Indoor lighting timers can now be connected to a PC and driven by software. That makes possible a much better simulation of real-life usage patterns. That helps create the illusion of someone being home, which helps deter burglars. They simply move on to an easier target.

But lighting placement and illumination levels are equally important. It’s pointless to have a pattern of lights come on to simulate a homeowner sitting down to read if the lights display everything inside the house. Professionals will quickly discover that there is no one home not to mention providing a nice, clear display of all the items available on their ‘menu’.

Outdoor lighting placement and illumination levels are essential as well. Floodlights do a great job of making certain areas bright as day. But that has two potential drawbacks: (1) it tends to obscure your ability to see other portions by shining in your eyes and (2) it creates deep shadows where thieves can hide.

When creating an outdoor lighting design intended to serve home security goals it’s much more important to make the lighting even and at comfortable levels. Corners where bushes might obscure homebreakers should have only soft shadows that will still reveal people. Pathways alongside the house should be illuminated well, but not so brightly that they blind you when trying to see down them.

Energy costs can be kept to a minimum, too, by investing in lighting other than simple incandescent bulbs. Fluorescents used to be the only cost-effective substitute, but no longer. Today, a range of options is available.

Sodium-filled lamps, similar to those used in some street lighting systems are now in a price range that makes them a realistic option for homeowners. They provide a low-level illumination that’s ideal for walkways and corners.

LED lights inside the house provide another very energy-efficient form of lighting. The bulbs are a much higher initial investment, with an average 100-watt equivalent running to as much as $10 or more. But, unlike incandescents which last a year or less, LED bulbs will last 10 years or longer.

They also provide a much more natural spectrum of light, so eye-strain is reduced. And, best of all for home security purposes, switching them off and on doesn’t put any sort of strain on the interior parts. They don’t burn out quicker in high use areas.

When designing a lighting system that will provide your home with increased protection against thieves, look to technology to help.

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A combination of software and hardware can provide video surveillance cameras with intelligent tracking. They can, for example, come on when you leave the home and turn off when you arrive. They can be programmed to follow movements or sounds detected.

Light timers, to choose another example, have been on the market for decades. But in times past these were simple timing devices that turned the lights on at a pre-set time and turned them off at another. With the addition of computer technology, they can now be programmed to switch off and on at random times and days. That adds an extra layer of reality simulation that helps fool the bad guys.

Some systems have the drawback that when the power goes, the system goes. Thieves can easily turn the power off to your home at the street or by flipping off unprotected circuit breakers on a panel on an exterior wall. That can disable any computer, cameras, lights and more that you’ve installed to protect your home.

But that need not be the case. A simple battery backup system, ranging in price from $50 to a few hundred dollars, can provide a few minutes or even a few hours of enough power to keep the PC, and one or two lights and cameras functioning. When thieves see that their scheme to disable your system failed, they are more likely to pick another target. Systems that can be built for a few thousand dollars could power your whole home for hours.

Automation can disable locks at certain hours or under programmable conditions. That means, if you’re not home but the thief has a key, it’s unusable. That key could have been obtained by an unscrupulous babysitter who is a partner to the thief, for example. That leaves them in the (unplanned) position of having to break in. That again increases the odds that they’ll give up and pick a more vulnerable target.

Automated locks can go beyond the traditional key/deadbolt system, though. There are lock systems that work off a combination, which can require a small token only you and family members carry. The combination is changed at random, but synchronized with the token. That means that at any given moment, only you and trusted others have the correct sequence of numbers. 

Such features have been incorporated into alarm systems, as well. Older-design alarm systems, which are still common, work off a special combination. But that information can be obtained by techniques that are common among identity thieves today. Passwords are often written down, where they can be seen by someone willing to do a little spying. But a token-based system changes the combination every minute, making it possible to disarm it only if you have the token.

Look into the ways technology can help you increase the protection of your home. The costs are often very small compared to what you might lose, and can sometimes be offset by reductions in homeowners insurance premiums.

The whole process of home security automation has come so far that it is a fairly simple process, but the security that is provided is unbeatable.  The security of your home and family will no longer be a worry when you have a completely automated system in place.

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Everyone is familiar with the image of a trained Doberman Pinscher or German Shepherd police dog as a guard dog. Certainly, those breeds make excellent guard dogs, when properly trained. They have the size, the temperament and the teeth to keep anyone out. There are others, such as Bull Mastiffs and Rottweilers.

German Shepherds and others can be taught to discriminate between those who are allowed in the home and those who are not. They operate by sight and smell and distinguish not only family members but ‘authorized’ visitors. Friends are greeted with a friendly tail wag, strangers receive a warning growl. Continuing advances by strangers get a bark, followed by a nasty bite if they persist.

Though any dog can be put down by poison or a gun, very few burglars are going to go to that extent. Most, once they become aware of the presence of a guard dog, will simply pick an easier target. There are, after all, plenty to choose from. Larger dogs represent, at least psychologically, a bigger threat and you increase the protection with a specialized dog.

