Home Security Technology

Defense in Depth

• Locks - There are good locks and there are bad locks. Most of the locks on homes today are not very good. While few burglers have the time or the expertice to pick locks (unless they are after something specific), the technique of "lock bumping" has become widely known and used - making many of the inexpensive locks one buys at hardware stores pretty useless. If you bought a new home, chances are the builder installed cheap locks as well, and you really should consider upgrading to better locks like the Schlage Primus or Medeco series.

• Door and Window hardware - A great lock will not do much if the rest of your hardware is inadequate. Doors that are easily kikked in won't keep someone out - but at least it will be obious that there was a break in. Make sure that the lock is set into a frame with enough metal to keep the deadbolt from breaking through the edge of the frame. Make sure the hardware screws go deep enough into the door frame. Make sure that the door hinges are not exposed on the outside of the door, or that other mechanisms prevent the door from being removed from the hinges. Doors and windows should be designed so that they can not be lifted off their tracks from the outside. Here is where it is important to have someone that knows what they are doing come out and assess the security of your house.

• Alarm Systems - There are many choices in alarm systems. To start with, you should have a monitored system. If all your alarm does is make noise, and there are lots of false alarms in your neighborhood, neighbors will ignore the alarm. Alarm monitoring companies will often install alarms at a loss if you commit to a term of monitoring. While these alarms are usually low end, they are still wortwhile, and better than many of the do-it-yourself systems that are available.

• Common Sense - Even the most secure locks and best alarms are usless if you don't use them. Lock your doors and windows, even if you will be away only briefly. Don't leave your door unlocked while you are in the back yard, and in general, leave your doors locked even when you are at home. Set your alarm. Don't open your door for strangers, even if they have a good story about why they need your help.

• Avoid becoming a target - This is perhaps one of the best defenses. Don't leave expensive items in plain view from the street, or from your windows. Don't advertise the fact that you might be out of town. Don't make it easy for burglars to hide from view while they try to gain entry to your residence.

• Know your neighbors - Report suspicious activity around their house, and ask them to do the same if they notice something odd with your house. Know who should be around your neighbood, and who is unknown.

There is plenty of information on security available from the Internet. Here are a few sites with useful information.

• Home security products at SmartHome
• National Crime Prevention Council
• Home Security Information Guide

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