How to Make your Home More Secure

Why are home security systems important?

Home security systems are an important purchase for your home as they help to deter any potential burglars from entering! If you haven't got security measures in place, now's the time to start thinking about what you can do to improve your home security!

If the worst case does happen, having security measures in place can help limit the damage done, help to catch the people responsible, and with some security options, police can even be called immediately.

Here are some ways you can increase the security of your home!

Installing window coverings

Having window coverings is not only beneficial for controlling the light coming into your home, but they also add an extra layer of security. While not all window coverings are designed specifically for security purposes, there are a few options that have the added benefit of providing additional home security measures.

Outdoor shutters

Outdoor shutters are a great exterior window covering option for your home. These shutters act as a type of security shutter as they completely seal your window and add a thick barrier between potential burglars and the glass.

Roller shutters

Roller shutters are another great shutter option to add protection to your home!

Not only do they increase the amount of light control and temperature regulation inside your home, one of their biggest advantages is the amount of security they add.

When roller shutters are fully lowered, they make it very difficult for anyone to try break through, as they are made from a thick and durable material.

Motorised blinds

Motorised blinds are another window covering option to consider installing for home security purposes.

There are two types of motorised blinds to choose from. These are the SmartHub and the Eve MotionBlinds.

ABC Blinds SmartHub

SmartHub Motorisation is where all the motorised blinds in your home are connected to one central device, which can be paired with your smartphone or a smart home device like Google Home or Amazon's Alexa to control your blinds. This motorised option can pair with up to 20 sets of indoor and outdoor blinds.

Eve MotionBlinds

Eve MotionBlinds are a type of motorised roller blind that can be set and automated to raise and lower at specific times. This motorisation type doesn't need a central device for all blinds to be connected to, instead it works by connecting to Apple's HomeKit technology.

One of the main benefits of installing motorised blinds is that they make it look like someone is home. As motorised blinds can pair with your smartphone, you can open and close your blinds from anywhere – including times when you aren't home.

To learn more about the benefits of choosing motorised blinds, head to out blog.

Crimsafe Security Windows and Doors

Crimsafe security screen doors and blinds are specifically designed to be near impossible to break through. These screens are up to 12 times stronger than a typical window covering, making them one of the best options to install for home security.

The benefits of Crimsafe blinds

• Have a stronger mesh: They are made from a mesh that's been specifically developed to be very difficult to penetrate. This mesh is 26.5% thicker than average mesh on security screens.
• Extended warranty: Feel safe for longer with a 15-year warranty.
• Fully customisable: Crimsafe windows and doors are fully customisable to fit any size.
• Two options: Choose to use Crimsafe range on your windows or as security doors.

Crimsafe security windows

Instead of installing flywire over your windows, which can be cut through, Crimsafe security windows add a thick layer of mesh with reinforced screws to your window, severely limiting the ability to break through it and get inside.

Crimsafe security doors

When choosing Crimsafe security doors, you have two options: hinged security doors and sliding security doors. This allows you to install a security screen door on the front of your house or as a patio sliding door.

For more information on choosing Crimsafe screens for your home, head to our website. Or, if you'd like to see the strength of these security screens for yourself, check out the Crimsafe strength test video below.

Alarm systems

Another great deterrent for burglars is having security alarms installed in and on the outside of your home. An alarm system is as simple as it sounds. If motion is detected after the alarm code is entered, the alarm will be triggered and therefore notify you, your neighbours, and in some cases the police that someone could be trying to break in.

There are many options available to choose from. The most common types of home security alrm systems are:

• Wired alarm systems: These systems are more expensive to install as they require an electrician, however they are slightly more reliable.

• Wireless alarm systems: Wireless home security systems are less expensive and simple to install. The downfalls these systems are that they are often reliant on batteries and are limited in their sensor range.

• Monitored alarm systems: A monitored home security alarm system is like having comprehensive coverage for your home. This option is where professionals are notified when activity is detected on your home security sensors. In some circumstances, police or fire departments will even be notified. Having professional on-call service usually means you'll have additional regular fees, but you'll have the peace of mind knowing your home is completely always covered.

Most alarm systems will connect to your smartphone via an app, where you'll be notified when your camera detects activity outside your house.

Security cameras

Having security cameras helps to deter criminal behaviour, but if they don't see the cameras, it also helps to catch anyone lurking around your home.

The best place to install home security cameras is anywhere there's an entrance. This includes your front door, any side doors, windows, and your garage area.

Depending on the location of the camera, you ideally need different angles of view to capture the most information.

For smaller areas, having a narrower field of vision helps to not distort the picture quality and capture as much detail as possible. For larger areas like your garage and the sides of your house, having a wider field of vision gives you more coverage.

Outdoor security lights

Something small and inexpensive that's effective at keeping suspicious activity outside your home to a minimum is installing motion-sensor outdoor lights.

These lights are activated when the sensors detect movement and immediately turn on. However, there is one downside to installing these lights. If you have trees or bushes within a proximity to the sensors, or even animals that roam the streets at night, these lights can be falsely triggered.

Install a safe

If for some reason burglars do find a way into your home, installing a safe is a sure fire way to safeguard any important documents or possessions. Some safes are even fire resistant and have options to be free-standing or installed into the wall. Wall safes have the benefit that a burglar can't pick it up and take it with them.

Be careful what you share online

While social media is often thought of as a nice way to connect with our friends and family to share parts of our lives, there is a potentially dangerous side to sharing seemingly harmless content.

At Christmas or birthdays, we might share a nice gift we got. If we just built or bought a new house or even have an aesthetic décor to share, you might take a picture and upload it. All this content is giving people insight into the possessions you have and show the doors or windows that can help them into your home.

Tips on how to be safer online

If you want to share these things, it's important to:

• Make sure your accounts are on the highest privacy settings
• Don't tag your home location/ suburb
• Make sure you only have a following of people you know and trust
• If you're going on a holiday, try not to share the dates you're not going to be home and post after you're back from your trip. People knowing when you won't be home gives them easier access.
  
  

Limiting the content you're sharing can reduce the temptation for burglars to target your home!

Interested in finding out more about window coverings to improve your home security? To arrange a free measure and quote with a highly-trained consultant in your own home, give us a call on 13 13 15 or fill out this simple online form. We provide this service to a wide range of locations around the metro and select regional areas, 6 days a week between 8am and 6pm.

The majority of our blinds, curtains and awnings are made in Australia and are sold for the lowest price in the market, guaranteed. Just bring in a quote on any competitor's comparable item and we'll beat it by 5%.