Protecting Your Home

You have probably heard of the saying "No where like home".
The first place we think of wanting to be when in danger is the home. This could either be our home or someone elses home. Maybe a relative's or a friends. This is because your home (or that of a relation) is your safety zone, where you think you will feel safe and be protected from danger.
We say this on the assumption that you live in a standard home which has good doors and good windows that can be locked from the inside and/or outside. We also assume that you have a telephone in the house that you can use to communicate with the outside.

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These are the basic safety requirements in the standard house. They ar necessary basics but not necessarily enough. We believe it is essential to add to these basic items. And they don't have to be expensive options. We will review some of these items in the coming paragraphs.

Why have moree safeguards than just the basics
We safeguard our homes for a number of reasons: Burglars, animals, debris from outside, wind, fire, rain etc etc. Usually, when our homes are built, they already have the basic safeguards against all the above factors. Note the word, Basic.
Depending on what type of a neighborhood we live in, we increase or decrease our safety precautions accordingly. We advise to err on the side of increasing rather than decreasing. The rule of thumb is to be able to ramp up your home security to atleast double the standard security measures. For example being able to double lock your window when you need to and maybe engage a security alarm that you use in emergency situations.
Let us discuss the two areas that need attention. Inside and outside measures.
Inside Measures (physical Security)
Physical aspects:
-Fit mortise dead-locks to all outer doors. Exterior doors should be of sturdy construction but make sure that they are fitted to equally sturdy door frames. Glazed doors should be fitted with burglar bars and obscured with blinds or curtains.
-Know where all keys for your outer doors are. If you cannot account for them all - CHANGE THE LOCK.
-Fit strong door chains to outer doors - AND USE THEM.
-If your residence is above ground or if you have no view of your front door fit an entry-phone and electrically-operated door release. Alternatively fit an optical viewer to enable you to see visitors before opening.
-Fit window locks on ground-floor windows and to any upper floors to which access can easily be obtained, especially those hidden from the view of neighbours and passers-by. Any opening windows not normally used can be permanently screwed to the frame.
-Fit burglar bars to accessible windows that are hidden from the view of neighbours and passers-by.
-Light the approach to your house with exterior lights placed out of reach. See that this lighting is regularly used and maintained.
-Leave a 'courtesy' light burning in the area of the front door during the hours of darkness.
-Consider the use of other forms of security lighting for use in emergencies or when suspicion is aroused. Floodlights placed in strategic points make it difficult for would-be assailants to escape without detection or to hide in the shadows.
-Always have reserve lighting to hand, such as flashlights, paraffin lamps and candles.
-Depending on the assessed degree of threat, consider installing a burglar alarm system in your house, and in your garage if you have one. Boundary fencing which makes access to your property difficult for intruders can also be installed. There are boundary alarm systems that can be fitted to warn of penetration.
-In the absence of peripheral alarm systems, encourage the growth of trees and hedges near your boundary which hinder access to your property. Keep fences in good repair. Try to block the view from the street into rooms which are most often used.
-Remove and trim shrubs near your house, particularly near paths and driveways, to make concealment of attackers and devices difficult.
-Always keep at least one approved fire extinguisher in an easily accessible place.
-Ensure that there is an easily accessible fire escape, about which your family should know and which should be obvious to visitors.
-Fit a doorbell if you do not have one and make sure that it is working at all times.


Outside Measures
Outside security precautions include clearing brush around your house. This makes sure that there is not a place that can be used by burglars as hiding spots. Remember burglars do not want to be caught and have to go through the risk of being chased and getting caught. So if the risks are too great, a burglar will rather not take the change. So keeping some clear distance your house and shrubs around the house is good.