Your home should be one of the places you feel safest. Unfortunately, for some, that is not the case. This can be due to the general fear of criminal activity or concerns regarding those you live with. These feelings are valid and deserve our attention as we explore safety and security. In this module, we’ll discuss ways you can protect your home from unwanted guests, use technology and other strategies to help deter criminals, and general tips for staying safe at home. Let’s dive right in!
Intent, Mindset and Psychology of a Criminal
Let’s start the conversation of home safety and security by discussing the mindset and psychology of a potential criminal. We first must understand what criminals look for when determining their target. You may have already attended a STRIVE4You workshop or read our module on the aggressor and aggressive behavior which is excellent information with which to begin this conversation. This section will focus specifically on criminals entering your property or home to commit a crime.
Did you know that burglars typically observe many factors of a home well in advance of breaking in? They do! In some ways it is like shopping for what looks appealing to them. In fact, most will drive through the neighborhood weeks prior and pick their potential target or targets. They will observe your home from afar many days before they decide it is the one for them. Law enforcement learn the psychology and methods of criminals by interviewing them while incarcerated to gain perspective. Some factors a burglar considers are:
- How active is the neighborhood? Areas where traffic is high, whether that be walkers with or without their dogs, joggers, or automobiles, might momentarily give them cover as they case the joint but also raises the likelihood of being seen or caught. Also, are there a lot of kids playing in the neighborhood or observant neighbors sitting on the porches or peeking out windows?
- Are there cameras around? Street, commercial business, or personal home cameras will certainly cause a criminal to rethink the area.
- What is the quality of the neighborhood? Let’s face it, the higher the quality of the houses and the cleaner the neighborhood appears can potentially tell a lot about the property owners and, yes, the potential quality of the contents inside the houses. Criminals also consider security. Typically, higher-end homes have home security systems, more sophisticated locks, and more sturdy windows and doors.
- What obstacles might a burglar have to overcome? A fence, a dog, several locks on the door, or a visible sign of a security system are all things they want to be aware of before entering a home.
- Do the owners have routines? You may not realize that these unwanted guests are more than likely watching to see who is in your home and the comings and goings of your neighbors. They are trying to establish when someone will be home. If they are coming for your stuff, they don’t want to be interrupted.
Remember, criminals want to get in and out with the least amount of trouble or effort as all these things raise the chances of being caught or reported. Also, an unfortunate rule of thumb law enforcement cites is that if a criminal enters your home during the day or early evening, they are more than likely coming for your property. If they are coming in the middle of the night, it is personal and they are coming for you or someone in your home. It might not paint a very pretty picture, but knowing this information can help you better prepare to protect yourself and your family.
The Perimeter
Thinking about the perimeter of your home in the same way you think about your safe zone or personal bubble will allow you to better understand how important protecting the perimeter of your home and property can be. This is not just a way to start from the outside and work our way in regarding home safety; it is truly the first line of defense at home. The key here is to stop potential threats before they even get to your front door.
Let’s think about this in the sense of a fortress. A fortress typically has multiple layers such as a wall or gate, then any number of defenses such as guard dogs, land mines, or alarms before you reach the front door. To be clear, STRIVE4You is in no way advising you should plant land mines or any kind of traps in your yards. We just want you to think about your home as a fortress of safety. We want you to think of the perimeter of your home using a two-layer approach, outer and inner perimeters.
Outer Perimeter
First, let’s look at that first layer of defense: the outer perimeter. The most obvious deterrents are physical ones. One thing you will learn through your firsthand training is what we jokingly refer to as “putting up da-fence.” Simply described, it is a technique where your hands are placed with palms facing out in front of your face and body. In this way, you are creating a perimeter and setting physical boundaries.
The same goal can be achieved by installing a chain link, iron, or wooden fence around your property. This sets clear physical boundaries for your home, while also providing safer areas for your children or four-legged friends. You should confirm with your local codes department for specific requirements and ensure any privacy fences are of sufficient height and not installed near a terrain rise or object that can be mounted to climb over the barrier. Chain link fences need to be pulled taut so the mesh spacing does not serve as hand or toe holes for climbing. Spikes can be added to the top, much like some iron fences, for added protection. You could also include a second layer just inside the first to make it that much more difficult to access your home. No matter the material you use, make sure the post hardware is holding it together, and the gates are all securely in place to lend to the sturdiness of your fortification.
