Our homes are a place of rest and relaxation – a retreat from the everyday hustle and grind. We seek comfort in not only furniture and furnishings but also knowing that we are safe and secure in our homes. Smart home security encompasses both security hardware and security practices.
Smart home security accounts for 50% of the smart home market and that number is projected to increase to 56% in the year 2020 [Samsung]. While there are many devices to make your home more secure, they cannot solely guarantee security without putting forth best security practices.
Smart Home Security Practices
A U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation report estimated 1.7 million burglaries and $3.9 billion in property losses in 2014. On average, these victims lost over $2,200 in assets or personal property.
Any crime is made up of three parts: a victim, a criminal, and an opportunity. A simple formula, but if you remove one or more from the equation, you can eliminate a crime or burglary altogether. Making an effort to reduce a burglary opportunity, you can lessen your chances of losing your property. By the way, most burglaries only take 8-12 minutes of time and mediocre burglars can gain access to a property in 60 seconds. Yikes!
Secure and Lock Points of Entry
Locks only keep the honest person out but why make it easy for the not-so-honest criminal? It seems almost too simple to be mentioning yet it can be often overlooked. Securing ALL points of entry is your first line of defense against a home burglar. This includes all doors, windows, or any other access point. Secondary doors, like those between mudrooms and garages, should not be overlooked.
In some regions, it may be popular to leave a window open or cracked over the summer. Doing this allows the cooler breeze to come in and cool down the house. At the same time, this act also creates an opportunity for an unwelcomed guest to pass through just as easily as the breeze.
Avoid Keeping a Second Key Outdoors
This goes along with securing and locking all points of entry. If you went through the time, trouble and effort to keep a criminal out of your house, why leave the key around for them to find and use? Keeping a key under the doormat, in a key rock near the home, or anywhere else around the property gives burglars the access you’ve been trying to deny. You’re better off leaving your door unlocked and open if you choose to do this.
You’re better off leaving your door unlocked and open if you choose to leave a spare key hanging around. Believe it or not, criminals are not as dumb as their acts may lead you to believe. They know what they’re looking for and the common places to look. After all, they’re as human as you are and are able to think as you might. Even if you have a clever hiding place, there are better alternatives such as smart home security door locks.
Arm Your Alarm System
If locks are your first line of defense, an alarm system should be your second. Alarms can not only notify the proper authorities about a home invasion occurrence but neighbors too. Nearby neighbors can hear an alarm sounding an alert and puts extra attention toward your home. They can then provide a description of the suspect when authorities arrive. The best smart alarm systems not only monitor your property for theft but also fire which can also minimize your risk of property loss.
Having a smart home alarm alone does not protect your personal property. Homeowners must actively arm these devices to make sure they are doing their job properly. Whether it’s out of sheer laziness or a lack of time some homeowners just leave their installed alarms alone when leaving the property. Most modern smart home alarms allow you to protect your most precious assets remotely. Turning your smartphone or desktop into the command center of your home monitoring system means there is no excuse for an un-armed system while away.
Don’t Broadcast You’re Not Home
Most burglaries happen during the day between 10am and 3pm when houses are free of their inhabitants. An empty driveway or an overflowing mailbox are signs of inactivity around the property. These signs are like highway billboards that scream “no one is home”.
Facebook and other social media can also create an evident sign that you’re not home. Avoid posting that you’re on vacation or out of town. Indicators like vacation photos, status updates, or location data should not be shared with the world. By keeping your personal life personal you can minimize your risk of becoming a burglary victim.
While you are out, there are a few steps you can take to hide tell-tale signs. Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your property and take care of things like mail, shoveling snow, etc. You can install motion-activated lights outside your home to deter criminal activity. Keep your indoor lights on a timer or sensor as well so you can make it look as if someone is home. It’s best to set these lights up so they go on/off in each room like they normally would when you are home. For example, living room or kitchen lights may be on in the early evening and bedroom or office lights on later in the evening.
Smart Home Security Hardware
Now that we have a grasp on be best home security practices we can take a look at some of the smart home security devices that help implement smarter home security.
Smart Home Door Locks
Schlage and Kwikset have been well respected as a leading manufacturer of door locks and other hardware. They have also entered the smart home security arena with smart deadbolt locks. Most smart locks allow you to lock and unlock your door using your phone’s Bluetooth, phone apps or the web, and the classic physical key. In addition, you can allow users (like family members, friends, or a contractor) to have limited access using a simple code that can be activated and deactivated. For someone who is looking for a really slick smart lock, check out the August Smart Lock.
Related: Best Smart Home Door Locks for 2017
Smart Home Alarm Systems
There are a handful of great smart home security monitoring systems and alarms out there. Check to make sure it offers mobile app integration or at least a web interface to arm/monitor your home’s to offer you the most flexibility. These systems can be installed professionally or by DIY homeowners. You can get started with a kit from SimpliSafe, iSmartAlarm, or VivintSky.
Smart Home Security Lighting
Check back later for more on home security practices and devices in the near future.