How to Properly Secure the Perimeter of Your Property

While a durable lock goes a long way to deter unauthorised access, having a durable lock is just one of the many ways in which you can help secure your property.

One of the things that many people neglect to think about is window access. People in multi-storey apartments are especially lax when it comes to locking windows. To ensure that would-be invaders can't easily force their way in, locking your windows—especially at night—will deter most criminals from sneaking inside.

Another thing to keep in mind is that your spare key (assuming you have one, of course) should be hidden in an unexpected place. Simply placing it under the doormat is a very bad idea. If you have a backdoor, consider using a fixed object in your backyard to conceal your key.

Now that the perimeter is properly sealed and the key is in a good hiding place, you should focus your attention on electronic countermeasures. The best defence for a home is one that is multifaceted. A closed-circuit television system (CCTV) was previously a luxury that only the wealthy could afford, but it has become much more affordable in recent years. By using just a small number of cameras, you can effectively create an exclusion zone around your home that cannot be breached without being detected by security cameras.

If you decide to employ a closed-circuit television system, it is generally a good idea to pick one that has backup power and high resolution. It should also function very well in low-light conditions, as this is when it might be of most use. Modern CCTV systems also have motion detectors, allowing you to be informed of any potential breaches, even if you are taking a trip away from your home.

Finally, there is a dedicated alarm system. Depending on the layout of your home, you may want to divide your sensors into zones. That way, you can avoid false positives if you have, say, a cat that likes to use its cat flap while you're on a weekend getaway. In this hypothetical situation, you could cordon off other rooms so that the cat can come inside but not into rooms that are zone-protected by your alarm system. By combining alarm and CCTV systems, you can remotely check on your CCTV footage anywhere in the world where there is an Internet connection. This will give you peace of mind any time that you leave the home unoccupied.

Talk to a locksmith for more ideas about your locks and security.