Home Security Windows

Homes that do not have any visible security devices are twice as likely to be targeted by criminals. A visible security device could be a sign that purports you have a security home monitoring system on the premises. Merely putting up a security sign is not a guarantee that your home will be skipped. It is pretty easy for a criminal to figure out if you have a security system for real or just the sign by tossing a rock at your window. A better way to deter a home invasion is to invest in home security windows.

Look around your home and imagine which windows would be easiest to use to get into your home. Sometimes it’s the ground floor windows because you can see the window is old or that there is a broken pane, but often it is the basement windows that are used to gain access to the home. Also, second floor windows are often targeted, as these are the most likely to be left open or unlocked.

Installing window bars on all basement and ground floor level windows is a great deterrent to crime. The bars are a visual deterrent to a potential criminal. Lets face it, if your home has window bars on it and your neighbor next door doesn’t have them, which home is the criminal going to target?

Besides being a visual deterrent to crime, window bars are a physical deterrent as well. As a homeowner, you can install interior or exterior burglar bars on your windows. Bars that are installed on the interior cane easily be removed if you need to have an emergency escape from your home. Exterior bars cannot be removed in the event of an emergency. This is an important home security consideration for you to think about.

If you’re concerned about the looks, there are some solutions. There are window bar companies that make aesthetically pleasing window bars. These designs are well done and look nothing like the black bared windows we’re used to seeing. The other alternative is to not put bars on your windows at all. Alternatively, you’ll need a home security system that has adequate window security sensors. These sensors will trigger the alarm in the case of entry.

Before making any purchase, consult your town’s building codes to see what the laws are regarding safety codes on window bars. Many towns require that the bars must be able to be opened from the inside without needing any special tools or keys. A home security window can be a great crime deterrent.

Home Security Motion Detectors

In the home security area, motion detectors are a common and popular means of securing the house and yard. The motion detector can be connected to an alarm or a light, both of which alert the owners that there is possible danger of an intruder.

The motion detector is a security device that uses either an electronic or mechanical sensor to measure movement to detect unauthorized entry. There are 3 main types of sensors used in motion detectors:

• Microwave - this sensor sends microwaves pulses to measure the moving object.
• Ultrasonic - this sends electrical pulses to measure the moving object.
• PIR (Passive Infrared) - measures body heat, but emits no energy.

Modern motion detectors often use a combination of technologies. This tends to make the detector more accurate and reliable, and cuts down on the number of false alarms. One of the major causes of false alarms is animals – when a pet moves in front of the sensor, it is detected as a moving object and the alarm sounds. Many newer models have a “pet-sensitive” function that ignores body mass below a particular weight.

Mechanical Motion Detectors
One of the simplest forms of mechanical motion detection is the tripwire. If a bell or something similar is attached to the wire, it will sound if the wire is knocked or “tripped”. This type of device is easily disarmed, however, by cutting the wire. This makes the device only effective if it can be concealed from view.

Electronic Motion Detectors
The major ways that motion is electronically detected are optical and acoustical. The motion detector can be connected to an alarm, a light or a security camera, or any combination of the three. When movement activates the sensor, the attached security device is activated.

Motion detectors that are employed to provide security for the home are most often connected to a bright light. This serves a dual purpose – it illuminates an intruder, and probably scares them away, but it also provides light for family members returning home after dark. This prevents falls and reduces the possibility of attack from a prowler hiding nearby.

Smart Home Security

You have worked hard to get your house looking nice and you have gathered precious belongings together to make it a home.

What have you done to secure it and make it safe from thieves and intruders?

How safe is your family inside their own home?

Be smart, it’s prudent to secure your home, giving you and your family much peace of mind.

There are many simple measures you can take, that won’t cost very much, to secure your home. Be aware of potential problem areas, and look for ways to minimize the danger of a break-in.

Here are a few home security areas to start with:

• Locks – check the locks on the outer doors and windows. Make sure they are in good working order and will firmly secure the entry point when in the locked position. Replace any that are faulty or flimsy.
• Doors - the best lock in the world won’t deter a burglar if the door is made of flimsy materials. Invest in the most solid outer doors that you can afford.
• Windows – check that your windows can be secured properly and are not an easy invitation to intruders. Secure sliding windows with a piece of timber dowel in the groove of the window frame. Sliding windows can be secured in a slightly open position with a special bolt through the frame and window sash.
• Valuables - keep valuable and targeted items like computers, electrical goods, entertainment items etc out of direct view of windows. Invest in a floor safe to protect passports, jewelery, documents and other small valuables.
• Tools - keep power tools and other tools that could be used to break into your house, out of sight. Keep your ladders stored away- don’t leave a ladder leaning up against the house. Many robbers are opportunistic – they see an opportunity to break in and they take it, spur of the moment.
• Sensor lights - install sensor lights at the main entry doors, garage, gate into the back yard and other places where an intruder may try to gain entry. These security sensors detect movement and switch on the light, which would deter most thieves. It is also added security for you and your family when coming home in the dark.