But even much smaller breeds can serve well as guard dogs, provided they’re trained properly and their environment is correctly arranged.

It’s useless to have a dog that barks at everything. Though it might make some burglars nervous, if the owner is used to ignoring the warning because of too many false alarms, the basic purpose is defeated. Training can solve that problem with most breeds. Most dogs can be taught to bark only at likely threats.

Arranging the environment to maximize your guard dog’s effectiveness is equally important. Some stay outside almost all the time. Some are predominantly indoor dogs. Both methods have their pros and cons. But a dog that is allowed both inside and out can cover the entire area.

One key is making access available to the dog, but not potential intruders. Some doggie doors make home intrusion ridiculously easy. A doggie door can allow most breeds access to the outside, for bathroom breaks and to patrol. At the same time, they can usually be made large enough for the dog, but too small for most men.

If you can’t place them far enough away from the door handle to prevent unlocking, consider a two-sided key system deadbolt. That locks the door from the inside, requiring a key to unlock it, not just a twist.

Finish off your guard dog implementation with good signage, properly illuminated. Place clear and well-lit ‘advertisements’ that your home is protected by a guard dog. It isn’t always necessary for the potential thief to see the dog to be warned away. The sign tells them they will encounter one soon enough. Most will take the hint and seek another victim.

Having a guard dog is a big decision, that needs to be weighed carefully because unlike many other home security options, you will be required to care for the dog for the long run.  But, getting a guard dog can add much security to a home so it is definitely worth the effort.

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Driveway alarms can help to provide those benefits.

Most work by placing infrared sensors at appropriate spots on the house, beside the driveway entrance, on the gates, or in the yard. Those are connected to a transmitter that sends a signal to a receiver in the home. Other types emit a dark green light. In either case, a ‘light wire’ is tripped when a vehicle or person interrupts the beam. Still others use a pressure-sensitive tube in the driveway surface. A magnetic probe type can signal the arrival of a large metal object, such as a car or truck.

But whatever the underlying technology, the purpose and function is the same: to alert on the arrival of someone at the home. That allows detection long before the visitor has reached the house. That can be useful for more than just intruder detection, since it can alert residents to innocent package deliveries or workmen.

Contemporary systems are often accompanied by a motion detector. That enhances the system, adding the ability to detect human movement, even when someone may step over the driveway beam. The range varies from about 800-1200 feet from the transmitter, providing coverage for a wide area.

Systems come in a variety of levels of sophistication and features. It costs a bit more, but many have an intercom system. That makes them more useful for distinguishing between expected visitors and those who arrive unannounced.

Adding a video camera, a much less expensive option today than in the past, adds yet another useful layer. Seeing the person and their vehicle makes possible the safest level of discrimination between friend and (potential) foe. It can also provide identification in case an intruder is apprehended and tried in court.

Additional useful features can be added to some systems. When you arrive at home, tripping the alarm, it’s possible to have the garage door open, or house lights come on or even the front door unlock automatically.

Some systems come with a battery backup option that keeps the system functioning during a power outage. That’s beneficial when an intruder disables your power system before driving a vehicle past the alarm.

There are several other features one might look for, such as waterproof transmitters, sound volume control, do-it-yourself installation, connection to a home PC network and others. But the most important is the ability to discriminate objects well. False alarms, such as children riding bicycles, dogs running by could drive you crazy very quickly. That would make the system useless.

Check out the many available driveway alarm systems available today. You’ll wonder how you ever got along without one.  You will feel much safer knowing that you will always know exactly when someone is driving up to your home.

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Just being able to see that you have a set of video surveillance cameras will motivate most thieves to seek an easier target. It’s a sign that the homeowners have taken steps to secure their home, and they know the cameras are likely to be only one aspect of a total plan.

Video cameras give you a real-time view of what is going on outside (and, if installed, inside) the home. That helps alert you to any suspicious activity, such as some stranger casing your house for later illegal entry. It also allows you to record both sound and visuals for later playback. That helps if someone decided to take the risk anyway. Many thief has been convicted on the strength of identification made by a video recording.

Systems come in two basic types: covert and overt. Hidden and in plain view. The overt type is discussed above and provides a means of warding off potential break-ins. The covert type serves two purposes. One aspect is the basic function provided by visible system - to view, record and playback. The other provides an additional function that is sometimes useful.

Not all burglaries are done by a stranger breaking into your home. Some are carried out by gardeners, housekeepers, babysitters and other hired individuals to whom you’ve entrusted access to your home. It’s less common. Most are just hard-working individuals like you. But it does happen.

If advertised, but not displayed, a covert system can serve the purpose of an overt one by discouraging the crime in the first place. If they don’t know where the devices are, they may well decide to leave everything alone.

Systems vary in price and sophistication. Some are essentially simple camcorders of the type you might use to record the kids, but mounted inside or outside the home. Most add the ability to remote monitor anything the camera has within view. That monitoring could be inside the home, at a professional company or even to your PC at work.

