Home Safety: Alarm Systems and Beyond for Security

June 1, 2018 by Anas Mustafa

Your home is the place where you’re meant to feel safe. It’s where you rest, where your family lives, where you make memories as you raise your children and navigate them to adulthood. Nothing is more unsettling than having your safe place feel unsafe, but break-ins and burglaries accomplish just that.

Home Security And Protective Measures

It’s possible to protect your dwelling whether it’s a home, apartment, or rental. The first line of defense is always a legitimate security system. On top of an alarm system, you might want to add some other protective measures and weigh what is important to you. This way you can ensure your home and family are as safe as possible.

The Positives and Limitations of Home Alarm Systems

Security systems have a variety of different benefits, including:

Alarms deter a burglar from lingering in the home after it has been breached
Homeowners are immediately informed of the breach if they’re out of the house
Police are immediately dispatched to the area

There are a few limitations to think about with security systems as well:

Security systems don’t raise an alarm until after a breach has already occurred
While deterring burglars, a security system doesn’t guarantee that the home won’t be broken into
Security systems can be disabled by enterprising burglars

Homes can still be at risk even with a home alarm system. When doing your research, you might also want to take measures to make the home more difficult to break into in the first place. With any luck, a burglar will then turn their attention elsewhere.

What to Consider When Choosing a Home Security System

You’ll need to consider these factors when you’re narrowing your search for the best security system for your home:

Is your home a house, apartment, or rented area? If you’re a tenant, do you have permission from the landlord for the installation of a security system?
Will the system be installed by you or the manufacturing company?
Is the system based on a subscription, or is it a one-time price?
What aspects of your home are monitored?
Can you customize the system to meet your unique circumstances and changing needs?

Experts recommend investing in a loud siren. That way, when the alarms go off inside the house this could also alert theneighbours about the fact that a breach has occurred.

Low-Cost Alternatives and Additives to Security Systems

Some people can’t afford an entire home security system. Alternatively, it’s a good idea to adhere to certain security measures outside of your system.

A good place to start is with your neighbours. When you live in a suburban or urban area, it’s helpful to get to know your neighbours. Even rural homeowners can benefit from a good relationship with neighbours, despite the fact that they are often wide-spaced and unlikely to hear an alarm going off.

Exchange your names and basic contact information. You can also use phone apps to stay in touch regarding any worrisome activities reported in your neighbourhood. If you and your neighbours are on alert and share information with each other, you’ll be more secure if a burglar ever does decide to try their luck.

You can also pull up a crime map of the area in your immediate vicinity. If you enter your address, you can find out whether you’re in the middle of any reported trouble spots. This will help you assess your risk of a break-in.

Here’s a tip many people never consider: If you own a vehicle, you already have a built-in alarm system. The panic button will cause your car horn to go off, alerting your neighbours that something is amiss and hopefully scaring off potential burglars. Experts recommend leaving a spare key fob beside your bed in case of a burglar breaking into your place in the middle of the night.

Any dogs can be a deterrent to thieves, regardless of whether or not they’re trained to protect you. This is because a barking dog can be as effective as an alarm when it comes to scaring off burglars. Dog barks are loud enough to arouse homeowners and sometimes their neighbours. Many burglars will knock on the front door of a house to see if a dog or person responds.

When you don’t want to install an entire security system but still want some surveillance assistance, you might consider installing a security camera on your property. These cameras will record video that you can play back later. Most can also be monitored in real time through your smartphone.

And even though it may sound obvious: Remember to lock your door at night. It can be easy to forget, especially if you live in a rural area. But sometimes a locked door is enough to deter a burglar. Alternatively, unlocked doors make a burglar’s job far easier. Make sure that your front door, garage door, and any other entrances to the house have been locked. Windows on the first floor (and the second floor, if you’re feeling ambitious) should be locked before you go to bed.

Deterring Burglars

Experts recommend the following actions to deter burglars from entering in the first place:

As mentioned, lock all doors and windows at night and when the home isn’t occupied
Cover all windows with blinds or shades
Turn on your exterior lights
Trim your shrubs so that they can’t conceal people
Hide valuables and make sure they can’t be seen from outside
Report suspicious activity in your neighbourhood, such as strangers driving unusually slowly and repeatedly past your house
Don’t keep your vehicle’s garage door opener easily visible

What Home Alarm System Should You Invest In?

If you’ve decided to purchase a home alarm system, you might be overwhelmed by the number of options available on the market. For Canadians, at least, the choice is easy. Canadian Security Professionals is a security company that is one ofADT’s largest dealers in Canada. They provide a variety of different alarm systems for both residential homes and businesses.

If you’d like more information about their security systems, or you’d like a quote for your property’s security needs, give us a call at 1-877-494-9911.

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Home Safety: Alarm Systems and Beyond for Security

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