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Winter Home Security Tips to Keep Your Family Safe
Winter’s longer nights could mean an increase in break-ins to homes. It’s a compelling reason to revise your home security, as it is better to be safe than sorry. Additionally, most break-ins happen in the evening, not in the middle of the night, as many tend to believe.
Luckily, there are a few safety measures you can apply right away to keep your family safe this winter. Keep reading to find out more.
#1 Revise Your Locks
Your front door locks should work perfectly, as they are the most important home security element. However, most common locks can’t hold their ground for very long when being forcefully tampered with by a burglar.
To increase the safety of your home and family, you could upgrade the locks to a more burglar-proof model – and fitting dead bolts. A good idea is fitting your front door with a deadlock (or mortise).
If you wish to take it one step further, you can opt for smart locks. They are superior thanks to their design and safety features. For example, you will no longer need a physical key to unlock your front door, but a code or your smartphone.
#2 Home Security Lights Put Off Burglars
Many thieves use the cover of the darkness to go unnoticed. It’s one of the reasons why the number of break-ins increase when winter comes and days are shorter.
However, using security lights could increase home safety by discouraging burglars. The most efficient ones are motion-activated. For this, you’ll need to install sensors that will trigger the light when activity is detected. Additionally, they’re not that expensive and they do a good job at scaring thieves.
#3 Make Your Home Seem Occupied While You’re Away
Most burglars target empty homes. Naturally, they look for signs of inhabitancy before breaking in. It is why making your home seem occupied while you’re away is a viable idea.
The best way to make your home look occupied is using lights fitted with timers. You can program them to turn on or off at specific times so that from the outside it seems like your family is home.
Another important home security tip, while you’re on winter holidays, is in regard to social media. When you’re having a great time, you tend to post pictures with your family. Some advise against this, as burglars have developed an eye for these posts and could break-in into your home.
#4 Hide Valuable Goods
Leaving your valuable goods – like jewellery, laptops, electronics – visible from outside could be considered an invitation for a burglar. Hiding them can increase your home’s safety, and you should consider installing net curtains or blinds to obscure the view of your home from outside.
If the burglar doesn’t see anything of value worth the risk of breaking into your home, he may go away.
#5 Turn Your Home into a Smart Home
This is a tip for home security for tech-savvy homeowners. A smart home is not a must, but it can keep your family and your valuable goods safer.
A smart home uses multiple types of technologies – sensors, CCTV, alarms – to keep burglars at bay. You have a better overall control of everything, even when you’re away bu using an app on your smart phone which keeps you connected to the activity in and around your home.
To learn more about how you can increase the safety of your home, feel free to get in touch with us. LockRite is a team of professional and dedicated locksmiths with a keen eye for smart home technologies.
Then And Now: How Technology Changed Home Security
The latest technological innovations have changed home security for the better. It is easier to monitor everything and smart devices make our lives more comfortable, but things were much different back in the day.
Safety is a basic human need defined in Maslow’s pyramid of needs. People have tried to achieve this for their homes ever since the early stages of civilization. However, technological advancements such as electricity and wired communication, brought forth new opportunities for home security.
In the following lines, we’ll take a trip through history to see how technology has changed the way we protect our homes.
The First Security Alarm Systems for Homes
A security alarm is a system designed to detect intrusion into a private space. They were adopted by domestic users sometime between the two World Wars, when crimes and home invasions were at an all-time high.
The first home security alarms were using electromagnetic contacts for doors and windows. These rudimentary sensors were attached to a battery and bell that would signal any disturbance.
The principle is roughly the same nowadays, but security alarm’s capabilities have greatly improved. Smart homes are fitted with motion sensors connected to advanced central units. Through these units, homeowners can arm or disarm their security alarms by using their smartphones.
Video Surveillance for Homes
CCTV was invented by a German engineer in 1942. It was installed by Siemens for observing the launch of V-2 rockets in Germany. Of course, there was no capability of recording, which means CCTV was not as popular, or useful, as it is today.
As years past, technology evolved. In 1970, the VCR changed the way we know home security and surveillance. However, not many homeowners could afford such a system. Humanity needed another couple of decades for video surveillance to get cheaper and more reliable.
In the present, CCTV has reached new levels of development. Cameras are small and can even be hidden. Their recording quality has greatly improved as well, while storing security footage has never been easier. Smart home owners can even check a live feed of their home while on vacation.
How Smart Locks Have Improved Home Security
The first lock and key device dates back to ancient Mesopotamia. The Egyptians continued on the same idea, using wood. However, the first metal lock appeared sometime between 870 and 900. It is attributed to English craftsmen.
Modern locks needed another millennium to be created. They were the work of Joseph Bramah, Alfred Charles Hobbs, Linus Yale Sr. and Linus Yale Jr. These locks work by using pins of varying lengths to prevent the lock from opening without the correct key.
But technology changed even the basic lock. It improved it and made it much safer and easier to use.
