Home Security For Expats
With the large number of expats abroad home security is a topic to be discussed. Home personal security is what everyone wants. As the saying goes, your home is your castle. Foreign homes are often targeted more than the local population. Criminals know that foreigners are usually more affluent and have more valuables inside than other homes in the neighborhood. Many times foreigners from the same country tend to congregate to the same neighborhood. The criminals understand this and target these neighborhoods. Here are a few tips to prevent criminals from breaking into your residence. Choose a neighborhood that is in a nice area with low crime. Many affluent neighborhoods have guards at the entrance to the compound or building. These tend to be more secure. However, understand that many security guards are underpaid and lack proper training abroad. Make sure you do your research on the security company protecting the property by talking to current residents in the same neighborhood. Make sure that if your residence is on the ground level or close to it that you have home window security bars. These bars should be at a minimum ¼ thick and no more than 6 inches apart. I’ve seen cases where the resident had smaller bars and the burglars cut thru them with a small handsaw. Also, remember to have escape hatches that latch from the inside, in the event that family members need to escape through the windows during a fire. Be sure to install home alarms. Once they are installed, make sure to use them. Home security statistics show that only 40% of people with alarms use them. You paid a lot of money for the alarm so you might as well get your money’s worth. In fact, the average cost of an alarm and installation is $2,300. I responded to many burglaries when I was a police officer where the victims had a home alarm but failed to activate it before leaving. Remember, having an alarm is useless if you don't use it. Use home security decals and signs to advertise to criminals that you have a home alarm. This makes your home a risker target for burglars.
Keep a record, as well as photographs, of valuable items in your home. In the event they are stolen these records will help the police identify your property if later located and help insurance companies with claims.
What do I mean by substantial locks? Deadbolts and keys locks are examples. Chain locks are not very effective at keep out criminals. I recommend having two locks on the door, one of each. Also, make sure to have a peephole on the door. This way you can see who’s at the door before opening it. Home security lighting is another deterrent for burglars. I recommend the motion activated floodlights.
This is a room with a door with the same security features as the entrance doors to the house (sturdy, substantial locks, peephole). Make sure there is a phone in the room and that the home alarm panel is located there. This is the room that you and the family will retreat to in the event that a criminal breaks into the home while someone is home. You and your family will be able lock yourself in this room, call the police, and activate the alarm from a safe location. Make sure that you and your family practice this so that everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency. Post important telephone numbers (police, fire department, and hospitals) near telephones in your home that family members can have readily available in the event of an emergency.
Make sure that the maid has references that you can check. Speak with someone who has previously hired the maid to see if they had any issues. Not sure if you should give the maid keys to your home? Here’s a suggestion. Remember I recommended that you have two locks on the door? Only give the maid a key to one of the locks. On the days that you have maid service, when you leave, only secure the lock that the maid has the key for. This way she can come, work, and secure the door when she leaves. On the days that you do not have the services, make sure to secure both locks. This way the maid will not get unauthorized access. Lastly, never give the maid the security code to your alarm system. Finding a lot of this information hard to remember? No problem. I have a created a
FREE Home Security Checklist.
that you can you as a quick reference guide to help you remember.
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Don't forget the effect that a large barking dog has on would be burglars. Dogs should not replace home alarms; however, their addition to your home security system can't hurt either.
