Home Security News

Security Door Latch Beefs up Your Home's Doors

The other day we talked about door chains and other ways to make your doors stronger against burglars or anyone else who might try to push in. Another way to improve the security of your entrance is with a door latch.

For example, this brass security door latch from Meranto Technology comes with long screws that you anchor to the door frame. 

The door latch can also be attached up high, so young children who can reach the door knob won't be able to get out of the house when no one is looking.  In other words, the same steps you might take to prevent burglars from getting in can be used for child-proofing your home, so no young-uns can get out!

Number Pad Door Lock Means No More Keys

 One of the biggest home security mistakes people (a lot of people!) make is to have a "hide-a-key" located near their door.  Putting a key to your house--where your family lives and most of your worldly possessions reside--three feet from your door just isn't wise.  If you think professional burglars don't know to look under the door mat, above the door frame, or under that little rock next to the path, you're wrong. 

The most obvious fix for this home security problem is not to have a spare key laying around.  If you're truly concerned that someone in the family is going to lose the key and not be able to get into the house, it makes sense to install something like this number pad door lock.

Installing this attractive Schlage Camelot Deadbolt Keypad (or any number pad door lock) means nobody needs to worry about carrying a house key around any more.  Just program in a code, and your door will open up the same way an ATM works. 

This keyless entry system is easily reprogrammed if you decide you don't want the cleaning lady, eldest son who won't move out, etc. not to know the combination any more (a lot simpler than having locks rekeyed!), and it's only supposed to take 30 minutes to install, so it ought to be a simple weekend project. 

Other perks with the Schlage lock (which is available in a number of finishes, so you can get one that matches your door) include illumination for the keypad (so you can see what you're doing at night), a free-spinning keyway to prevent wrench attacks, and a key override system in case you forget the programming code down the line.

This particular number pad door lock costs about $275, though it's on special for quite a bit less at Amazon as I write this:

Schlage Camelot Deadbolt Keypad

Simple Security Door Chain Is an Easy Upgrade

Of all the home security devices you can install in your home, there's not much simpler (or less expensive) than door hardware.  You can get a lot of bang for your buck though.  A security door chain, for example,  adds an extra layer of protection to your exterior doors and is quite inexpensive to purchase. 

Installation doesn't take much time either.  You can easily install door chains on all your exterior doors in an afternoon. 

Door Chain Options

The National Brass Keyed Chain Door Lock costs less than $6.

For more security, consider this upgrade to the basic door chain: a door limiter.  You've probably seen these in hotels; instead of a chain, there's a solid bar which prevents anyone from entering until you unlock it.

These cost about $12: Heavy-Duty Hotel-Style Door Security Lock

For more door security upgrade ideas, check out this article: Beyond Simple Door Locks

Home Inventory Software Is Inexpensive Yet Valuable

If it's been a while since you updated your homeowners insurance, you may have accumulated more goodies since then, making your coverage a bit outdated.  A good way to determine the value of all your belongings is to get some home inventory software and make a big list.

Not only is an inventory a good idea from a home insurance perspective, but it can be helpful in case you ever are robbed.  You'll be able to efficiently go through everything and figure out what is missing so you can make an accurate report to the police.  That's better than realizing you forgot about some things months down the line.

Home Inventory Software Options

When it comes to home inventory software, there are quite a few options, and they are all fairly inexpensive, running about $20 to $30. 

You can get programs that simply load onto your computer, but if you're worried that your computer could be stolen, it may make sense to sign up with an online home inventory program.  In these cases, your list of goods is stored on a server on the Internet, so you'll still have access to your list, even if your computer is swiped.  Online programs tend to be more expensive since you'll pay an annual fee (usually around $30).

Home Inventory Software Programs

Here are a couple of the options on the market:

Everything I Own by mycroftcomputing.com -- $19.95

Homeowner Site at home.ownersite.com -- $29.95 a year (online storage)

Storing Money and Precious Metals in Your Home

With the ongoing threat of bank failures and other crazy economic woes these days, it's not a bad idea to keep some cash on hand (and maybe gold and silver too if you're into investing--AKA hedging against inflation--in precious metals). 

Most of us keep less than $200 in our wallets or purses, since we've become accustomed to simply swiping our ATM cards for "cash" purchases.  But if there were an extended banking holiday (meaning the banks close completely--no ATMs, no access to safe deposit boxes, no checks cashed, etc.), which has happened before and could certainly happen again, that's when you'll be glad you have some money stored at home.

How should you store that money though?  No, you don't want to just stick it under your mattress.

If you've seen the show It Takes a Thief, you know burglars check there (and tear apart everything else to find your not-as-clever-as-you-thought hiding places).

The most secure thing to do is invest in a good home safe, one that is bolted to or even sunken into a concrete basement floor.  Most burglars aren't going to have the time to sit there and figure out how to get into it or how to remove it (the longer they stay in a house, the greater their chances of being caught). 

Please see my article on How to Install an in Floor Safe for more details.  Alternately, you can get a wall safe that is secured to the studs. 

What you do not want is a safe that merely sits on the floor, even if it's a heavy safe.  A burglar isn't going to take the time to crack such a safe--he'll just call in his cohorts, and they'll port that thing out of the house to open at their leisure.

What if you can't afford a safe?

It's much wiser to invest in a safe than simply hiding your money, gold, etc. in hollowed out books or under floor boards and the like, but if you can't afford--or refuse to invest in--a safe, you can follow in the time-honored practice of "midnight gardening."

In other words, bury your valuables in the backyard.  As long as you keep your yap shut about having it back there, it's unlikely anyone is going to roam your premises with a metal detector.  It behooves you to let family members know where it's kept, so your spouse isn't out in the back with a garden trowel looking for your family's life savings after you get hit by a car.

