Home Security: Your Yard is the First Line of Defense

Home
>
Home Security
>
Home Security: Your Yard is the First Line of Defense

Home Security: Your Yard is the First Line of Defense

You may not believe it but most burglars do not plan their break ins. They are crimes of opportunity. They pick what appears to be a simple target. If they see a greater risk than they anticipated, they move onto a safer target. Therefore the more effort you take to keep your home from seeming to be a simple target, the safer you will be.

A multilayered structure is the best way to approach arranging your home security, and the first layer is the landscaping and other features of your yard.

Landscaping and Yard Security

A few simple changes to your landscaping can help to protect your home from would be burglars. They are looking for a home they can get into and out of quickly; the more time they spend in your home the more chance of getting caught. Their best target is a home surrounded by tall hedges and shrubs, which restricts visibility from the street and your neighbours' houses.

Trim your shrubbery and trees so that your doors and windows can be seen by neighbors, and from the street, by forgoing a little privacy you will not be providing a hiding place for a burglar. If you have more than one floor, prune trees away from upper floor windows to prevent an intruder using them as a ladder, also make sure any trellises won't provide a convenient ladder to gain entry to the upper floors.

All planting close to the sidewalk, driveways, doors or gates, should be kept low say no more than two feet in height. As you move further away from the sidewalk you can increase the height but keep it down to no more than four feet.

Any plant under the window should be kept below the windowsill.

Trees should have their lower branches trimmed to at least seven feet off the ground.

Be sure to keep your lawn trimmed; an uncut lawn will indicate to a potential burglar that you have been away from your home for some time.

By placing gravel on the ground under windows you will be warned if someone walks on it, this can be a useful psychological deterrent. Remember not to have any large rocks or stones near glass windows or doors. There's no point in providing a burglar with his tools!

Plant spiny (thorny) plants along fences and under windows, and on border fences, roses are ideal. Protecting your home with spiny plants is as good as using barbed wire, and it looks a lot better too.

Street Numbers.

Make sure your house number can be seen easily from the street. This can save time for the police and emergency services if they need to find your home.

It is best to use numbers made of reflective materials, or alternatively black on white, they should be at least six inches high to facilitate visibility from the street. Keep the number clean and trim any plants, so it can be seen. The number should be illuminated and near the front door or the garage entrance.

Limiting Access to Yards and Store Rooms:

The main thing burglars are looking for is an obstruction free and speedy exit. Fences will stop burglars from carrying away your larger processions, if the gates are locked. Gates should be locked at all times!

Make sure that any ladders and tools are stored in a garage or a storage shed, and these should be locked when not in use. To increase security chain your ladder to the wall of the garage when it is not being used.

The idea is to use the landscaping to control access to your property. Proper fencing hedges etc. create barriers that will make a potential burglar feel uncomfortable as they approach your home, but will not prevent a neighbour or passer by from seeing any unusual activity.

I will be covering additional steps you can take to improve your home security in the next article in this series.

Roger Overanout

For more vital home security tips and information about how to protect your home and family please visit http://www.homesecuritynews.info

You may reproduce this article provided you maintain an active link back to http://www.homesecuritynews.info

In The News:

Modesto Bee
Comcast's 'intelligent home' offers high-tech peace of mind
Sacramento Bee
It's part of the growing interest in "intelligent home" systems, which let consumers – wirelessly from any location using their computer, tablet or smartphone – check their home's security system, as well as flick on the lights, ...
Comcast joins growing home-security marketSacramento Business Journal

all 3 news articles »

Lock up your home to avoid holiday blues
gulfnews.com
By Dina Aboul Hosn, Staff Reporter Dubai: Police have renewed the call for holidaymakers to register their houses in the Home Security Programme before leaving the country, which ensures the safety of their residences while they are away.

and more »

TIME
The battle for the 'smart home' heats up
Baltimore Sun
They're now also competing to help you operate a "smart home." Comcast and others — from home alarm incumbent ADT Security Services to wireless and broadband competitors such as AT&T and Verizon — are all jockeying to supply technology and services ...
New Comcast service turns TV into data centerBoston Globe
Comcast's Xfinity Home aims for comprehensive controlElgin Courier News

all 136 news articles »

Protect America, Inc. Ranks Among The Top Ten Residential Home Security ...
Houston Chronicle
Founded in 1992, Protect America is a leader in the industry and the first to create the monitored self-installed wireless home security system business model. Protect America announces it is ranked as the 8th largest residential home security company ...

and more »

Financial Times
AT&T Expands in Home Security to Seek Gains Beyond Phones
BusinessWeek
By Scott Moritz on May 07, 2012 AT&T Inc. (T) (T), looking for growth outside its slowing phone business, plans to start selling home-security services in a move aimed at challenging market leader ADT. The service lets users watch camera footage of ...
ATandT barges into home security and automationBoston Herald
AT&T Plans Nationwide Launch of Wireless-Centric Home Security and Automation ...MarketWatch (press release)
AT&T Mobility moves into home security marketNewsOK.com

all 395 news articles »

Events for the family
Philadelphia Inquirer
Kwikset Smart Security Tour Home security show. Home Depot, 1651 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd. 5/25. 9 am-1 pm. Also at Home Depot, 4640 Roosevelt Blvd. 5/26. 9 am-1 pm. The Liberty Party DJs, food, drink specials the fourth Saturday of each month.

ABC News
Limbaugh bust security costs Mo. taxpayers $1100
WLNE-TV (ABC6)
(AP) - The Missouri House has spent more than $1100 in taxpayer money on a security camera to keep watch over a new bronze bust of conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, the House clerk said Thursday. Clerk Adam Crumbliss said he authorized the camera ...
Limbaugh bust security costs Missouri taxpayers $1100KMOV.com

all 206 news articles »

Consider Home Security Your Biggest Home Improvement
MarketWatch (press release)
The first step in protecting your home is to consider a security review and audit of your home. Established security firm Dyno are the UK's largest mobile emergency locksmith service and offer a free security review with no obligation to buy.

and more »

Wall Street Journal
USDA Is a Tough Collector When Mortgages Go Bad
Wall Street Journal
"It was a shock when I got the note that they were going to garnish my Social Security check," says Jeanne Marie Andersen, a 74-year-old widow who lives in Lake Crystal, Minn., and took out a USDA loan in 2007. Ms. Andersen lost her home to foreclosure ...

and more »

Police warn of possible alarm company scam
WNDU-TV
Initially, O'Connor asked the home security representative if there would be any additional charges or new contracts associated with the system upgrade. The representative answered no to both inquiries. Yet, Thursday night O'Connor noticed a contract ...

and more »

Google News