In the world of home security, we promote a similar strategy of understanding the common entry points that burglars use and securing them accordingly. Unfortunately, many burglary victims do not know what these entry points are until it is too late.

Keep in mind that there is no way to prevent a truly determined burglar from breaking into your home. There are things you can do that might cause a burglar to change their mind about entering your home, either because it’s too much work or it takes too long.

The most common entry points for burglars are:

• First-floor front door (34%)
• First-floor back door (22%)
• Large first-floor window (23%)
• Garage (9%)

If a burglar is unable to gain quick entry through one of these four entry points, they may resort to a basement window or a second-floor window accessible by way of a tree or nearby structure. The average homeowner can significantly reduce the risk of burglary by concentrating on securing all first-floor windows and doors.

Securing Entry PointsIt may seem odd that burglars would try to enter your front door in plain view of anyone on the street. But this tells you exactly why it’s important to protect yourself: The front door is chosen because it is usually the easiest and fastest way in.

Burglars are criminals of opportunity. They want to get in quickly, find a few valuables, and get out without being noticed. An unprotected front door is a perfect entry point for quick entry and exit. By the way, a skilled burglar can be in and out of a home in less than seven minutes.

Your best defense is a double-keyed deadbolt lock. Deadbolt locks are difficult to force open without making a lot of noise. A double-keyed lock is even better because it prevents a burglar from breaking a window and reaching in to unlock it by hand.

As for your windows, do not trust the latches installed at the factory. Instead, buy window locks at your local hardware or security store. These are very affordable and surprisingly effective.

Your back door should also be locked by a double-keyed deadbolt, and your garage should be secured by an electric door opener. With all of these entry points secured, you can move on to installing block windows in the basement if the added peace of mind makes you more comfortable.

Tying It All Together:
Deadbolts, window locks and block windows will slow down a burglar significantly. You can tie it all together – and continue to increase the chances that burglars will not hit your home – by installing a monitored home security system. Monitored home security ensures someone is always keeping an eye on your property. It also acts as an excellent deterrent because burglars know their activities are being monitored.

A basic system from One-Stop Communications covers your first-floor doors and windows using sensors that communicate wirelessly with a central control panel. Even this minimal amount of basic protection is very effective in preventing home burglary. For even greater protection, you can add remote surveillance cameras and motion detectors. It all adds up to effectively keeping burglars away.

Sources:

• A Secure Life – http://www.asecurelife.com/security-infographic/

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Celebrate, Honor and Remember.

Happy Memorial Day!

From protecting your car and guarding your tools, to securing a common but easily overlooked entry point to your home, a Smart Home Security system powered by Alarm.com has you covered. 

Here’s what it will give you:

Smart Access 
70% of Americans use their garage door as the primary entrance to their home. 

That’s a lot of opportunity to leave it open by accident.  A connected garage door powered by Alarm.com helps eliminate this problem. 

Using your location as a trigger, our exclusive Geo-Services feature alerts you if you leave home without securing the garage. You’ll get a pop-up smartphone alert that lets you close the door right away, from wherever you are.  You can also create an alert to tell you if the door is left open for a certain amount of time. 

Most garage doors made after 1998 can be retrofitted to integrate them into a Smart Home system. 

Monitored Security 
From lawnmowers to tools, you probably have thousands of dollars’ worth of contents in your garage. If you’re a car enthusiast or dedicated DIY-er, multiply that figure by ten. A wireless Smart Home Security system protects your property and is easy to extend into an attached garage. 

You’ll always know when the garage door is opened, and our exclusive image sensor will detect movement and send you a picture of what caused it.  If you add a video camera to your system, you can record a clip automatically every time the door opens. You can view your images and clips anytime, anywhere, from your smartphone (or Apple Watch). 

Our systems are also professionally monitored. That means that if there’s a break-in, trained security professionals will respond and dispatch emergency services. 

Smart Fire Safety 
With power tools and gasoline on hand, your garage is one of the most fire-prone places in your home after the kitchen. A connected smoke detector powered by Alarm.com will instantly alert the professionals in the event of a fire.  Your smart home security system will also keep you safe by shutting down your HVAC system to keep smoke from spreading, turning on your smart lights, and alerting you via your smartphone. 

No Weak Spots 
It’s tempting to leave the door that connects your garage to your home unlocked, especially when you know the garage door is closed behind you. However, this door should be secured day and night as a potential entryway to your home. 

A smart lock with a keypad is perfect for this role. A simple four-digit code lets you back into the house, eliminating the need to carry your keys around with you. As a bonus, if you have an older teenager who’s started driving, you can give them their own user code which triggers a smartphone alert, letting you know they’re home safe. 

Want a Smarter Garage? 
Professionally installed, configured and monitored, a Smart Home Security system is the smartest upgrade you can make to your garage and home this year. 

A Smart Home Security system—a great home feature in its own right—is incredibly useful for helping this part of your project run more smoothly. 

It makes things more convenient for you and your contractor, helps you stay aware of what’s happening on the project, and maintains the security of your property, even while there’s a lot of activity in your home. Here’s how. 

Smart Access – Convenience and Security 
Your contractor needs easy access to your home, whether you’re there or not. 

A “smart access” solution combines smart locks, user codes and real-time alerts on your smartphone so you can let a contractor in, no matter where you are. 

You get the convenience of letting the contractor come and go, with the security of controlling access and knowing when they’re there or not. No more waiting by the door to let the contractor in when you have a busy day ahead of you, and no more leaving keys under the mat. 

You can use your smartphone app to let a contractor in remotely, or you can give them a unique user code that lets them open your smart lock and disarm your security panel when they arrive. You can set up user codes to only work when you expect the contractor, so you get convenience without sacrificing security. 

Alerts Let You Know Everything’s On Schedule 
User codes help you keep track of when contractors arrive and leave, providing a useful ‘log’ of time spent in your home. It’s easy to set up a smartphone alert that lets you know instantly when your contractor uses their door code. 

You can also set up visual alerts with an image sensor, giving you a visual update of who’s on the job and when. If your Smart Home includes video monitoring, you can even view a live feed of your project as it takes shape. 

If you’re planning a major renovation that will have you living elsewhere for a while, you can also save on your broadband costs.  Alarm.com-powered systems use a cellular connection, so you can cancel broadband and still manage access to your home and use our image sensor. 

Smart Home Security Provides Peace of Mind 
A Smart Home gives you the ability to lock your front door (and garage door) and arm your security system remotely when a contractor leaves, restoring your house to its secure state instantly. And, when the job is complete, you can simply delete your contractor’s user code from your system, with no keys to hand back. 

Happy remodeling!