External Home Security Options:4selfdefence

There’s nothing more important than your safety, the main focus of this section is to understand the external security measures available to safe guard your living premises. 

Boundary Fence: In your home the boundary fence is your second line of defence.  When choosing a fence, there are many options to choose from. First, consider what practical function you wish the fence to serve. Things to take into consideration are privacy, security and decorative. Fences that are solid, with no visual into your property provide cover for a burglary, so it is wiser to install fences that provide a clear line of site to your windows and doors.

Yard: your yard is the third line of defence. Robbers, thieves or burglars will pick an easy target; your aim should be to make your home a hard target. If they see a greater risk than they anticipated, they move onto a softer target.

Landscaping and Yard Security: 

Burglars are looking for a home they can get in and out of quickly without being seen. The more time they spend in your home the more chance of getting caught. Their best target is a home surrounded by tall hedges and shrubs, which restricts visibility from the street and neighboring houses.

It is advisable to trim your shrubbery and trees so that your doors and windows can be seen from the street and by your neighbors. Don’t provide a hiding place for a burglar. If you have more than one floor, prune trees away from the upper floor windows and make sure any trellises won't provide a convenient ladder to gain entry to the upper floors.

All planting close to the sidewalk, driveways, doors or gates, should be kept to approximately 75 centimeters. As you move further away from the sidewalk you can increase the height but keep it down to no more than a meter and any plants under the window should be kept below the windowsill. Trees should have their lower branches trimmed to at least 2.5 meters off the ground.

You should also keep your lawn trimmed regularly, as an uncut lawn will indicate to a potential burglar that you have been away from your home for some time.

Plant spiny (thorny) plants along fences and under windows, and on border fences, rose bushes are ideal. Protecting your home with spiny plants is as good as using barbed wire.

Make sure your house number can be seen easily from the street. This can save time for the police and emergency services if they need to find your home. It is best to use numbers made of reflective materials, or alternatively black on white, they should be at least 12 centimeters high so you can see them from the street. The number should also be illuminated and near the front door, letter box or the garage entrance.

Limiting Access to Yards and Store Rooms: The main objective burglars are looking for is an obstruction free and speedy exit. Fences will stop burglars from carrying away your larger processions. Gates should be locked at all times! Make sure that any ladders and tools are stored in a garage or storage shed, and these should be locked when not in use. To further increase security, you should chain your ladder to the wall of the garage when not in use.

Motion Sensor Lights: Motion sensor lights (outside) is your fourth line of defence. There are many outdoor sensor security lights available. There are wireless and wired sensors light that will fit any budget. Sensor lights should be place around doors, windows and any secluded areas in your yard. These lights will activate when any activity is detected and will deter any would be burglar while you are at home or away.

Motion lights are also convenient for the family. They will light the area on arriving home, and will enhance your vision of the area as well as assisting you with the entry into your home.

If you are away from your home, it will be protected because the lights come on bright all over your yard and anywhere they are pointed. You can feel safer knowing everyone can be seen. It is proven fact that homes with motion sensors have less crime than those that do not.

Security lights save money. You do not have to have your lights on all day or night. They will come on only if some one enters your yard.

Security Doors and Screens: 

Security doors and screens are your fifth line of defence. There are some very fashionable products these days that will not make your home “unattractive” to the eye. Regardless of which option you choose, you should always keep security doors and screens locked, even when you are at home.

Security screens:

Usually made from a steel mesh that is strong enough to withstand attack, and using such screens means that you can eliminate the need for bars or grilles. This is great if you have views that you don’t want to be blocked and security screens will also keep insects out. They come in a wide range of options including fixed, sliding, hinged or retro-fit to ensure that they will work with whatever window systems you have already installed, or maybe thinking of installing. Another advantage is that you can leave windows open.

Security Doors: 

In recent times, security doors have evolved from the traditional  metal doors. Now, you are able to have your security door set into solid wood frames so that they look like timber. You can also have your door custom-designed to perfectly fit in with the look of your home (heritage, modern, colonial, etc) and they come in a range of colors. A good quality door should have three locks – one for the top, middle and bottom of the door. This is so that a potential intruder cannot simply bend the door to gain entry. For this same reason, the door should also have three hinges. The door should meet the Australian Standards and be professionally installed. If you have an aluminum door, it should have 7mm mesh and if you have a steel door, the bars should be 10-12mm square.

Security Grills: 

Security grills should be constructed of solid aluminum or steel. This  provides maximum security and looks great. It is important to ensure that some of your grills are hinged so that you are able to exit your home in emergencies. Also, many manufacturers will have a quick release locking system fitted to the grill so that it can be removed in case of fire. Grills can be fitted to brick, concrete, timber or aluminum window frames and can be either internal or external. They are substantially better security-wise and provide much more protection than window locks alone. Security grills are useful in that you can leave the window itself open to allow ventilation but still be secure, especially in the more vulnerable areas of your property.

If you do not want the look of a grill, you can opt to install security bars that are custom-designed to suit your home, whether traditional or modern.

Note: The five layers of self defence are complete for the outside of the house, it is important that you get these in place as these would possible take care of most would-be robbers and thieves. Next we will look at safe guarding the inside of the premise.