Apply This Thing to Your Door, It Will Keep You Safe

Did you know most break-ins take place in the middle of the day? The FBI says burglaries happen midday because people are outside the house. Don’t let your home be an easy mark for theft. Here are 10 tips to protect your home and some security items you might need along the way.

Number 1 on our list is portable door locks. They aren’t just designed for regular houses. Let’s say you stay in a rented house where other guests also come and go. You can carry one of these portable locks with you. Many rooms have secondary locking mechanisms besides the regular lock, like security chains attached to the door, but you shouldn’t always rely on them.

These mechanisms are only held by screws. It means they’re easy to dislocate. There are many portable lock models, so what should you look for? Ease of use is “the key” for installation and removal in case of emergency. Most inward swing doors are suitable for these items.

Addalock is a good example. You can find it on Amazon. It’s fairly inexpensive, has a versatile design, and, most importantly, comes in one piece. It takes seconds to upgrade your safety. You insert the claws into the door’s strike plate and then close the door. It’ll be held in position with a handle. There you go.

Burglars don’t hang out in your house or bother stealing heavy stuff like TV. They want to get in and out in under 10 minutes. What you should do is take some precautions to slow them down. Laminated glass is great for this. You should consider investing in it. Normal windows that are made with tempered glass can shatter easily, but laminated windows are like shields.

They can crack but not break apart. Instead of making smashing noises and grabbing attention, the burglar will probably leave. The structure of laminated glass is different from the regular one. It holds the piece intact even after a strong impact. Laminated glass windows are 100 times stiffer and 5 times more durable than standard.

What makes these types of glass so special? Firstly, it’s made with layers. There are 2 layers of glass, and there’s a vinyl material in-between that helps keep the two layers intact. As a bonus, laminated ones have a soundproofing feature. 2 birds with 1 stone. The interlayer absorbs some of the outside noise. It’s glass, after all; aren’t we going to see the vinyl layer? That might be the question that popped into your head.

Nope, laminated glass is transparent, just like other types. Enjoy the crystal clear views while staying safe. I would say, but unfortunately, it’s expensive to get these specifically manufactured burglar-deterring glasses. You can have professionals install a laminate film onto your standard windows, or you can even buy security film. They all work according to the same principle, but obviously, these alternatives cannot be as strong as the laminated glass itself.

The next few tips come from an ex-burglar, Michael Fraser. Now he is giving bits of advice on how to protect from theft. His first tip is quite interesting. Don’t put a ‘beware of the dog’ sticker if you have a dog. If a dog can walk around the house without triggering the alarm, so can a human. This is the way burglars think. Plus, many dogs get friendly in a short time unless they are specifically trained to catch strangers. Otherwise, they can easily be put in a room, and well, you know the rest, bye-bye to precious items.

Advertising your house for sale online is a standard procedure to attract potential buyers but also thieves. With your innocent pics, burglars can have floor plans with virtual tours. They can easily spot the entry and escape routes. Sounds like a perfect plan to rob a house!

Number 5 is buying a home security system. It helps prevent thefts and notifies you if that happens. According to the data, homes without a security system are almost 3 times more vulnerable to break-ins. There are numerous ones to choose from. Some are pricey, but luckily there are affordable options too. You don’t even have to call professionals. This do-it-yourself security system from Amazon is an example of a budget-friendly gadget with useful features.

These types of devices are designed to be easy to install. You’ll be guided through an app for the software, and for the product itself. Bonus: you won’t have to deal with screws, tools, or drilling! They have fast emergency dispatch that can notify the authorities if you say so. Since it’s easy to set up, it’s perfect for short-term residents too.

Remember I mentioned that if a dog can walk in the house, so can a thief? Well, technology is not in favor of thieves. These types of devices can now detect intruders and be friends with your pet. The sensors can be put in the window, doors, and corners but still be adjusted to avoid fake alarms by the pets.

Another device to add a layer of protection to you, especially in shared residences like dorms, is a door stop alarm. These devices are very compact, so you can put them in your luggage and take them on your dream vacation. You can use it in your daily life. A door stop alarm can be used on any door as long as you place it inside. It works as a door wedge, but it keeps the door closed.

How does it work? When the alarm is triggered, it will keep the intruder outside the door and activate a noise alarm. It can wake the owner of the house or neighbors. This one is again can be easily found on Amazon.

Ex-burglar Michael also recommends thinking like a thief. Ask yourself, “How would I get in?” It’s a great starting exercise for discovering vulnerable spots. Walk around your home. Is there a window that can be easily opened? Oh, wait, is it your laptop on the desk that can be seen from the street?

Speaking of the street, if you buy a new electronic device like a TV or computer, don’t leave the empty cartons displayed near the trash container. This looks like an invitation to thieves. They will know that you have expensive electronics inside the house. Instead, break down the cardboard boxes and then put them away for recycling.

Unfortunately, first-floor windows are entry points in 23% of home break-ins. To prevent this, you can purchase a wireless alarm kit. When it comes to the front door, installing a double-key deadbolt can be a solution. Similarly, motion sensor lighting does the job.

Do you have blind spots around your home? Upgrade to the security camera with night vision. If you want to see what’s happening inside your house rather than outside, you can get one of these cool security gadgets. Orbii Robotic Mobile Sphere is like a ball, but it has a camera inserted in it. It doesn’t have a limited view.

Imagine you’re at the office and want to play with your dog. Your 4-pawed best friend can chase the ball at home while you’re away controlling the device. Ah, okay, we were here to save your house from burglars, so I’ll leave fun pet toys for another video.

Here is a shocking truth about fences. Most people believe that fences are like guardians protecting their property. Sorry to break it to you, but even tall and solid ones aren’t as secure as you believe. The number one rule of a thief is not to be caught, and if they broke into a house with fences at night, they’d be perfectly covered.

Your neighbors can’t see who that person is. You know, unless they have X-ray vision. The fences should be hard to climb. One of the points of having a fence is privacy, but I’m just saying metal, wire, and picket fences are harder for intruders to fly in.

So, we cracked the burglar’s code. Implementing the tips on our list might help you discourage and prevent burglary and keep you safe. Did you experience such unpleasant incidents? If so, do you have any other tips for fellow Bright Siders to watch out for?