A Low-Cost Guide to Protecting Your Home
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make your home more secure. Taking some time to review your home security and making a few simple changes can help reduce opportunities for crime and make your home a less attractive target.
From securing doors and windows to keeping valuables out of sight, there are plenty of practical steps you can take to improve your home security without a major investment.
Secure Your Entry Points
Check that all doors and windows have sturdy, working locks. Deadbolts and quality security screens on external doors and windows can provide an additional layer of protection.
Keep doors and windows locked when you’re at home as well as when you’re away, particularly when you’re in another part of the house or outside in the yard. For windows and glass sliding doors, a metal pin or piece of wooden dowel can help prevent them from being lifted or forced open.
Avoid leaving spare keys in obvious outdoor hiding places, such as under a mat or pot plant. Instead, leave a spare key with someone you trust.
Secure Your Perimeter
A secure fence and gate can add another layer of protection around your property. Where appropriate, consider installing locks on gates and your letterbox.
Check your fences and gates regularly and replace worn or damaged hardware, such as hinges, screws and locks.
Secure Your Valuables
If you park your car outside, always lock it and avoid leaving valuables inside. Bicycles, tools and other outdoor items can also be attractive targets for theft, so secure them in a locked shed or garage where possible or keep them out of sight.
Inside your home, avoid leaving valuables such as keys, handbags and electronic devices where they can easily be seen through windows or from entry points.
Keep important documents, such as passports and certificates, in a secure location. A lockable cabinet or personal safe can provide additional protection for documents and smaller valuables.
Improve Outdoor Lighting
Good lighting around entry points, pathways and other areas of your property can improve visibility and make it harder for someone to approach your home unnoticed.
Consider motion-sensor lighting near doors, gates and paths. Position lights where they are difficult to reach or tamper with.
Use Visible Deterrents
Visible security measures can help signal that your home is protected. Where appropriate, consider displaying security signs or decals and positioning security cameras where they can be seen.
If you have security cameras, make sure they are installed securely and positioned high enough to reduce the risk of tampering.
Make Your Home Look Occupied
If you’re going away, avoid making it obvious that your home is empty. Ask a trusted neighbour, friend or family member to collect your mail and packages, bring in your bins and keep an eye on the property.
You can also arrange for Australia Post to hold your mail while you’re away. Timers for lights can help create the appearance that someone is home, while having someone you trust stay at your property can provide an added level of security.
Connect With Neighbourhood Watch
Getting involved with Neighbourhood Watch is a great way to stay connected with your neighbours and support a safer community. Sharing information, looking out for one another and reporting suspicious activity can all help build stronger, more connected communities.
Find your local jurisdiction at: www.nhwa.com.au/contact/jurisdictions/
Remember, small changes can make a difference.No security measure is completely foolproof, but combining a range of simple measures can help make your home more secure and reduce opportunities for crime. Take some time to assess your home security and identify where you could make improvements. Our FREE National Secure Your Home Day Kit includes a comprehensive home security checklist and practical, evidence-based tips to help you strengthen your home security, as well as a Cyber Security Checklist to help protect your personal information and accounts online.