All home security devices work best when they stop problems before they start. While advanced systems have many options for emergency contact and professional monitoring, in the best scenarios those aren’t needed.
It’s common for folks to hit forums like Reddit to ask for home security advice after an attempted break-in, but sometimes there are posts from people who realize that their existing home security solutions aren’t working as well as they thought. You definitely don’t want to be the person who invests in expensive home security hardware just to find out later that the sensors aren’t detecting motion, so it’s important to make sure you have the right security devices, that they’re configured properly and that they’re positioned in the best possible places to deter a break-in.
With the right system and camera settings, important features and proper placement, you can scare away thieves or vandals, let trespassers know you’re watching and stop porch pirates in their tracks. These settings and devices are common, but many homeowners don’t really take advantage of them. Our guide will change that.
Let’s dive into the important basics of what security devices, placement and settings excel at preventing problems, and how you can make real-time decisions when you need to.
1. Set motion detection lights to stun
Floodlights can watch over backyards, driveways and similar spots.
Look for a security camera that’s equipped with a spotlight or floodlights. You can set these lights to trigger via motion detection, and thanks to recent advantages, camera sensors are now smart enough to ignore cars and focus on people, among other useful tricks. The lights will let determined trespassers know that there’s a security system, and even indicate that a camera is currently recording them. That’s a powerful reason to get away if intruders have ill intent!
Remember, apps from popular smart home brands like Arlo, Ring, Blink and many others allow you to set zones and control motion sensitivity so your security lights only turn on when a person gets close, instead of lighting up a dozen times a night.
2. Put up a security system yard sign
Kasa’s very affordable doorbell can keep an eye on all kinds of front door events.
It’s hard to miss a video doorbell when approaching a front door or porch. From Google Nest to Arlo, Ring and Aqara, these doorbell cameras make it obvious that someone’s watching. They come equipped with two-way audio and quick replies that can hold brief conversations, and if visitors recognize a video doorbell, they probably know it’s already sent alerts to the owner about front door activity.
Those qualities make doorbells an excellent method to deter porch pirates and other troublemakers. We also recommend planning for video storage so you have a way to save and download or share video clips when necessary.
4. Use alerts to call an audible
Arming a system with a siren is a great way to scare of trespassers if they get too close.
They aren’t quite as ubiquitous as two-way audio, but many cameras and most home security kits also include sirens. On today’s smart devices you have the option to turn on sirens with the app, or set the siren to sound off when certain kinds of motion are detected and the system is armed. It’s a quick addition you can activate during setup, even for the smallest cams like the Blink Mini 2.
6. Position access sensors on windows and backdoors
Smart lights and vacation modes make your house seem lived in even when you’re not around.
Smart security systems and home cams have an additional feature to help make vacations easier: They have vacation modes and customizable away modes. You can pair these modes with smart lights and set an activity schedule that makes it look like people are still home when you’re away.
Vacation modes like these will turn lights on and off to mimic people getting home in the evening, waking up in the morning and other everyday activities. They can discourage thieves looking for empty homes that make easy targets, and give you extra peace of mind on long vacations. These modes also pair very well with cams that let you take a peek as long as you have a reliable internet connection and access sensors that tell you when something went wrong.
8. Keep your garage closed and locked down
Many burglaries are crimes of opportunity, and one opportunity that can easily attract thieves (and racoons) is a garage door that’s been left open. Consider equipping your garage door with a smart door system that can automatically close the door for you, secure it and remind you if the door is left open for any reason.
These smart garage doors are frequently backward-compatible with existing garages, especially newer models, but you should always check how they work before you buy a new system.
9. Equip your door with a smart lock
Professional home monitoring gives you extra eyes on developing situations.
For the most complete protection, think about adding professional home monitoring to your existing security system. Professional monitoring allows agents to view their alerts and contact emergency responders if necessary, so you don’t have to rely on your own notifications.
These monitoring plans don’t have to be exorbitantly expensive: Arlo’s Safe and Secure Pro plan offers full family monitoring services for $25 per month. Take a look at SimpliSafe’s Fast Protect plan, which offers guides that look at cam live views and use audio to ask questions, for around $30 per month. If you don’t mind the extra expense, monitoring plans can take your home security to the next level.
11. Add a delivery lock box to your porch
Burglaries are crimes of opportunity, and signposting that you have an alarm system installed closes that window of opportunity for anyone looking to burgle your home. Making it obvious that you have a security system installed is enough to deter up to 83% of burglars, according to one survey. This is a simple change that makes a massive difference in your home’s overall security.
