For most, ensuring your home is secure is a top priority. Though smart devices can be seen heavily throughout most homes in today’s society, such devices are not always being used to their maximum potential, with many devices acting as hugely beneficial resources for deterring criminal activity and keeping your property safe when used the right way.
Here smart home solutions specialists, Somfy, reveal ten ways to keep your home protected at all times, including how best to use smart home technologies.
1. Make use of lights
Lighting has the power to create the illusion that someone is always at home, which can be an effective deterrent for criminals. The use of smart lighting allows the user to switch lights on and off remotely with ease.
Outdoor lighting can have a similar effect. Installing motion-sensor lighting will mean your porch will light up whenever it detects movement, which will likely scare off any intruder put in the spotlight.
2. Turn notifications on
Many houses have an alarm, but for those who have a smart or wireless alarm system, it is important to ensure the system has been set up correctly, with notifications turned on. This way, the alarm will notify you instantly if it is activated, or if there is any unusual activity around your property. This can help provide extra peace of mind and allow you to take immediate action if something has triggered your alarm.
3. Take control of entrances
Another perk of having a smart home is the automation of otherwise traditionally manual objects, such as windows, doors, blinds and even shutters. Though the ability to control these home furnishings remotely is ideal for comfort, it is also particularly good for additional home security. Remote control of items like shutters can help make it appear like someone is home, by opening and closing them at appropriate times throughout both day and night.
4. Keep valuables locked away
Even with thorough security measures, in some instances, criminals can manage to force their way into a home. In the unlikely event that this could happen, it is always advisable to lock away any expensive or highly treasured items in something secure such as a safe or hidden storage. Smart safes are an excellent investment as they can not only alert you if anyone tries to gain unauthorised access, but they can even activate an intruder alarm to deter any criminals from continuing their attempt to break in.
5. Upgrade the locks
With a recent finding showing that 75% of burglars gain access into properties through doors1,locks are an extremely important part of safeguarding your home. Lock snapping is one of the most common ways of breaking into a home, therefore the best way to avoid this is by ensuring that your lock has a 3-star (or above) specification, such as the Sold Secure (SS312) Diamond Standard lock or even upgrading to a smart lock.
6. Rely on trusted neighbours
Getting to know your neighbours is key to ensuring your property is safe, particularly when you’re away and don’t own a smart alarm system. Knowing that someone keeps an eye out, gets your mail and makes your home looked lived in when you’re on holiday is a great way to add both security and peace of mind.
7. Be strategic with your spare keys
Many people often leave a spare key under the front door mat or in the flower pot next to the entrance of a home for ease of access or any forgotten key incidents. However, this is extremely unsafe as spots like these are particularly well known to most burglars. If you would like to be able to leave a key in a safe place, a better option is leaving the key in a concealed combination lock-box, to which only your most trusted peers have the pin to access. This will guarantee better protection.
8. Keep all tools locked away
The average tools shed in the UK contains all of the tools an intruder would need to break into a home2. Whether it’s hammers, chisels or even ladders, make sure they are safely locked into a shed, to avoid them being used for forced entries. Burglars can take less than a minute to use such tools to break into a home, so it’s important to be cautious!
9. Trim the hedges
A very tall hedge can help an invader by providing a place to hide. Similarly, if the hedge is too tall, it can also supply a means of climbing to gain access to upstairs windows. Hence, make sure you always trim your hedges, not just for aesthetic reasons but also for safety purposes.
10. Activate cameras
Security cameras can be a great deterrent for criminals and offer a fantastic way to monitor your property for any unusual activity. Some cameras come with sensors and night vision and can even activate the alarm system if they detect certain movements. In addition to providing a way to deter criminals, security cameras that offer recording ability will also provide evidence. This can be used by the authorities should the worst happen, and someone breaks into your property.
Mark Pekelharing, The Northern European Market Manager for Somfy Smart Home & Somfy Protect said: “Burglaries continue to be one of the most prevalent crimes across Northern Europe, so taking precaution is highly recommended. Smart devices are highly underestimated for the true value that they can bring to a home, especially when adding extra security. More and more people are turning to smart alarm systems and connected home technology to protect their space which is why smart products should be made with the safety of the customer in mind.”
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