Your home is your haven: a sanctuary in which to relax and enjoy the safety it offers. But sadly they’ll always be a (very) small proportion of shady characters who’d love to get their hands on what’s inside.

House robberies are rarely like those depicted on TV. In fact, most thieves enter a property in the very same way you do – through the front door. The following details the three most common entry points burglars use to gain access, and exactly what you can do to stop them in their tracks.

The 3 most common entry points to your home

1. External doors

Front doors, back doors, side doors… They’re all a likely source of entry for a thief, with around 40% of all burglars entering a property through a door.* Amazingly, many people still fail to lock their front door. And with many house robberies being opportunistic, such action is means laying out a red carpet and inviting the burglar inside.

Mandatory security for ALL external doors includes:

• Locking the door at all times. Yes, this means even when you’re inside the house
• Don’t leave a spare key outside, no matter how well hidden you think it might be

These two should be treated as a ‘must do’ at all times. The following are optional, and you can consider a single one or a combination to best suit your needs:

• Install deadbolts
• Take advantage of the latest smart locks. Not only does this offer added security, but you’ll never have to worry about losing your keys again
• Install a monitored alarm system
• Use motion sensors and lights at each external door
• Consider installing a motion activated security camera at such entry points

In addition, consider how sturdy doors are and the quality of locks fitted. If necessary, upgrade to  more secure options.

2. Windows

Breaking a window or opening an unlocked one is the next most common entry point. If you have window locks, use them. If you don’t have them, consider installing them. Good quality locks are an inexpensive investment towards keeping your property secure. Indeed, many home insurance policies are invalid if you fail to have or use them.

Other steps to ensure window security include:

• Use curtains and blinds to block out prying eyes. Such window coverings provide privacy, comfort, not to mention that living in a hot climate makes these pretty much essential for keeping out intense heat.
• Don’t let plants, trees and hedges provide convenient hiding places, especially around ground and first floor windows. Keep them well trimmed and certainly not big enough to conceal a human being.
• Ensure adequate lighting, in particular at lower level windows. Motion activated security lights can be fitted over any windows that might prove a tempting entry point for the light fingered section of community.
• Take advantage of motion and glass break window sensors. These clever gadgets will send an alert to your phone or chosen device should a window be opened, accessed or broken unexpectedly. Glass break sensors can be programmed to sound an alarm should they be triggered.

3. Garages

Even if your garage doesn’t have an access point into the home itself, they’re still a prime target thanks to the fact that most of us don’t actually use them for cars, but as a handy storage unit. And if we do park a vehicle in there, chances are it’ll be one of high value.

Many people make the mistake of thinking a garage door is security in itself, and then fail to secure an internal door that leads into the house. But guess what? Burglars know this all too well…

The following are ways to ensure your garage isn’t a point of weakness when it comes to home security:

• Don’t leave the garage door open for inquisitive eyes to feast on. Always close and lock the door
• Lock doors that connect the garage to the house
• Ensure the best quality locks are installed on garage doors. It’s also worth investing in remote access control, so the door automatically locks behind you when you leave
• Consider a security camera that gives a view of the door, as well as up and down the drive.
• Take advantage of affordable technology that’s now available, such as a smart garage with geofencing and the ability to monitor your garage via a mobile device. This tech is now well enough advanced that you can even close the door remotely, should you have forgotten to do so.

With a few tweaks and healthy regard for home security, it’s very simple to prevent the bad guys from having the upper hand. The expert team at Crown Security has advised residents of Perth and WA about home security options for over 25 years. With a team fully versed in the latest tech available for home protection, they can advise on the most beneficial options to secure your home or business. Contact us today.