You cannot put a price on the safety of your family.
It’s pretty straight forward, isn’t it? Not much more really needs to be said. Family is the most important thing in all of the world and, as the longer nights slowly begin to creep in, it is perfectly natural and normal for thoughts to begin to turn to our more primal instincts of safety and security.
Now, Edinburgh is, on the whole, a very safe city to live in. It is, after all, as we all well know, the greatest city on planet earth. But peace of mind is a precious thing and being secure in the knowledge that your home is an impenetrable fortress, even in our dreamy landscape of poetic genius, is not a feeling to be wholly dismissed or sniffed at.
But it’s not all that straight forward, is it.
There are all kinds of fancy alarm systems and mind boggling gadgetries these days that will turn your home into a fully functional Fort Knox. But where do you start? And, more importantly, what if you can’t afford the latest guardian robot dog or infrared cameras? What do you do then?
Well, let’s take a step back for a minute. Whilst these top of the range security systems are undoubtedly fantastic and an asset if you happen to be fortunate enough to have the cash to splash on them, you don’t need to break the bank in order to protect all that is important to you.
So, for the benefit of those with little to spend who may be considering ways to improve upon their current situation, let’s have a look at 5 tips on how to slam dunk home security on a budget.
Brighten It Up: There’s nothing a burglar quite hates more than light. It kinda puts a bit of a rumble on their game. Old tricks like leaving some lights on when you’re out for the evening are still effective if you can remember to do it. These days, smart bulbs (and even TV ) can be scheduled to turn off and on or controlled directly from an app on your phone should you not be physically present, though there have been reports of hacks into the system and subsequent robberies. In the end, any indication that you could expose their identity is a sound option. What about outside motion triggered spotlights? You might find them annoying, but not half as much as the potential housebreaker lurking across the street.
Gravel The Driveway: Criminals hate the light. But you know what else they hate? : making a sound. Not every property will have a driveway. But, if there is one, covering it in gravel is a great way to make an intruder’s job a lot more difficult. Have you ever tried to walk across gravel without making a sound? Give it a go. It’s impossible. Short of being able to fly, there is no way that someone will be able to cross over a well gravelled driveway without the risk of disturbing the peace. You’ve just caused our sneaky friends a major headache. Hopefully, they’ll now pack up their criminal ways and head straight back to where they came from.
Eliminate Hiding Places: To make sure that any potential criminals do actually retreat, you have to make sure that there is nowhere around that they can hide away and contemplate their next move. They’ve been flashed at by your motion triggered spotlights and been bamboozled by your impeccably gravelled driveway. Now, just send them packing. Trees and pretty bushes may look nice, but they also give an excellent hiding place for people who are well intended on doing no good. If you’re not up for getting rid of them completely and replacing them with something a little smaller, then at least consider a trim. It may sound silly, but it’s well worth a thought.
Window Alarms: An all-out security system can put you back quite a lot of pennies, so why not consider the far more affordable window alarms? The window is a favourite target of burglars and these impressive little devices will fire out a siren that is sure to frighten off anyone who is attempting to break in. They are not as all-encompassing as many of the more expensive security toys, but it is certainly good option for those on a budget.
Fake Alarm System: Easy to bolt into a wall and an excellent deterrent, installing a dummy alarm is bound to fool anyone silly enough to believe that crime pays. It has to look authentic and it is best to have one with a flashing light for extra believability, but anybody thinking of breaking into your property is going to take one look at that and instantly decide that it is probably best to move on. And move on, one hopes, to a more legitimate and morally sound way of life.
There are all kinds of ways that you can improve upon the security of your property, whether you want to spend a lot of money on the latest high tech equipment or settle on more creative alternatives. Whatever it is you decide to do – or are in the position to do – we hope that you and your family remain safe and sound. Remember to lock your doors and windows. And, if the locks are starting to look a little bit down and out, make sure to have them changed.
From everyone here at Belvoir Edinburgh, we hope you are well in these difficult times and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Take care. And stay safe.
