With the cost of living crisis affecting billions of people around the world, it’s no wonder that crimes like burglaries are on the rise. It’s vital that you can take the right steps to protect and defend your home against break ins and other similar situations, and it doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might imagine to safeguard your home (and everyone or everything inside it).

This guide contains some of the best ideas that you can make the most of to make sure your home remains as safe and secure as possible. There’s no time like the present to begin, so what are you waiting for? Read on to discover more.

Invest In Security Cameras

One of the best ways to defend your property is by installing security cameras. Security cameras can provide a host of different benefits and advantages.

First off, having security cameras outside your home covering every angle will allow you to capture any intruder on film, helping you to catch and subsequently charge the perpetrator(s) with much greater ease. Your cameras will pick up whenever someone approaches your property, even if they change their mind about trying to break in.

Another key benefit of security cameras is prevention. If a criminal were to take their chance and approach your home with the hopes of breaking in, then it’s likely they will think twice as soon as they realize that you have CCTV watching every corner of your property. Thieves are fully aware of the consequences of being caught for a burglary, so the risk of being captured on film may discourage them from deciding to try and enter your home.

You can also use your security cameras as a way to minimize the risk of issues when you’re not at home. You can find security cameras that can be directly linked to your smartphone, meaning you can watch the livestream at any time to see what’s going on while you’re away. Some cameras will even have a motion detection feature, which will send an alert to your smartphone to tell you that someone is approaching your home.

Install Fencing & A Gate

Another brilliant option that you can explore to help improve the safety and security of your home is to install both fencing and a gate that will prevent any intruders from gaining access to your property.

There are lots of different options when it comes to fencing. You can choose between various materials, such as wood or metal, and browse through hundreds of different styles to suit both your home’s aesthetic and your unique security needs. There are fence styles that boast spikes on the top, which will no doubt injure any individual attempting to scale them. There are also fences covered in an anti-climb paint that is impossible to grip. No matter what fencing you choose for your property, just make sure that it’s tall enough to minimize break ins while covering the entire perimeter of your home without any gaps.

You’re going to need a gate on your driveway so that you can enter your property with your vehicle, but this can act as a real weak point if you don’t get it right. Many people make the mistake of leaving a large gap either underneath or on top of their gate, but this simply makes it easier for someone to gain access. It’s also a bad idea to use a weak gate with a flimsy locking system, as you need a strong and secure gate that locks in multiple places so that you can rest assured that no one is going to be able to get in.

Hire Private Security Services

There’s been a huge increase in the use of private security services in recent years, likely due to the increasing pressure on police forces who just don’t have the manpower to cope.

Private security forces will do regular tours of your neighborhood, driving past your house and checking for any signs of suspicious behavior. You can also provide them with access to your security cameras so that they can monitor the footage and act accordingly should they spot anything untoward. Most private security forces are ex-police officers or other similar folk who have a background in protection.

There are countless benefits to hiring private security services, but one of the main reasons why you should choose such a safety measure is to minimize your risk of having to face a danger head on with your family behind you. If your security guard sees an intruder approaching your home then they are going to jump into action and speed to your home, with the intention of tackling the assailant before they even make it inside. This will no doubt provide you with peace of mind, as you can rest assured knowing you’re in safe hands.

Protect Yourself

Protecting yourself with non lethal weapons can help you to feel more confident in your home, as knowing that you would be able to tackle an intruder with a suitable weapon while you’re with your family can certainly benefit your overall safety.

In many countries and states it’s illegal to carry or store a gun at home, so this is something that you need to look into before you ever consider making such a purpose. There are lots of other non lethal alternatives that will still have a good impact when you’re attempting to defend your property and everyone inside it, such as pepper spray or a low voltage taser. Having a can of pepper spray in an easily accessible place in every room will help you to relax, as you’ll know that you can grab your weapon if ever you find an intruder no matter where you might be.

Make sure that if you do choose to keep any kind of weapons to protect yourself at home, you must keep them in a safe place that your kids cannot access. If your child was to get a hold of a taser then they could inflict serious damage to themself or somebody else, so it simply isn’t a risk worth taking.

Always Lock Your Doors

This might be an obvious rule for some, but you’d be surprised at just how many people choose not to lock their doors.

There are lots of excuses why people don’t lock their doors, whether they say it’s for their children who come and go, or simply due to ease. However, you just cannot put yourself and your family at risk by making such a poor decision in today’s risky world full of dangers. Anyone could walk right up to your home and open the front door to come inside, and you might not be able to prosecute them as it’s not even classed as ‘breaking in’ – the door was open!

You need to take the opportunity to lock your external doors if you want to secure your property. Upgrading your old front door for a newer alternative will likely instantly provide you with a stronger locking system, as modern doors generally tend to lock in several places rather than just once in the middle. Tell your children to knock the door or ring the bell if they want to come in after going out, or leave a key safe that’s protected with a password in a hidden area that they can use to access a key to get inside.

Learning how to protect and defend your property has never been such a simple task!