Home break-ins occur at such an alarming rate in the United States that we believe homeowners need to do more than just assume they are safe inside their four walls. So far in this blog series, we’ve covered home security basics and gave pointers on creating a strategy and response to break-ins. In this final post of the series, we dive into all the hardware you’ll need to keep intruders out of your home.
Doors
Choosing sturdy doors for every entrance of your home is the only real way to prevent intruders from breaking through. Many homeowners focus exclusively on selecting a strong front door, but an individual with intentions to enter your home will likely survey all of your doors and choose the weakest one to breach. As such, strong doors with a deadbolt lock are our best recommendation for all entries. You’ll also want to make sure you can quickly see who is at each door before opening it to avoid potentially welcoming a threat into your home.
Windows
The first step of securing your windows is to identify all ground-level entry points and ensure they are locked and sturdy. Once you’ve taken care of that, you’ll also want to ensure no trees or structures like a shed, fence, etc. can be used to access a window above the ground level.
If you are considering upgrading your windows for security reasons, we recommend choosing an option with metal locks (instead of plastic) and a protective laminate. A protective laminate is designed to withstand multiple blows, rather than shattering after a single hit.
Home Appearance
Added security hardware is a great way to keep threats from entering your home, but there are steps you can take to keep threats from even getting that close in the first place. A home with lighting on all sides is much less likely to be approached by intruders. Bonus points if the neighboring houses are also well lit. Fresh (not faded and worn) alarm company stickers in each window are also a great deterrent for those considering making your home their next break-in spot. If they are still interested in entering your home for some reason, a ringing alarm will welcome them right away!
Increase Your Home Readiness with Soteria Training Academy
Soteria Training Academy provides expert pistol training with an emphasis on safety. Whether you’re a beginner in the world of firearms or already have a wealth of experience, we look forward to helping your shooting skill set. Contact us today by visiting our website, or call us at (410) 216-3176 to learn more.