Home Security Important Even in Rural Areas

If you live out in the country, you may feel safe from the crime and dangers of modern city life.  However, the downside of living in a rural area is that your nearest neighbor may be out of earshot.  With houses few and far between, there's nobody to spot nefarious activity going on at your house.  In addition police stations are often farther away and less heavily manned.

In the city, a burglar has to be quiet and quick when trying to crack a safe, but with no need to worry about neighbors hearing, he can bring in heavy equipment to destroy your locks, get into your house, and find and get into a safe. 

"Increased affluence of farm and non-farm populations in rural areas, declines in the number of households with family members at home during the day, and the poor visibility of property between neighbors and from public roads have resulted in increased crime in rural communities.

Like their city neighbors, rural residents tempt criminals with easily 'fenced' items such as jewelry, guns, computers, home entertainment systems and other items found in city dwellings. But rural areas have additional problems such as arson and vandalism of property and theft of high valued farm equipment, crops, and livestock." ~ Delta Farm Press

And since we're entering uncertain economic times, we can expect crime to rise.

So don't let the idea that you're safe because you live in the country keep you from making smart home security decisions.  

Wireless Outdoor Motion Sensor

An outdoor motion sensor can be useful, either for hooking up to indoor/outdoor lights (that will turn on automatically when someone walks onto the property or drives up the driveway at night) or transmitting to a driveway alarm system (that rings a bell or chime when someone comes up the driveway).

You can get a simple outdoor motion sensor for about $20, but you may find it less troublesome to install a wireless sensor, such as this one.

The Optex Wireless Motion Detector costs $90, but you don't have to run any wires to install it, and it is supposed to be a little more reliable (larger sensitivity zone + it stands up well to the elements) than cheaper models I looked at.

Features include an adjustable field of view you can tailor for narrow areas or wide spaces, and it runs on a 9V battery, so it doesn't need to be placed anywhere near an electrical outlet.

You can get the outdoor motion sensor and a driveway alarm or lights at SmartHome:

Optex Long Range Outdoor Wireless Motion Sensor

Affordable DIY Wireless Home Security System?

A home security system has always been a good idea, but now that harder financial times are coming, it may become even more important to protect your valuables--and your family.  While full-fledged, professionally installed and monitored home security systems are expensive, it's possible to get a decent amount of coverage with a do-it-yourself system that you can install over a weekend.

For less than $200, you can get a simple wireless system (wireless units are much easier to install than hard-wired models) that can be up and running in minutes.  Features usually include a couple of door and window sensors, a motion detector, a control panel, and an emergency dialer that will ring you up and let you know when someone has entered your home.

An example is the Skylink SC-1000 Complete Wireless Alarm System, which you can pick up on Amazon for less than $170. 

"This kit comes with a complete wireless security system that can be installed in minutes. With the motion sensor and two door/window sensors, the system covers enough for a decent size house... The emergency dialer AD433S is your own monitoring center without any monthly charges... The Control Panel can control up to 24 different sensors, these sensors include door/window sensor, motion sensor, flood sensor, smoke sensor, temperature sensor, etc. If any of these sensors are triggered when the system is armed, the siren will sound and it will send a wireless signal to the dialer that will call for help at the same time."

How to Install an in-Floor Safe

If you want to store valuables at home, a safe is the best protection.  Even if you have a good home security system, this gives you an extra layer of protection.  What you don't want to do is buy a free-standing safe, which the burglars could simply move out of your house to open on their own time. Instead, get a wall-mounted or in-floor safe. 

These safes are designed to be permanent parts of your home, so no burglar can remove them.  The only way to get in is to know the combination.  This makes them a better security bet than an unsecured safe.

There is a bit of work involved in installing an in-floor safe though.  You may prefer to have a professional assist you, but if you want to do it yourself, here is how:

How to install a floor safe

Procedures differ a bit from manufacturer to manufacturer, but most in-floor safes can be installed in an existing concrete floor by following these steps:

1. Take the door off the safe, and tape the dust cover over the safe opening.

2. Draw the shape of the body of the safe on the floor where it's to be installed, allowing four inches extra width on each side.  (If the safe has a square-body, make the drawing square, regardless of the shape of the safe's door.

3. Use an electric jackhammer to break through the concrete to match your markings, using a shovel to make the hole at least three inches deeper than the height of the safe.

4. Line the hole with plastic sheeting or a weatherproof sealant to help fight moisture buildup in the safe.

5. Pour enough concrete in the hole to form a stable base for the safe to sit on.

6. Put the safe in the hole, make sure its flush and level, and fill in the remaining space with concrete mix.  Use a trowel to level the concrete with the floor.

7. When the concrete is dry, trim away the plastic, and remove any excess concrete.

Models such as the Hayman Polyethylene Floor Safe are available online.

*For information on installing an in-floor safe in a new concrete floor or a wood floor, see this pdf.

Security Screen Doors Can Be Stylish (really!)

When you think of adding security to doors and windows, you might think of those ugly bars you see on storefronts and houses in the bad parts of town, but there are plenty of stylish upscale options when it comes to residential security. For example, you can get laser-cut security screen doors that are attractive enough to add curb appeal to your home.

When I took a look at what is out there in the market, I found the folks at Titan Security.

Their screen doors are "laser cut from a single sheet of architectural grade aluminum," with designs that "provide all the benefits of a Titan security screen door - unsurpassed strength, superior ventilation and incredible rust proof durability - while enhancing the curb appeal of your home."

And it's true--I browsed the designs on their site, and they definitely have some stylish screen door options.

Their doors are custom made to your specifications (you can get them for single, double, and patio doors), and you can even get pet doors integrated into some of the designs. (Hey, you don't want Fido to be inconvenienced just because you're looking to increase your home's security!)