When you think about winterizing your home, reviewing your security might not be the first thought you have. It’s true that home security matters all year round. It does, however, arguably matter more in winter because nights are longer, people go out more, and there are new Christmas presents in homes. With that in mind, here are four tips to improve your home security.
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Improve Your Home Security In Winter
Check Your Doors and Windows
You should be checking your doors and windows all year round, but it’s particularly essential in fall and winter. It’s more important because any damage to your doors and windows will usually impact your insulation as well as your security. For example, if the glass is loose in the frame, it’s easier for cold wind to get in and usually easier for a criminal to break or cut.
In general, you can usually work around minor damage for the course of the fall and winter. Then you can get your doors or windows replaced in the warmer months when it’s less disruptive. (Bremerton Window has some great options for replacement windows). However, severe damage will need to be dealt with no matter the season.
If your door doesn’t have any security features on it, then now is the time to install some. Smart doorbells can enhance your security, but it’s risky to rely on them. They need both power and internet connectivity to work. Both of these can be vulnerable in winter. A plain, old-fashioned door-chain and viewing glass always work no matter what.
Make Sure You Have Plenty of Light
Light serves two purposes. First, it allows visitors to find their way to your door. Second, it makes it easier to see unusual or unexpected visitors. These visitors may be legitimate as winter tends to be the time of year when people get a lot of home deliveries. Then again, they may not be safe visitors.
Because people get so many deliveries in winter, it can be a cover for criminals. These days, many packages are delivered by freelance delivery drivers. The companies behind them may encourage them to wear branded clothing, but it can be legally challenging to make it obligatory. What’s more, branded clothing doesn’t guarantee that somebody works for a company.
Ideally, you want to use motion-sensitive lighting. It’s the most economical (and environmentally-friendly) form of light. Plus, it can act as a form of alarm. Seeing a light suddenly come on will often draw your attention to somebody approaching your home. Criminals are well aware of this.
Protect Your Driveway
The closer a criminal can park to your door, the easier it is for them to move your property into their vehicle. This may sound far-fetched but remember, winter has long hours of darkness, bad weather, and many tradespeople doing legitimate business. All of this provides perfect cover for criminals. Fortunately, it’s now easy to protect your driveway.
If you already have or can install a fence or wall, you can add an electric gate. These essentially work in a similar way to automatic garage doors. In other words, you can open them without getting out of your car. Plus, you can get them in swing and slide versions, so you should be able to get something to suit your space.
If you can’t have a fence or wall, you can use smart parking barriers. These are basically rise-and-fall barriers you can operate from your phone without getting out of your car. They are easy to install and do a great job of protecting your driveway without sacrificing convenience.
Remember Out of Sight is Out of Mind
Technically, this isn’t strictly true. Criminals know that people will have presents in the house around Christmas time. They also know that people tend to go out more around Christmas time. You do not, however, need to make life easy for them.
Keep your valuables out of sight and out of mind. If you put presents under the tree, keep the tree out of sight of the window or use fake gifts. It’s best to do both. The sight of fake presents might be enough to tempt a criminal to attack your home. Once they’re in, they may take a lot more than your fake gifts.
Similarly, be careful what you post on social media. Even if you think it’s private, it’s impossible to stop information from being shared, often with entirely innocent intentions. Keep information about your gifts and plans for people who need to know and encourage them to keep it private.
Tips To Improve Your Home Security In Winter
Protecting your home in the winter can be easy if you know what to do. These tips to improve your home security can make all the difference. Do you have any other tips to share? Leave a comment and let us know!
