captures anyone attempting to access a window. Avoid blind spots by testing camera views during installation.
- Use Reinforced Glass and Locks: While not part of the electrical system, reinforced glass and secure locks add an extra layer of protection to deter entry attempts.
- Back Door and Side Entrances
Burglars often prefer entering through back doors or side entrances because they’re less visible to neighbours and people passing by on their walks.
Best Practices for Back and Side Entrances:
- Install Cameras High Up: Mount cameras above these entrances to monitor activity while keeping them out of reach from tampering.
- Use Motion-Activated Lights: These can be paired with cameras to illuminate and capture footage when someone approaches.
- Add Smart Locks: Integrate smart locks with your security system to track who enters and exits your home.
- Fences, Gates, and Outdoor Perimeters
Securing the outer boundaries of your property is the first step in deterring intruders before they even reach your home.
Best Practices for Outdoor Security:
- Place Cameras at Entry Points: Install cameras at gates, fences, or any other access points to monitor activity.
- Use Infrared or Night Vision Cameras: These ensure clear footage even in low-light conditions.
- Install Perimeter Alarms: Motion sensors along your property line can alert you to movement, giving you an early warning of potential threats.
- Driveways and Garages
Driveways and garages often house valuable items like cars, bikes, and tools, making them attractive to thieves.
Best Practices for Driveway and Garage Security:
- Use Wide-Angle Cameras: Install cameras that provide a clear view of the entire driveway, focusing on entry points and areas where vehicles are parked.
- Monitor the Garage Door: Place motion sensors on the garage door to detect unauthorized openings.
- Light It Up: Motion-sensitive lights deter potential thieves and improve camera footage quality at night.
- Interior Security
While outdoor security is essential, don’t neglect the inside of your home. Strategic placement of devices indoors can provide an additional layer of protection.
Best Practices for Indoor Security:
- Focus on Entryways: Install cameras near main entrances to capture anyone entering the home.
- Cover High-Value Areas: Place cameras in rooms containing valuables, like safes or home offices.
- Discreet Placement: Avoid placing indoor cameras in private spaces like bedrooms or bathrooms to maintain privacy.
- Avoiding Common Placement Mistakes
To get the most out of your security system, it’s important to steer clear of common mistakes:
- Placing Cameras Too High or Low: Cameras placed too high may miss important details like faces, while those placed too low are easily tampered with.
- Ignoring Blind Spots: Ensure your cameras cover all key areas, with overlapping fields of view to eliminate blind spots.
- Neglecting Maintenance: Regularly clean camera lenses and test all sensors and alarms to ensure everything is functioning properly.
- Forgetting Lighting: Cameras work best in well-lit areas. Pair them with outdoor lighting for optimal performance.
- The Role of Back to Base Monitoring
Even the best-placed security devices are only as effective as the response they trigger. This is where back to base monitoring shines.
- What It Does: When an alarm is triggered, back-to-base monitoring connects your system to a professional monitoring centre. Trained personnel verify the threat and take action, such as contacting emergency services.
- Why It’s Essential: You’re not always available to respond to alerts. Back to base monitoring ensures someone is watching over your home 24/7, providing peace of mind.
- Leveraging Smart Technology
Modern security systems are smarter than ever, offering features that make managing your home’s safety a breeze:
- Mobile Integration: Use your smartphone to monitor cameras, arm alarms, and receive alerts in real-time.
- AI-Powered Cameras: Some systems use artificial intelligence to differentiate between harmless movement (like pets) and genuine threats.
- Voice Control: Connect your security system to smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant for hands-free management.
- The Cost of Not Securing Your Home Properly
While investing in a security system might seem like a significant expense, the cost of not securing your home can be much higher. Between stolen valuables, property damage, and the emotional toll of a break-in, it’s clear that prevention is always better than cure.
Our Last Words to You
Proper security system placement isn’t just about installing devices, it’s about strategically positioning them to maximize their effectiveness. From cameras at entry points to motion sensors in vulnerable areas, every decision matters when it comes to protecting your home and loved ones.
By following these tips and leveraging tools like back to base monitoring and smart technology, you can create a robust security system that deters burglars, captures critical evidence, and provides peace of mind.
Your home’s safety is worth the investment, because nothing is more important than keeping your family and property secure.
