6 Tips to Ramp Up Your Home Security

One of the most common methods criminals use to gain entry into your home is to obtain information from inside your household.

In other words, this is an ‘inside job’, where criminals get information about your movements, details pertaining to your security system, as well as what valuables are on the property and where they can be located. 

With this information, criminals can carry out their crime with little to no resistance. This type of ‘sourcing’ of a victim is known as reconnaissance.

With reconnoitred crimes, the information is sourced internally either knowingly, where the employee purposefully gives private information about the household or unknowingly. This happens when the employee is confronted and questioned by criminals without realising that they are giving away vital information.

Community Active Protection (CAP), which runs security schemes in over 50 Johannesburg suburbs, shares home security tips…

1. Vet all staff or contractors

Obtain all biographic information pertaining to the individual, including proof of identification, proof of address and next of kin information.

To ensure accuracy, verify and validate the information obtained against credible references.

2. Educate staff to be mindful of being approached

To keep your family and home safe, ensure your staff understand the importance of information sharing. Teach staff to be aware of people’s devious intentions.

3. Avoid unnecessary entry into your home

Be sure to limit the amount of people that enter your home. Only grant access to those that require it.

You can also add a few extra layers of security by adequately securing your home. Get tips…

4. Electric fencing

Link your electric fence to your transmitter so that any activation sends a signal to your armed response company. Ideally, your electric fence siren should be audible.

You also want to ensure that any foliage and overhanging branches are cleared at all times. Electric fencing is generally a reliable form of alert and is not easily bypassed unless there are branches and foliage hanging over it.

Regularly check and maintain your electric fencing to ensure that it is working and has not been tampered with.

5. Alarm system and passives

Install passives and beams in your garden, as well as the exterior perimeter of your home.

Your alarm system should also be armed at all times, day and night, even if you are in the house.

Ask your alarm technician about partitioning your home into various zones, which will allow you to move freely in your home while the alarm is activated.

Regularly check your alarm system as well as panic buttons to ensure that they are in working order at all times.

6. Gate

Install a gate contact that will trigger the alarm if tampering occurs and an anti-lift mechanism that will prevent criminals from derailing your gate.

You should also reinforce pedestrian and swing gates so as to prevent them from being forced open by potential intruders.

Article courtesy of Cap Group