Making Your Home a Castle: Home Security and You Part I

You come home after a long day at the office, and immediately as you walk to the front door you know something is wrong. Your door is unlocked and open slightly. A chill runs up your spine and the pit of your stomach begins to feel like lead. You cautiously step inside, only to find your home has been trashed, your belongings scattered everywhere. You have been the victim of a burglary.

Every day, people all over the country come home to situations just like the one above. It can destroy the feeling of safety and ruin you financially. Luckily,you have the power to avoid this and other disasters in the home. In this four part article, we will examine some simple steps you can take to safeguard your property.

The four layers of security

Think of your home as an castle, and each fortified wall in the castle represents a layer of security. You want to make it so that if someone breeched one wall, they are stopped by the next wall in succession. Each section will tackle one level of security. The layers, in order, are Perimeter, Interior, Personal, and Reactive.

Layer one: Perimeter

The perimeter is the outer wall of your home. In an apartment, it may be the walls of your rental unit, in a house it may be the physical exterior walls. These walls, doors, and windows provide not only a physical barrier from the weather but also anyone seeking to gain entry unlawfully. You can upgrade your perimeter defenses with physical measures, electronic measures, and deterrent devices. We will also look at a concept called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.

Physical Means

The boundaries of your personal space act as the first castle wall which must be overcome by any intruder. The easiest way for someone to get inside your place is by entering through an unsecured door or window. You can deter many theft attempts just by simply making sure all of your doors are locked and your windows are secured with interior latches.

Check your exterior doors. You want to make sure that the latch is solid, and that your door’s strike plate (the brass or steel piece on the door frame that the bolt latches into) is firmly mounted with at least 1.5 inch long screws. The door should fit tightly with no play in the frame, and the door latch should engage firmly. If you have a deadbolt, use it. A new method of entry for many criminals is the bump-key, a modified key that is forcefully inserted into the lock, quickly bumping the lock pins out of the way and allowing access. Do an internet search for Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½”Ã?¡Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½”bump proofÃ?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½”Ã?¡Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ locks to find out which brands resist this type of attack.

For other door locks, avoid using the chain type locks found on many apartment doors, these can be disengaged by a crafty burglar. The chain also allows the door to be opened slightly, which can be used by a burglar to force the door open with a sharp kick or a well-placed shoulder.

At this point, it should be mentioned that you should not leave ladders and tools outside. These can be used by burglars to find new means of entry. If you have a garage or shed, make sure they are as tightly secured as your home or secure your tools inside via a locking cabinet or tool crib.

Electronic Means

Your physical perimeter, given enough time, can be breeched by a patient and industrious burglar. Therefore, an alarm system is often in order. The most common alarm systems consist of a central panel and a series of wired or wireless contacts on the doors and windows, and motion sensors and fire detectors on the interior. If a burglar overcomes your locks or breaks a window, your alarm will generally give an audible signal hopefully scaring away the burglar. Alarm systems can be monitored, allowing the company to notify you or the proper authorities. It is up to you if you need an alarm system and how extensive you want to be. In addition to an alarm system is a Closed Circuit Television system, which you may be interested in implementing.

Lighting

A strong part of security is deterring the potential burglar from ever attempting to gain entry in the first place. This can be accomplished through many means, but lighting is a good start. A well-lit house among a row of dark houses should make the burglar pause and choose another target. Lights are also beneficial when coming home late at night, they can keep you from running into a prowler on the way inside. Many companies make motion sensor lights, and other lights can be placed on a timer. It is recommended that you also leave a light on inside your house so you can tell if someone is moving inside.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, or CPTED, is the practice of designing the environment to deter criminals from targeting your home. Some ideas in this area include strategic landscape design to eliminate hiding spots or blind corners, and to keep burglars away from sensitive areas by planting dense or thorny shrubs. Other principals are proper lighting, display of visual deterrents like alarm signs, and the general appearance that your property is secure. If one look at your home is enough to turn a criminal away to easier pickings, this principal has done its job.

Thats it for Layer 1, next in Layer 2 we will discuss interior security safety measures.