Others of more recent design can be connected to a PC where increased functionality becomes available. Software on the PC can control movement, provide additional storage space for longer recordings, edit the recordings, turn the devices off and on at programmable times and more.

You might not want, for example, to be recorded inside or outside at times you are home. Even though it’s your system, it can reduce your sense of privacy. You may want to turn it off when you know it isn’t needed. But automating the process allows you to not forget to turn it back on when, say, you leave the house. It can be programmed to turn on when you open and close the front door.

Still more sophisticated systems may include motion detectors, or start the camera when motion or sound is detected and other features.

Technology can help protect your home like never before. Systems can start at very inexpensive and range up to a much more costly. Which one is right for you depends on your level of vulnerability, the value of what you have to protect and other individual circumstances. Check out some possible solutions for your own home security surveillance today. You’ll breath easier knowing you have done everything you can to protect your home and loved ones.

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In a complex of any size, management will usually take on the responsibility of providing security, at least in general. They will sometimes hire private guards. But even when they don’t, in the majority of cases they take some efforts to see that the grounds are secure. That helps them, of course, since a secure environment makes the complex a more desirable place to live.

But most will not concern themselves with individual security as, realistically, they just aren’t able to do this. There are typically just too many units to protect individually. They may have fences, even alarm systems, but only for the perimeter and selected buildings. They can’t afford to look after each apartment or condo.

That means the responsibility for security rests on the shoulders of those who are most directly concerned: the tenant. Fortunately, there are a great many things that can be done inexpensively to take care of your individual safety needs.

The obvious involves such things as keeping windows and doors locked. Most complexes won’t allow installing an individual alarm system, but fortifying entrances with proper locks, window bars and so forth can certainly be done. Sometimes the expense will be a joint effort. Other times it is up to the tenant alone. But the expense and effort are well worth it, since it’s the tenant’s possessions and safety at issue.

Behavior plays a large part in personal security, and that can be carried out in a complex at least as easily as in a neighborhood. A neighborhood watch program can be developed within an apartment or condo setting. In many cases, this is easier to carry out in that situation than in a housing tract. There are more people around during all hours, typically, and the view is often more open.

Personal behavior plays a part, too. Don’t admit strangers through the gate, ‘as a favor’, even if they give you the name of a neighbor. Walking to and from the garage or parking area at night or when there is no one else around is a concern. Walking with keys or pepper spray cannister in hand is a reasonable precaution for most women. Being aware of the surroundings is wise for everyone.

Just as with a house, don’t admit strangers unless they’re from reputable companies you do business with regularly. They may decide to come back later when you’re not there. Or, worse, when you are. Take a peek through the peephole and require identification. Thieves may go to the trouble to disguise a vehicle, but they rarely carry proper ID cards, since they don’t expect to be asked.

Lastly, whenever possible, consider security when selecting an apartment to rent or condo to buy. After moving in it is usually too late to get the owners to change locks, improve lighting or repair a gate lock. But beforehand, you may have some leverage. It may require going with another choice. Weighing the options of where to live can be difficult, but security considerations should be high on the list.

In the end, it is your own responsibility to ensure that your living space is safe and secure.  Take the time to make your home safe, and get to know your neighbors so that you can all watch out for one another as well.

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Start by thinking of your home from the perspective of the potential thief. Walk around the outside and try to spot weaknesses, possible points of entry, areas where a housebreaker can gain undetected access. Scale back bushes that can serve as camouflage. Think about the unprotected glass that is low to the ground.

Then, perform the same review at night. Consider the lights and shadows around your home. Think about any pathways that a stranger can walk down unheard and unseen. Consider the curtains and shutters that are open, allowing a well-lit view of the interior downstairs.

Start inexpensively by addressing the basics that cost little or nothing. A sturdy wooden or metal dowel can bar a sliding window. Good bolt locks won’t keep out every professional, but they’ll slow down many amateurs seeking that status. Make reciprocal arrangements with the nearby neighbors to watch their place, while they watch yours.

Burglars look for easy targets. Targets are much easier when there’s no one home. Fooling them into thinking you’re home can be as simple and inexpensive as installing a few timers around the house. A light on all the time, especially during the day, makes it obvious that no one is home. But lights, stereos and TVs that go on at random times simulate normal use. A dozen can be installed for under $100 dollars and often much less.

There are many home security systems that cost about a dollar a day. That’s pretty low ‘insurance’ against what could be a very expensive loss. Having one will also sometimes lower your actual homeowner’s insurance premiums. Many can be installed without professional assistance. Several have low-cost battery backups so they still function during a power outage (natural or burglar-induced).

Go a step beyond the minimum. Many security systems will alert when a door or window is opened while alarmed. But a cheap glass cutter could make the whole system useless. Consider a type that has a vibration sensor or cut detector. Look into an upgrade that offers motion detection.

No system is foolproof. But making the effort to implement some simple, low cost solutions can improve your odds tremendously.  Take the time to protect your home - your investment of time and money will be more than worth it in the long run.

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