Miljan Karlssen
My job requires a tremendous amount of research into home security and automation. During one of my recent research stints, I was struck by how similar modern home security tips are to the tips offered by experts 25-30 years ago. I was forced to conclude that while times change, basic home security principles do not.
The point is made clear enough in a HuffPost article from late August 2024. The post, written by contributor Sarah Bourassa, discusses a number of things security experts do and don’t do to keep themselves safe. Nearly every tip in the post it’s something I’ve been hearing about for decades. Some of the implementations have changed, but the principles have not.
The Bottom Line Is the Starting Point
I read through the entire article only to discover something interesting. The bottom line mentioned in the piece’s conclusion is actually the starting point for establishing a strong home security strategy. Here it is: “Make your home look secure and as normal as possible.”
It is simple enough advice. If criminals honestly believe you are home and paying attention, they are likely to give a second to breaking in. There are exceptions to the rule, of course, but most criminals hit unoccupied buildings.
If the bottom line is to make things appear as normal as possible, then the rest of the tips follow. They are things we have all heard before. The question is whether we actually pay attention to them.
Maintain Your Privacy
One of the expert home security tips that always gets me is the recommendation to maintain your privacy. In the old days, my parents used to insist that what my siblings and I were doing was nobody else’s business. They constantly reminded us to keep our mouths shut.
That task seems harder today due to the proliferation of social media. Our narcissistic culture demands that we constantly post every little detail of our lives. But as the experts interviewed for the HuffPost article explained, there is no need to broadcast your plans for vacation. You don’t even need to tell people you’re going out for dinner, taking the kids to soccer practice, and so forth.
Criminals prey on people who do not know how to protect their privacy. They look for victims who willingly post their whereabouts and activities. But criminals can be slowed down by maintaining privacy. If they don’t know where we are or what we are doing, it’s harder for them to make us victims.
Avoid Obvious Tip-Offs
Several of the expert tips mentioned in the HuffPost article can be categorized under the heading of avoiding obvious tip offs. For instance, Bourassa mentioned the obvious mistake of leaving the porch light on during the day. This is not something people normally do. So if a burglar walks by midmorning and sees the porch light on, he’s likely to suspect that the homeowner is away for a few days.
People do that sort of thing. When they go out of town, they leave a couple of lights on in the house. They might also leave the front and back porch lights on. It is a dead giveaway.
Other obvious tip offs include:
- A car parked in the same spot for days on end.
- Mail stacking up in the box.
- Neglected lawn care and other exterior maintenance.
Anything that points to the fact that you are away for an extended amount of time gives criminals clues. They don’t seem like a big deal to us, but they are huge tip offs to burglars and thieves.
Ladders and Tools Left Out
Experts have long maintained that homeowners should be careful about leaving ladders and tools out. For starters, doing so can give burglars the impression that you don’t put a lot of effort into maintaining your home. And if that’s the case, home security probably isn’t a priority either. But there are a few other things to think about.
First, valuable tools are thief magnets. Leaving tools out in the yard is just asking to have them stolen. In terms of leading ladders out, doing so is an open invitation for a burglar adventurous enough to try to break in through a second floor window.
Thieves Might Be Watching
The HuffPost piece mentions something that can feel a little creepy if you think about it too much: taking the same route every time you leave home. Home security experts avoid doing so whenever possible. Why? Because thieves might be watching.
An enterprising thief casing a neighborhood has every reason to pay attention to homeowner movements. By learning schedules, he can more accurately determine when properties will be unoccupied. On the other hand, changing up your route now and again can leave thieves guessing as to your whereabouts.
Technology Was Strangely Absent
No fewer than nine tips were mentioned in the HuffPost article. But strangely enough, references to home security technology were glaringly absent. There were no references to home security systems and companies like Vivint.com.
I suspect that might be due to the fact that security experts want people to do more than just install alarms and hope for the best. They would rather people make an effort to shore up their homes in other ways. That notwithstanding, technology can be a very helpful tool in the war against crime.
Home security systems add yet another layer of protection. Think about it. Window indoor sensors alert homeowners to unauthorized entry. Video surveillance cameras provide evidence police can use for investigations and prosecutions. The list goes on and on.
I would agree that installing a home security system is not a failsafe against crime. For me, it is actually just a starting point. I feel more comfortable combining home security technology with all the expert tips I have been hearing about for decades. The more security strategies I can successfully employ, the more layers a criminal needs to break through to victimize me. I am not worth it if there are too many layers.
