If you are a father living in not a particularly nice neighborhood, then you likely already know the importance of home security. To help you even further we have compiled some key hacks to help you make your property as safe as possible for your young ones.
Educate Your Children
The most important thing is to make sure your young children are aware of any dangers, especially from strange people. Obviously, most strangers are just normal people and many will not harm your children. However, make sure your children can identify suspicious behavior. Teach them how to tell the difference between safe strangers and unsafe strangers. A police officer, for example, is a safe stranger that can help them.
They should know to be cautious when answering the door. If there’s no peephole a video doorbell is a good idea. If someone they do not know is there they should get an adult. Even more importantly, they should know never to get in a stranger’s car or go somewhere unknown with someone that they do not know. Teach them to be assertive and able to say no. This will help them stay safe within your home as well as out in the neighborhood.
Secure Your Main Access Points
You do not need your home to be a fortress, but it should have strong doors and windows. Break-ins are a risk for your entire family, so fortify key access points.
The best way to strengthen your doors is by adding deadbolts. One alternative is to have multiple locks at different heights. Also, make sure the structure of the door itself is solid, as any weakness or damage to the frame can compromise the integrity of the door. Either get the door repaired, reinforced, or replaced.
Sliding glass doors often pose a security concern. These can be very simple to break through because the doors can easily be forced off their tracks. This can make them a burglar’s best friend, however. There is an easy way to secure them. Dowels, which are cylindrical rods, or security bars can be fitted to prevent sliding doors from coming off their racks.
Windows should be checked to make sure they latch and lock properly. Same makes of sliding windows can be forced open. If this is the case, consider modifying them. There should be no gap between the window and its frame. If there is, it becomes too easy to slide a piece of wire, a stick, or a similar object inside, and then use it to open the window. If you have any doubts about the security of your windows, then have them improved or replaced.
Do A Routine Check
If you are going to bed, then do a regular check of your windows and doors. Make sure they are all shut and locked. The more you do this the more powerful a habit it will become. Teach your children to do the same. For example, if they have been playing in the yard and are coming inside for the night, they should know to lock the door behind them. They should also know when to shut the windows in their bedroom.
Get A Dog
A dog’s warning barks will alert you to an unknown presence on your property. This makes canine ownership one of the best ways to have a secure home. Even small dogs will yelp loudly to make the arrival of visitors, either invited or uninvited, known to your entire household.
Dogs are a massive deterrent to intruders. They may be a friendly family pet, but they are the last thing a home invader wants to deal with. Just the bark alone is enough to send these people scurrying away, so do not think you need a Great Dane or another large dog.
Just Put Up A Sign
Getting a dog is not appropriate for many households, but how about a “beware of the dog” sign out front? This alone can cause burglars to seek an easier target. Others signs, such as the ones that indicate you have an alarm or CCTV, are also excellent deterrents.
Time To Take Action
Hopefully, these hacks have provided insight into some actions you can take to further improve your home security. Your property should be your castle where your children are as safe as possible, therefore, you owe it yourself to take every step to achieve this.
