As winter approaches, the days get shorter and it gets dark earlier every day, making it prime time for thieves to break in.
Lights On or Off?
There are two schools of thought on whether you should have your lights on in your home when you’re not there. One says that it will deter burglars because they think someone is home. The other side thinks it just makes it easier for a burglar to see that it’s unoccupied and get around in your house and steal your belongings. Well, they’re both right. The best way to make your home look occupied when you’re away is through timers and motion detectors. Interior lights that go on and off on timers mimic a person’s actions in the home. You could even have the TV turn on and off at certain times. Motion detectors on exterior lights are also useful. If anyone shows up on your doorstep, they’re immediately illuminated and easier to spot. Keeping your landscaping trimmed short also reduces hiding places around the house from which burglars could stage a break-in.
Neighbors
Another great way to protect your home as the days get shorter is to befriend your neighbors. Motion detectors on exterior lights and close-cropped shrubbery may make burglars visible, but visible to whom? Even if someone sees what’s going on, they have to be willing to raise a ruckus or pick up the phone. If you and your neighbors don’t know each other, they’re going to care a whole lot less about what happens to your home. Aside from security issues, meeting your neighbors fosters a better community overall, and that’s no small thing. You might even go so far as to start a neighborhood watch, but just being aware of each other and their routines makes it harder for burglars to act without anyone noticing.
Security System
Security systems have evolved from pots and pans strewn across a doorway to networked, interactive systems controlled by Internet Protocol. With modern systems, you can monitor your home from anywhere with a smartphone. You can turn your alarm off or on, receive text alerts if anything suspicious is happening in your home, view real-time video surveillance, and lock and unlock doors remotely. The image sensor, a new technology, will send you an image when your motion detector is tripped so you can see what has caused it. It can even be enhanced with night vision and pet immunity so you’re never in the dark again.
For home security systems in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk and the Outer Banks, contact Johns Brothers Security.