Never install a security fence that could easily conceal a would-be intruder, as this can be counterproductive. A wood fence, for example, would be better to install in a sturdy palisade style (with spaces between the boards), which allows more visibility than a close board fence. You could also consider an electric fence. Receiving an electric shock on contact with your fencing would be an immensely powerful deterrent to a potential intruder, however, it might not be so pleasant if your in-laws come over for a surprise visit. Then again….
Making your home security fence efficient and yet somehow pleasant to look at can be a challenge when implementing some of these suggestions. After all, you want your home to provide you and your family with a comfortable, welcoming feeling in addition to privacy and security. So, a suggestion to achieve this effect might be to soften the look of a sturdy metal fence you could hide or accent it with a natural green hedge, for example. Again, certainly check with your local building authority for guidelines and restrictions, but if done right, your fencing can add value to your home while helping to beef up the perimeter!
Now, here are a few technology tricks for you! No matter what section of Safety & Security you’re talking about, we want to know as much information about the person entering our space at the earliest possible moment. This is practicing good situational awareness. So, one low-tech way we can achieve this is to place loud bells on to the gate doors. The idea here is to force the person entering your property to announce themselves as they enter. This method does have some downsides to it, such as if the bells are not fastened on the door properly, they could be taken off or could be put on too loose, causing them to falsely sound off when the wind blows them.
Another low-tech item are slide bolt locks added to wooden gates. You do not want them too close to the top where they could be opened from simply reaching over the gate. If you can install multiple ones, this would be more effective. A medium tech solution might be to add contact sensors to your entrance gates. These sensors can do several things to indicate someone has breached your perimeter. Some examples might include triggering a routine or announcement through your smart home device, sending alerts to your phone, turning on outside lights, and triggering your home security systems. Our Safety Education Specialist will cover how to set up these systems in advanced modules, video series, or workshops.
Now let’s look at some visual deterrents. Many intruders are looking for clues to tell them how difficult the home will be to get in and out of undetected. There are a few things you can do around the outside perimeter to deter them. For instance, if you do have a security system in your home, typically on insolation, you are offered a yard sign or some window stickers that indicate that you are protected and monitored by a security company. You can always call them up and order more if you need them. It is free for the public. And if you don’t have a security system, you can go online and find some. Place a sign firmly in your yard where it is clearly visible. The stickers can go on both windows and doors. Again, put them around the perimeter of your home from the inside to ensure they don’t fall off. Make sure something is visible on all four sides of your home.
You can also purchase and place outside your home a “Beware of Dog” sign even if you do not own a dog. These signs can deter people from entering your yard. Unfortunately, it might give the mail carrier or other delivery personnel a moment of pause to approach as well! This trick typically works best when the sign is hanging on a fence as opposed to an open yard. With all our tips, especially this one, you’re going to have to evaluate your own situation since we know from our own personal experiences that getting deliveries is a common occurrence these days.
Did you know that indications of children might just have a potential intruder thinking twice about entering your home? That is right! As any parent will tell you, children are unpredictable — especially small ones. Criminals want to try and control the situation as much as they possibly can. Control is everything for them because when things get unpredictable and out of their control, there are too many factors that could lead to capture. So even if you don’t have children, having a toy or two setting around on the porch or in plain sight could help.
Inner Perimeter
Let’s look at your inner perimeter. Think of the exterior of your house as your secondary perimeter. In this section, we want to talk about several things that can protect or alert you to danger.
First, the security system. Home security systems are constantly evolving with technology and affordability. These were once circuit based, easy to trigger, and quite expensive. It is still true that a good security system will cost you, at least initially, but it does not have to break the bank. Typically, you will purchase the equipment upfront, and then have the choice of either a monthly monitoring fee or to self-monitor.
Where you live and personal preferences might influence the type of home security system you want for your home. If you are in the city, this might differ from living out in the country. Living in the city, you will more than likely want cameras or motion detectors on the inside. And if you were in a more suburban or rural setting, your cameras would face outside or both.
Security systems lend options for both outside your home and inside. Some additional tools you might consider include motion-sensing flood lights. The sudden surprise of a dark yard suddenly becoming as bright as day will theoretically send a burglar running. Plus, the bright lights might also bring attention to your situation by neighbors or passersby. And let’s face it, another important use of ground or porch lighting is simply for physical safety for your family or guests to light the path.
Some lights come with cameras that are also triggered by motion. These can record what is going on or can just be utilized by someone in the house to watch the action. The mere presence of a camera can be enough to have a potential intruder saying, “Never mind!” Remember, that for best protection, place these strategically to maximize their efficiency. You can hire a professional to install them, or you can purchase easy-to-install systems that only take minutes to set up. But do your research. If this is a route you are interested in pursuing, understand that there are a lot of options out there. Choose one that has accessibility access.
