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Regrettably, our scheduled speaker was unable to make it, so at short notice, our President came to the rescue, giving us some valuable tips on Home Security. Most of us had heard him speak on his career and escapades as an Undercover Cop in his younger days. However, prior to retiring recently, Andy was managing a major Security Firm. "So, you want your home to be secured? So you go out and buy an Alarm System..." he thundered. "Well, let me tell you: it's a total waste of money... unless it is monitored. An alarm system will not stop burglars, as a matter of fact, when I was a young (uniformed) cop, if we came to drive down a street and heard an alarm going off, we'd do a 180 degree turn around..." So, what is one to do? Here are 12 of the major points Andy listed:- Build a fence or a wall, and of course ensure that your gate corresponds to the wall. Make it difficult to enter.
- If you do have an alarm system, make sure that everybody knows. Display the sign of your security monitoring company prominently. They might just pick on another place.
- Ensure you have deadlocks on your doors and window locks installed. Burglars might enter via a window, but they don't like to carry your TV out through a windows. Did you know that the bathroom window is the most popular place of entry? (However, don't deadlock the doors during the night).
- Install sensors, they work on detection of body heat difference but be aware that they only work from approximately 1 metre above the ground.
- Don't forget your garage! Too easy to get in and out of the garage.
- Stow expensive items such as your bar-be-que grill, bikes etc in your garage. And don't leave any ladders outside!
- If your car is in the garage, keep it locked anyway and make sure the keys are not simply laying around.
- Install cameras connected to lights, so if a sensor triggers the light, at the same time they get filmed.
- Make it difficult for them, but remember: if the burglar was to get hurt, he will sue you!
- When talking to an Alarm Installer, ensure that he is licensed. Too easy to pretend to be an alarm installer when indeed he is intending to burgle you at a later time. There is no need to tell the installer where your valuables are stored!
- If you go on holidays, don't put it up on Facebook, stop the mail etc.
- Get to know your neighbors and make sure that somebody is around to pick up your junk mail and has a bit of a look around the house.
Did you know that most burglaries happen during the day, between the time mum has dropped the kids off at school and picks them up again in the afternoon? And, by the way, if you are out the back enjoying a bar-be-que with your mates, don't forget the lock the front door!