Safe Guard Your Home Against Break Ins

From the Editor: All of us have a sense of security in our homes, we close the door shutting out the outside world and feel safe in our own environment. But a home invasion or break in can shatter that sense of security. There are steps, however, that every homeowner can take to ensure, or at least improve the chance that will never happen.

After a recent daytime break in attempt in his Peachtree Corners home, Bob Ballagh, who is is a security consultant, offers some important tips for every homeowner. Fortunately for Bob and his family, a neighbor noticed broken glass in a back door and called ADT who dispatched the Gwinnett Police while another neighbor heard the alarm and walked over to investigate. Watchful neighbors go a long way in keeping a neighborhood safe.

He offers the following security advice:

As many of you know, I spent the last 10 years as a security director for a nearby company, and would like to offer these tips.

1.  Do a risk analysis of your home. We did this during construction, and it paid off with the alarm system that we installed and have kept active over the years. I will be glad to help you with one for your home.

2. If you don't have an active alarm monitoring service, consider using one. This is especially true if you are away a lot. We have actually had two break-ins since moving here - the first was while we had renters in the house while we were in Croatia. In both cases the alarm monitoring service "saved the day."

The system should include at least perimeter defense on all ground level doors and widows (contacts and/or glass break sensors), with internal motion sensors, especially in areas that are not occupied all of the time. Motion sensors have improved significantly in the past decade and can distinguish between pets and people.

You may also wish to consider cameras, but I would not give them high priority. You may also get a break on your homeowners insurance if you have a monitored system, especially one that includes your fire alarm. SET THE ALARM EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE. Work with your neighbors to form a response team for the alarm company to call in your absence, as the police typically take 15 to 20 minutes to respond to an alarm call (not a bad thing -- just a reality).

3. If you have dead bolt locks that have an interior thumb lock, consider installing one that is keyed on both sides. This kept the bad guys from walking into our basement, although had they opened the door the alarm would have activated.

Also consider locking latches on your double hung windows (we just installed them  in the basement - I had considered them before, but decided otherwise. Big mistake). If you still have wood frames, you can also "pin" the windows, but these are easily defeated. You may also wish to consider security grills for the windows (we are).

4.  Consider changing your door from the basement to the house to a solid "security" door and install a dead bolt on it. Such a door is hard to break through by someone standing on the stairs.

5. Consider changing your outside lights in vulnerable areas to motion activated lights. Sure, the lights will turn on when the deer run though the yard, but it is worth it, especially in areas under your deck.

Editor's note: Bob Ballagh is a retired Army officer who has lived in Peachtree Corners since 1992. Bob owns a consulting firm that specializes in security.  He was the Director of Safety and Security for CheckFree/Fiserv from 1999 until 2009.