Along these same lines, you also have the option to install a doorbell camera. In the last few years, the doorbell devices have grown in popularity. These devices can allow you to view or talk with whomever is at your front door even when you are not there. It is motion activated, and notifications can be sent to your phone or home smart devices such as Google Home, Amazon, Fire, and more. Lots of people like doorbell devices because they allow the user to know for sure who is at the door without having to open it.
Doorbell cameras are a safe technology that can even be used away from home. This is important because, remember, criminals more than likely are monitoring your home before they make their move. This might include ringing the doorbell to see if anyone is home. If you have one with an intercom system like the Ring Door Bell Pro for example, you can speak to them through that and pretend that you are at home, rather than enjoying a nice romantic night on the beach!
One last, but important, step to take around your inner perimeter is to ensure all openings are locked and monitored. This includes doors, windows, and the one that is forgotten more times than not, the basement or crawl space doors. Locking them is crucial, but you can also arm them with things that can notify you or trigger your alarm system. A window or door sensor can tell you both when a window or door is open using auditory announcements or chimes from the base unit or keypad. They can even be programed to let you know if it was left open so you can quickly shut and lock it in security.
If you don’t have a security system, you can set it up to work with your smart home device to make an auditory announcement. Now, that is one way to prevent teenagers from being able to sneak out! And the best thing is, these sensors are super easy to install in seconds. Again, our Safety Education Specialist will be covering this further in future workshops and video series.
Interior Home Safety
Now, let’s break down safety within the walls of your home into several sections. First, let’s continue the discussion regarding unwanted intruders. The first key thing to think about from within your home is the exterior areas of entry into your home. Let us explain so that you don’t think we have lost our mind here! What we are talking about is doors, windows, and locks. Yes, you can have these things, but if they are not strong, durable items, they will not do much in the way of security. So, make sure you have sturdy front and back doors as well as windows. Typically, the thicker the better.
Start with your screen door, if you have one. Having a lock on it is essential. Admittedly, they sometimes can be rather flimsy, but even having one can add another level of difficulty to entering your home. But the most important thing is to remember to lock it! Do you leave the window up on the screen door to let air into the house on a nice spring or fall day? Well, some of us do as well. The problem lies in not remembering to close them. A screen-door with no glass and only screen mesh is so easy to rip through to gain access to the door’s lock. Keep that in mind.
The locks on your front door are just as important as the lock on the screen door. Did you know that many locks on doors are not properly mounted for security purposes? Most locks come with half inches, or 3/8-inch mounting screws to hold the faceplates and lock into place. Replacing these screws with longer woodscrews will help firm up what is typically a very weak point in any exterior door. This is true for both the doorknob and turn bolt locks.
Do you have a turn or dead bolt lock? You should! Most people do these days, and this adds another essential layer of safety to your door. A slide chain, barrel or slide lock, or peg lever lock, like those that are found on many hotel room doors, are great additions to add additional safety, and can better help secure the integrity of your door toward its top section.
Electronic or smart locks have both advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that most can be controlled by your smart home assistant or security system. Padlocks are great for external buildings and crawl space doors as well. Whether it is a door or window, lock and make sure they are of good quality and are always in working order. And we will say it again, and probably repeatedly, locks do not have a chance of working if they are not locked!
Home security systems are great to protect the exterior part of your home. However, security systems have come a long way, and can do a lot more within your home to help keep your family safe. There are interior cameras that you can purchase and easily add to your monitoring system. But what if someone gains access to your interior camera to spy on your personal space? If you have these concerns, we understand and acknowledge that they are valid. One solution could be to get a simple motion sensor. Strategically placing these in potentially vulnerable spots in your home can help trigger notifications and alarms. Interior safety technology like cameras and motion detectors can be programed to only work when you leave your house, adding an additional layer of safety.
We must talk about some of our favorite friends, smart home assistants. Alexa, Echo, Google Home, or any of those other lovely smart devices are not only inexpensive, but have lots of wonderful safety features. You can use them for all sorts of things. Did you know you can set it up to assist you with your home security? Many of these devices have the option to listen if a window breaks, or detect smoke, carbon monoxide, and even flooding. These devices also interact with some home security systems and allow you to control your home security by voice from anywhere. You can even set up routines to set and disarm your alarm at certain times or use one keyword such as “goodbye” to start a huge number of security task such as turning off and on lights, locking doors, and arming alarms. Lastly, we think it is very important to point out that these smart assistants can help you call police and send SOS messages to important contacts to alert them that you’re in distress. You can even activate whisper mode so that when you whisper to the device, they will whisper back, allowing you to have the device signal the authorities quietly if the situation calls for it.
