10 DIY Home Security Hacks to Keep Your Place Safe
According to recent data from the FBI, there were over 1.4 million burglaries in the US in 2017. 67 percent of these burglaries took place on residential properties, with victims suffering from over $3.4 billion in losses.
It’s important to understand that no matter where you live, you’re not immune to a home burglary. Luckily, there are some things you can do to make sure a home burglary doesn’t happen to you.
If you don’t have the money to fork over for a full-blown monitoring system, don’t sweat it. Check out this guide on compiling your homemade security system to discover the top DIY home security hacks to keep you safe.
Convince Burglars That Someone is Home
Most residential burglaries happen between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm, as most burglars prefer to target unoccupied homes. In fact, in a survey of nearly 100 burglars, most agreed that things like lights, pets, cameras, and a monitored alarm system were deterrents.
Here are some things you can do to make a burglar think that someone is home to get them away from your property.
1. Invest in Smart Lightbulbs
By investing in smart lightbulbs, you can turn the lights in your home on and off, even when no one is home.
This is a simple and affordable way to make your home look occupied.
2. Control Your Appliances Using a Smart Plug
A smart plug works as a mechanical timer, but with more features. You can control your smart plug remotely while you’re out of the house, and you can even sync it to your Amazon Alexa and control it with your voice.
You can use the smart plug to turn the TV on and off or turn music on and off to make it seem like someone is home. On top of using a smart plug to make your home appear occupied, you can also use it to keep your home safe from fires and save energy.
3. Don’t Let the Mail Pile Up
Piled up mail is a dead giveaway to burglars that you aren’t home and they can break in easily.
If you plan to be away from home for an extended time, have the post office or a trusted neighbor hold onto your mail for you. If you get the newspaper delivered to your home each day, you should also pause deliveries until you return.
4. Keep a Vehicle in the Driveway
One of the easiest things you can do to make a burglar think your home is to keep a vehicle in your driveway.
If you’re heading out on a road trip, consider asking someone to come and check on your home every once in a while so that burglars can see a car coming and going.
5. Arrange for Lawn Care
Another important thing to do if you’ll be gone for a while is to arrange for lawn care. An unattended lawn indicates that no one is home, so don’t give burglars this opportunity to strike.
Even if it means hiring a neighborhood kid to come over and mow your lawn, it’s better than nothing.
Don’t Give Burglars Outdoor Hiding Places
If burglars don’t think they’ll be able to break into your house unseen, they likely won’t bother with your home. Here are some things you can do to eliminate outdoor hiding places:
6. Install Outdoor Motion Sensor Lights
Installing outdoor lights is a very affordable way to deter burglars, and it’s an easy task that you can do yourself.
Whenever there’s motion around your home, these lights will turn on. Although a lot of burglars try to break in during the daytime, many prefer nighttime hours so they can move about undetected. But once the lights turn on, they know they’re increasing their risk of exposure and will likely leave.
You can install these lights for as little as $20, so it’s a worthwhile investment.
7. Invest in an Outdoor Camera
Outdoor cameras are another frugal investment for deterring burglars from your home.
Also, if you can’t afford to buy a real security camera for your home, you can get a fake one! These look exactly like the real ones, so burglars won’t know the difference.
You may also want to consider installing an ADT security system for some extra protection.
Other Tips for Deterring Burglars
In addition to the above, here are some other things you can do to deter burglars from your home:
8. Install Glass Window Film
Large, transparent windows are very attractive to burglars, as it allows them to see the contents of your home and get to know the layout of your home.
To avoid this issue, we suggest installing an etched glass window film to cover the transparent areas of your home. This is one of the most affordable and easiest ways to deter burglars.
9. Install a Door Peephole
It’s always important to know who’s on the other side of the door before answering it. A peephole will allow you to know who has come to your house without even opening the door.
Installing a peephole is a very affordable solution that you can easily do on your own.
10. Get Smart Locks for Your Drawers/Cabinets
If a burglar does break into your home, you want to make sure they don’t get their hands on anything valuable.
Therefore, we suggest installing smart locks on your drawers and cabinets that contain valuable possessions. The best part of these smart locks is that not only are they effective, but they’re also affordable.
Homemade Security System: Are You Ready to Protect Your Home?
Now that you’ve read this article on how to make a homemade security system, it’s time to put these tips into action.
Also, be sure to check back in with our blog to learn more tips on how to protect your loved ones and your home.