Current smart locks can connect to the Internet which enables the user to control them remotely through a smartphone app. They don’t require a key anymore and can be integrated with sensors and CCTV into a complete smart home security ecosystem.
Wrapping Things Up
Humanity has come a long way regarding home safety and the need to protect private property. Everything comes much easier nowadays and it’s all thanks to the brilliant minds of dedicated people.
At LockRite, we like to believe that home security has evolved for the best. We’re a team of dedicated locksmiths and home safety experts with a keen interest in smart home technologies.
If you’d like to learn more about how to take advantage of smart devices for your home, feel free to get in touch with us online.
Home Security UK: 6 Security Cameras to Choose from in 2017
Home security is a growing concern for many British families. So, surveillance systems are increasingly becoming more and more popular across the UK.
And while their main purpose is the same – to detect, record and alert – security cameras come with different sets of features.
If you’re planning to upgrade your home’s defence system this year by investing in a new security camera, this article is for you.
Here’s an overview of six cameras available on the market right now.
1. Y-Cam Evo
Main features:
- stores a week’s worth of videos in the cloud for no additional costs
- convenient small design
- easy to set-up HD camera
- motion activated alerts and recordings
- on demand recording capabilities
Important mention: It’s not a good camera for outside usage because it’s NOT waterproof.
2. Amcrest ProHD
Main features:
- lets you watch what’s going on at home through a mobile app
- stream, record and playback in full HD 1920 x 1080 @ 30 FPS
- camera tilts, pans and can zoom in on request
- wide viewing angle of 90°
Important mention: Amcrest’s plans for cloud storage service require a monthly fee.
3. Yale CCTV
Main features:
- real-time, full-screen high-resolution video recording and playback
- infrared vision to ensure your property is secured 24 hours a day
- ability to keep a watchful eye on your home and kids from a distance through a dedicated app on your smartphone, tablet or PC
- two weatherproof cameras, with the potential to add more cameras if needed
- view and record high-quality CCTV images simultaneously
If you decide this is the right camera for you, get in touch with us right away.
Our locksmiths can provide and install Yale’s smart HD CCTV range to improve your home security.
4. Arlo by Netgear Smart Security
Main features:
- HD, weatherproof security camera
- 100% wire-free
- free access to motion and audio-triggered recordings from the past seven days
- sends motion alerts
- integrated infrared lights
Important mention: Arlo doesn’t have any audio capabilities, and the battery will fluctuate significantly depending on how much you use it. This can be a drawback when it comes to home security.
5. Logi Circle
Main features:
- easy to set up anywhere
- two-way voice communication
- the Circle mobile app and desktop web app lets you sort through hours of footage to get a daily brief faster
- it has a social functionality (it can record important events and turn them into an edited video you can share)
Important mention: Logi Circle doesn’t offer a way to configure alerts or recordings. Also, it doesn’t have a built-in siren or motion-zone support.
6. Canary
Main Features:
- Canary app gives you direct access so you can see what’s going on at home
- the camera can be shut off from a distance
- HD video
- motion-activated alerts
- a 90+ decibel siren
- free 24-hours cloud storage
Important mention. Canary requires a paid membership for those who want to save more than one day’s worth of footage to the cloud.
Make Home Security a Priority in 2017
Everybody wants peace of mind knowing their home is secure when they are out shopping, at work or on holiday.
Getting a security camera comes with associated costs. However, not upgrading your current security system might turn out to cost you even more in the long-run.
There are many different options available on the market to choose from, based on your particular needs and budget.
We hope this article has helped you get a better idea of the choices you have.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook if you want to stay up-to-date with the latest info regarding home security.
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Locksmith Services
If you’re locked out, we can get you back in! We’re experts at picking locks and gaining entry.
We change, repair and fit a wide variety of locks, including : Mortice Locks & Euro Cylinders.
Our expert locksmiths can supply and fit the latest digital smart locks. Including the Yale Linus.
Our trained locksmiths can supply and fit the latest High definition CCTV to your home or business premises.
Our locksmiths can provide boarding services to secure your home or commercial premises.
We offer a full security survey service. Do you really know how secure your home or property is?
We can cut extra keys for your home or office. Our locksmiths carry a range of key blanks.
Smart Security Installed
Yale Linus
Smart Lock
The Yale Linus door lock. A keyless lock, designed to secure and simplify your life. Lock and unlock your door, no matter where you are.
Yale Conexis
Smart Lock
The smart door lock that puts you fully in control. The Yale Conexis gives you the freedom to secure your home without the need for a key.
Yale Keyless
Connected Smart Lock
The Keyless Lock allows you complete control over how you lock your home. Unlock with a PIN, key card, key tag, remote fob or your phone.
Yale Sync Alarm
The Yale Linus door lock. A keyless lock, designed to secure and simplify your life. Lock and unlock your door, no matter where you are.
Yale CCTV
The smart door lock that puts you fully in control. The Yale Conexis gives you the freedom to secure your home without the need for a key.