It used to be that panic buttons for medical emergencies were the growing fad for seniors and those with disabilities. In fact, they have become a bit of a running joke, especially among those millennial babies. However, panic buttons should not be considered a joke as they certainly have their place in personal and home safety. A key ring, a bracelet, or a necklace with one of those buttons could be the reason why you get help when you need it!
Then we have “fancy” smart watches. These devices can pair to your favorite smart device and notify you if your blood pressure or heart rate is a concern, for example. These modern wonders let you know you need to take a moment to stretch, drink your water, or send a friend a funny face. They can even call 911 and send SOS alerts out to emergency contacts for you, if needed. Smart watches can be invaluable for personal safety, both in and outside the home.
Deliveries & Answering the Door
Home deliveries are a common occurrance these days, and with so many options for fast food, groceries, and package deliveries, it is quite a convenience option. However, home deliveries also offer the opportunity for someone to enter your home or take advantage of you. Remember, every time you open your door, you weaken your home defenses. We want to give you a few tips here to limit that exposure to potential danger.
If you are expecting a delivery, designate an area for packages where you have a line of sight, if that applies, and can get in and out as quickly as possible. Contactless delivery methods may both reduce your exposure to viruses and bacteria, while also adding some protection from individuals who wish to gain access to you or your home. One tip our Co-Executive Director Christy utilizes is to have a small wagon outside the door for groceries and deliveries to be placed in. When she has established that the items have been delivered and the delivery person has left, she simply pulls the wagon in. This makes only one trip outside necessary, which in returns limits her exposure. Convenience and safety all in one!
The most important thing here is to under no circumstances, leave that door once you are back in without locking it first. Turning your back even to a seemingly empty porch or a shut door does not eliminate the potential risk that an intruder will not take advantage of that opportunity. A good lock is a locked lock! See, we did it again!
Danger from Within
There is a side of home security and safety that is uncomfortable on so many levels. First, domestic violence between spouses, life partners, family members, and others happens way too often these days in America. As we learned in our Understanding Safety Module, twenty people are physically abused every minute in the United States, according to the data collected in the National Intimate Partner & Sexual Violence Survey. And so many of these crimes are never reported for one reason or another, which we address in other SEED modules. If you are being abused physically, sexually, mentally, or emotionally please reach out to someone to get help. You deserve so much more and there are so many people who honestly want to help.
Consider safety factors that relate to disability, rather than abuse. If you live with someone such as family or roommate(s) that do not understand your disability, they can unknowingly create unsafe living conditions. This might include moving things in your pathway or where you cannot find or reach them, leaving drawers and cabinets open, and numerous other things that could cause personal safety concerns. The answer? Have a heart-to-heart with the people you live with. Or possibly several! Yes, we understand it is very awkward. However, talking is an immense help.
If you live with other people, you are going to have to have a conversation about the things in your home that make you feel unsafe. Whether your concern is that the stairs are not stable, or people leave cabinet doors open so you smash your head into it are all valid concerns to bring up. If you don’t live with others, you can have this conversation with a property owner if there is something they can do to fix stairs that may scare you to death. Advocating for yourself is extremely hard for some people, and it can feel awkward. However, it is vital to your safety that you express when things concern you or make you feel uncomfortable. Many times, especially in these situations, your housemates may not realize they are causing safety concerns until you tell them. In fact, they may need gentle reminders from time to time.
One approach you might use is to give your housemates a glimpse into a day in the life of a person with your disability. If you are visually impaired or blind, have them wear a blindfold to bed one night with the rule that for the next 24 hours, they cannot remove it. If you are a person in a wheelchair, perhaps confine them to a rolling chair and not allow them to stand at all.
All of our STRIVE4YOU instructors go through similar disability awareness training prior to being certified in their particular program. Seeing the situation from your perspective hopefully will make them more aware of your challenges and get a realistic understanding of how they can play a more positive role. Advocating and people understanding is a crucial factor in maintaining good physical and mental safety!
Weapons in the Home
A logical conversation when it comes to home safety and potential invasions is the use of weapons. You have every right to defend yourself from an intruder into your home including by using a weapon. Laws are different in every state, so certainly do your homework. We here at SEED certainly understand the concept of giving every available resource to you when it comes to Safety and Security. Keep this in mind though: there are many things inside your home that can be used as a weapon against an intruder, but they can also be used against you!
