Improving your home security does not always mean buying new locks, cameras or alarms. A few simple changes to the way you use the security you already have can make your home a much less attractive target.
Lock every door and window
It sounds obvious, but unlocked doors and windows remain one of the easiest ways for an opportunistic thief to enter a home. Lock external doors even when you are at home, working in the backyard or only leaving for a few minutes. Check windows, sliding doors and garage access doors before going to bed or leaving the property.
Use the deadlock function properly
If your doors have deadlocks, use them when the home is unoccupied. Simply pulling a door closed may only engage the latch, which generally offers less protection than properly locking the door with the key.
For safety, avoid deadlocking people inside the home unless everyone can readily unlock the door in an emergency. Keys should be accessible to occupants but not visible or reachable from outside.
Remove keys from obvious hiding places
Do not leave spare keys under a doormat, pot plant, meter box or nearby ornament. These are among the first places an intruder may check. Give a spare key directly to a trusted family member, neighbour or friend instead.
Keep keys away from doors and windows
Keys left in locks, on hall tables or hanging close to an entry can sometimes be reached through an open window, pet door or broken glass. Move house and vehicle keys to a less visible location that cannot be reached from outside.
Check that doors close and latch correctly
A lock cannot protect a door if the latch or bolt does not fully enter the strike plate. Open and close each external door and check that it latches without needing to be lifted, pushed or pulled into position. Also check that loose screws have not allowed hinges, handles or strike plates to move.
Tightening an existing loose screw may solve a minor problem, but do not force a key or continue using a lock that is badly worn, damaged or misaligned.
Secure sliding doors with what you already have
Always engage the fitted lock on sliding doors and windows. If you already own a suitable length of timber or a purpose-made rod, place it securely in the inside track as a secondary barrier. It must fit closely enough to prevent the panel from sliding open.
Do not advertise that the house is empty
If you are away, ask someone you trust to collect mail, move bins and check the property. Avoid publicly posting your travel dates or real-time holiday updates. A home that appears occupied is generally less appealing to an opportunistic offender.
Use lighting and routines to your advantage
Close garages, sheds and side gates when they are not being used. At night, use the lights you would normally use and avoid leaving the same light on continuously for days. Keep ladders, tools and wheelie bins away from places where they could assist access to a window, balcony or roof.
Review who has copies of your keys
Think about former tenants, contractors, cleaners, housemates or previous occupants who may still have a key. If keys have been lost, stolen or not returned, changed habits cannot remove that risk. In that situation, having the affected locks rekeyed is the sensible next step.
Make a five-minute security check
Walk around the outside of your home and look at it as a stranger would. Check for unlocked entry points, keys in sight, doors that do not latch, open garages, accessible tools and anything that provides concealment near an entrance. Repeat the check occasionally and whenever household routines change.
When free improvements are not enough
Good habits significantly improve security, but they cannot compensate for a broken lock, a door that will not close correctly or missing security on a vulnerable entry. If you are unsure whether your existing locks are working as intended, contact Abetta Mobile Locksmith for practical advice.