After a long day at work, heading home is one of the most comforting things you can do. It’s the place where you rest and spend time with loved ones — away from the stress and dangers of the outside world. Simply put, your home is your haven. However, it can become a living nightmare in a matter of moments if someone decides to break into it.
Burglaries may have fallen in the U.S. by about 30% in the past years. However, the cost of one can both financial and emotional scars. Your best line of defense against this crime is an updated security system. Here’s a more in-depth look into the cost of burglaries and some essential upgrades you should make to your home security system to deter possible attacks.
The Cost of Burglaries
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) latest Uniform Crime Report, there were over 1,230,149 burglaries in 2018, which accounted for 17.1% of all property crime during that year. It found that the average loss per burglary offense was around $2,799. Apart from losing cash and different expensive items, you may also have to cover the property damage that occurred and legal fees if the robber gets caught and you take them to court.
Apart from these objective costs, you may also suffer physical and emotional pain, too. The burglar may end up stealing a family heirloom or any item that you find sentimental. Plus, if you intentionally or unintentionally interrupt a robbery in your home, the burglars will likely assault you, which may lead to life-threatening injuries and complications.
Essential Security Upgrades
Even if you have an executive security team, you may prefer complete privacy when you’re at home. Your best chance of achieving both is a decked-out security system. The most effective improvements you can make include:
Get Better Locks
If you still pre-installed locks in your home, you may be putting your property at risk. These relatively affordable knobs and padlocks can easily be picked or even destroyed by burglars using cutters. Upgrade it to a deadbolt lock. Deadbolt locks are much stronger than latch, spring-type locks. That is because the former has a spring that can be retracted or “jimmied” with force using tools like knives, crowbars, and even credit cards — giving robbers easy entry to your home.
Deadbolts, on the other hand, are made with thick steel or brass that latch onto the jamb. They don’t contain any springs, so they can’t be pried open easily. There are two types of deadbolt locks:
- Single cylinder — These come with a key cylinder on the outer side of the door that you can only engage using a key. The inside has a thumb-turn you can use to lock and unlock the door.
- Double cylinder — This requires you to use a key on both ends to unlock. As such, it doesn’t need a thumb-turn.
If you want a more modern lock, get a keyless one that has a digital lock. These can be unlocked using a code that only you and your loved ones know. Some can also be opened using your smartphone. Most keyless locks use deadlocks, so you don’t have to worry about them getting jimmied, even if the burglars try to break the digital pad.
Finally, you should also install a strike plate to your jamb. That is a metal plate that attaches to the jamb, protecting it from the friction created by the lock and protects it from damage from possible break-ins.
Use Modern Security Cameras
If you’ve been using the same CCTV cameras you’ve had since the early 2000s, they can still catch people in the act. However, don’t expect the best quality. Your smartphone can do a better job of capturing video.
Upgrade them with smart security cameras. These often come with high-resolution sensors that can capture fine details. Apart from storing videos on hard drives and backing them up on the cloud, smart cameras can also provide a live stream to your tablet, phone, and computer. There’s no need to dedicate a room to monitor your home properly. Choose a set with motion detection and night vision, too, to ensure you capture anything that could be sneaking around your property.
Get a Smarter Alarm System
Call a professional service provider to update your alarm system to one with smart capabilities. These let you monitor your home’s security tools like cameras and smoke alarms. They’ll also notify your through your smartphone or tablet app and the authorities immediately if they sense anything wrong.
Burglaries and home invasions may be going down, but you can never be too sure. The financial, physical, and emotional damages they bring are just too brutal to ignore. Use these suggestions to fortify your home’s security system and give your family the peace of mind they deserve.