Let’s think about where to keep a weapon and what can be used. Most professionals in the field will tell you to keep a potential weapon in every room of your home. This may be a gun, knife, bat or pipe, or several other things. Having something relatively easy to reach allows you to move quickly to be in a better position to protect yourself.
If you have children, you must also think of their safety. You already know they are mischievous and will explore. Keep firearms concealed in a locked drawer or something like that. Hiding a pocketknife around the home is a better idea than an open bladed knife. Just as with walking around within the community with Mace, pepper spray, or a Taser, practice using it to help ensure you have control and can operate it outward toward the attacker. A child that gets ahold of these types of items probably does not have that type of education, so talking to them is a good idea as well.
If you have things strategically placed, it might be a good idea to not only check every so often to make sure they are still accessible and in working order, but to communicate with any family members or roommates not to move them. And if you don’t live alone, make sure open communication is established to prevent cases of mistaken identities. You do not want to harm them just because you mistook them for an intruder!
Run, Hide, Or Fight
With all, if anyone enters your home either to rob you or to commit a violent crime against you, and you are at home, it is more than likely going to get very real, very fast! If you surprise the person, they may become agitated, panicked, desperate, and turn to violence even if that was not their initial intent. And as we said before, the unpleasant truth is they may be there to personally attack you. Either way, you will have to quickly decide to run, hide, or fight. The first two will require you to create as much distance with as many physical barriers between you and the intruder as possible. Sound every alarm you can, whether it is a panic button on you, your home security alarm, or making a call to the police. Stay calm, quiet, and don’t forget to breathe.
If you choose to fight, you must do everything in your power and use whatever weapons you can to defend yourself. A home invasion has a higher risk of physical or sexual assault than out on the street. Remember, the privacy you enjoy in your home could provide some sense of privacy to the intruder as well. Additionally, if the intent is to remove you from your home, they already have a predetermined plan and statistically this lowers your chances of survival drastically. So in either case, make lots of noise and fight like hell!
We know we have presented a lot in this module. And to be honest, there is so much more we could cover and expand upon. We will, you can be very certain of that as we want to be very thorough. This module was only meant as a foundation with the intent of more advanced modules and workshops to come! However to review, please keep these key takeaways regarding home safety in mind.
- Routines/Habits – If you’ve ever had the honor of meeting a veteran, you know they are creatures of habits. They are always creating routines and religiously following them. When you develop good routines and habits, it can help you feel safe and secure at home. What do we mean? Get into the routine of locking your door before bed. Place items so you know where they are at any time. These are also super helpful when it comes to mental health. As much as we may not want to admit it, we like our routines and habits. They certainly have their place and usefulness when it comes to home security.
- Setting yourself up for success – Take the time to go around your house or apartment regularly and check the high-risk areas. Elevated risk areas can include but are not limited to windows that can be left open or unlocked and doors without a secure lock or surface plates. If you have a garage, reestablishing that it shuts and stays secure. If you have a yard or exterior buildings such as a shed, secure the items that are in the yard and ensure that your shed is properly locked.
- If you choose to have a fence around your property to secure the perimeter, make sure it is always sturdy, properly locked or armed, and cannot easily be climbed over.
- Use technology to not only give you the earliest indication that someone is approaching, but to help strengthen your security outside and inside your home.
- Have some way to effectively and quickly call for help and bring attention to your distress. Flashing bright lights, loud sirens, distress buttons, and other technology that can send out SOS alerts are all great usage of technology in home safety.
- Communication is so very important in safety. Talking with your housemates can help you avoid potential safety hazards around the home and give great insight to your life to help others gain perspective.
- If you are being abused or put into unsafe living conditions, reach out to someone for help. You are such an asset to your family, friends, and community, even if you do not realize it yet. You never know who you are a positive influence on, and no one has the right to harm you!
- If you choose to have weapons around the home, do so responsibly. Having a weapon comes with lots of obligations. Make sure that the people you live with are are aware of those items you have around the house. If there are children around, educate and protect them from unnecessary harm!
There are lots of things out there that can help you live safely at home. Some are simple tips and tricks, and others are both low- and high-level technology that can be extremely valuable. There is something out there to fit anyone’s needs, concerns, and budget. You should always have a safety plan in place that outlines strategies, tools, and action steps to help you have peace of mind as you relax in your own personal castle. Most of all, practice that plan regularly to ensure you have the highest percentage of success, surviving any potential threat to life or property!