You do not always need new locks, cameras or an alarm to make your home less attractive to an opportunistic intruder. A surprising amount of home security comes down to habits, visibility, key control and making it difficult for someone to tell whether the house is empty.
Free things you can do today
Make the house look occupied
When you are away, the goal is not to turn the house into a Christmas tree. It is to avoid obvious signs that nobody is home. Leave a sensible light on inside, vary which blinds or curtains are open, and avoid leaving the house looking completely shut down for days at a time.
If you have a trusted neighbour, friend or family member nearby, ask them to occasionally park a car in your driveway. A vehicle appearing and disappearing can be a much stronger sign of normal activity than a porch light burning continuously.
Ask a neighbour to make the house look lived in
A trusted neighbour can collect mail, newspapers and parcels, put bins out and bring them back in, move anything left at the front door and generally keep an eye on the property. If you are away for longer, arranging for the lawn or garden to be kept reasonably tidy can also help.
Do not advertise that you are away
Be careful about posting holiday dates, airport check-ins or real-time travel photos publicly on social media. You can always share the photos after you return. Also consider what can be seen on calendars, notes or luggage labels through a window.
Lock what you already have
A good lock only helps when it is actually used. Check doors, windows, sliding doors, garage access doors, sheds and side gates before leaving. Do not assume somebody else in the household has done it.
Pay particular attention to the internal door between an attached garage and the house. A closed garage door should not be treated as the only layer of security.
Do not hide spare keys outside
Under a doormat, pot plant, meter box, barbecue, garden ornament or on top of a door frame are not secret locations. If someone can spend a few minutes around the entrance, the obvious hiding places are easy to check. Leave a spare with somebody you trust instead.
Avoid key safes beside the house
Abetta generally does not recommend relying on a typical wall-mounted key safe beside an entry door for household access. The problem is not just whether somebody can guess the combination. If the box can be attacked, smashed from its mounting or broken open, the reward inside is the actual key to the house.
That can turn an attack on a relatively small box into authorised-looking key access through the front door. This is particularly concerning with inexpensive or poorly mounted key safes. Where a key safe is genuinely necessary for carers, emergency access or another specific reason, its security rating, construction, mounting method and location should be considered carefully rather than simply choosing a convenient box beside the door.
Keep house and car keys out of sight
Do not leave keys in obvious view through a window or glass door, and avoid a predictable key bowl immediately beside an entry. Keep garage remotes and spare vehicle keys secure as well. If somebody gets inside, you do not want to make the next stage easier.
Remove easy climbing aids
Ladders, bins, outdoor furniture and tools can sometimes provide access to windows, balconies or upper levels. Put ladders and useful tools away rather than leaving them conveniently available around the side of the house.
Keep sightlines sensible
Overgrown shrubs can create hiding places around doors and windows. Keeping vegetation trimmed can improve natural surveillance from the street and neighbouring homes. At the same time, avoid displaying valuable items prominently through front windows.
Do not leave packaging advertising expensive purchases
A television, computer or other high-value product box sitting beside the recycling bin tells passers-by what may have just gone into the house. Break boxes down and keep them out of obvious view until collection.
Check doors and windows before a trip
Walk around the property as though you had never seen it before. Look for a window that does not quite latch, a sliding door left on ventilation, a side gate that never gets locked, a garage window left open or a door that only catches if it is pulled firmly closed.
Before you leave: a two-minute security check
- Lock external doors, accessible windows, garage access doors and sheds.
- Remove spare keys from outdoor hiding places.
- Keep keys and garage remotes away from windows and doors.
- Arrange for mail, parcels and bins to be managed.
- Ask a trusted neighbour to park in the driveway occasionally if practical.
- Leave the home looking normally occupied rather than completely dark and closed up.
- Put ladders and useful tools away.
- Do not publicly announce that the house will be empty.
- Check that every door actually latches when closed.
Security advice featured in the Courier-Mail
Abetta Mobile Locksmith owner Scott Lechmere has also been featured by the Courier-Mail discussing practical home-security advice for Sunshine Coast residents. You can read the article, “Lock up, but a $100 tip could save a hassle”.
Security is about layers
No single trick makes a home burglar-proof. The aim is to remove easy opportunities and avoid giving an intruder useful information, tools or keys. Good everyday habits cost nothing and complement the locks and door hardware already fitted to your home.
If you find a door that will not latch properly, a lock that is unreliable, or you are unsure whether your existing locks are doing their job, see our residential locksmith services or contact Abetta. For more practical information, visit the Locksmith Advice hub.