Make Home Safer and More Secure by Following These 3 Tips
How to make home safer and more secure? It starts with good and sensible design to prevent break-ins and accidents inside the home. Both indoor and outdoor safety should begin with intelligent design before incorporating safety devices (e.g. sound alarms, security doors).
How to achieve intelligent design that leads to better safety and security? When it comes to security (specifically outdoor security), one of the most popular approaches is the crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED). Mainly, it’s about deterring criminal activities by modifying or creating physical designs of homes and communities that enforce the following:
- Natural surveillance (e.g. eyes on the street)
- Natural access control (differentiating between public space and private space)
- Territoriality (stronger sense of ownership and communality)
After these are followed, the next step is to install security devices that will discourage intruders and thieves. For example, strong security doors and window grilles will deter thieves because of the added layer of protection.
Having eyes on the street
This is one of the most important aspects of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED). Having eyes on the street is a form of natural surveillance wherein you have clear sightlines of the footpaths, streets and play areas. One way to achieve this is by optimally positioning the windows so you have increased visibility of the areas outside.
This results to improved scrutiny which could make potential offenders perceive higher risks. That’s because there will be fewer or zero opportunities for them to make a covert operation or escape. In other words, the clear sightlines from the homeowner would discourage intruders and thieves because of the perceived threat to their operation and escape.
There are several other ways (aside from strategic positioning of the windows) to create clear sightlines and improve outside visibility such as:
- Installing good lighting to eliminate dark areas and corners
- Installing a screen door so you can still view the outdoors (and make potential offenders feel that they’re being watched)
- Installing the shortest possible fences so you can still get a clear view of the street and the house in front
The goal here is to allow you get a clear view of the outside (especially streets, parking lots and sidewalks) whether it’s day or night. This way, the actions of outsiders become more transparent thereby making it more difficult to make questionable actions.
Natural access control
Natural surveillance allows for optimising outdoor visibility while inside the home. On the other hand, natural access control is about restricting access and control flow (e.g. make roofs and upper levels inaccessible).
Enforcing natural access control also includes using real or perceived barriers. The goal here is to discourage intruders in the first place. The barriers (in the form of picket fences, brick walls or low thorny bushes) would act as a deterrent because there’s limited access to the entry points toward the home’s doors and windows.
The goal here is to discourage intruders in making the move. After all, restricting access points is the same as eliminating the opportunities for burglars. Without those opportunities (whether real or perceived), intruders don’t stand a chance or they just won’t bother with a home or property.
Another good way of enforcing natural access control is by placing security screens. Aside from being an added layer of protection, security screens (both on doors and windows) also makes the perceived risks higher for thieves. Prying open both the door and screen will take additional time, which means more chances of them getting caught in the act. Also, as somehow mentioned earlier, security screens provide visibility outside.
Territoriality or natural territorial reinforcement
Aside from natural surveillance and natural access control, natural territorial reinforcement is also an integral part of preventing or discouraging criminal activities through purposeful design.
Territoriality is about creating a sense of ownership in particular areas. This sense of having a territory will deter or discourage thieves and intruders. It’s somehow similar to the animal kingdom where alpha males and packs of animals remain unchallenged because they have clearly marked their territory (and they’re very aggressive in protecting the place).
Having a sense of ownership also creates a sense of responsibility to protect your property and belongings. In addition, the owner or occupant will feel safe because often territory means having a safe place for many people.
One way to show territoriality is by actively maintaining your premises and landscaping. This shows that there’s an active presence in the home or area. If the yard is always clean and the home looks regularly maintained, it signals to others that there are people residing or using the area. As a result, potential offenders will think twice about breaking in. The display of territoriality will even totally discourage most thieves from entering a property.
Also, an aesthetically pleasing and clean environment is good at preventing crimes. In contrast, a poorly maintained home environment might encourage further crime and disorder. It’s like the popular Broken Windows Theory wherein the presence of broken windows encourages crimes. Like attracts like and soon more windows will be broken by outsiders. In addition, more visible signs of neglect and crime will accumulate in the area. This then becomes a feedback loop which leads to worse outcomes.
To prevent that event in the first place, show your sense of territory by clearly displaying that the place is your own. If you own it, you’re going to take responsibility by actively maintaining your home and its immediate surroundings.
Limitations of environmental design
It’s neither a complete nor a perfect approach. The more accurate description is that purposeful environmental design is more about discouraging intruders (rather than preventing the crime altogether). Fortunately, it’s still a good approach in adding another level of safety as well as giving homeowners and families peace of mind.
To be clear, smart environmental design doesn’t completely prevent crimes. But it’s still good in discouraging intruders and thieves. After all, you gain layers of protection from this approach. Also, you’re making it more difficult for burglars to enter your home (instead of providing them easy access and opportunities).
Another limitation or concern in this approach is about the cost. Retrofitting an existing structure can be costly because we might need to reposition doors and windows. Major demolitions and renovations might be required to align with intelligent environmental design for better home safety.
The good news is that the cost will be worth it because you’ll gain peace of mind and you’ll better protect your property and belongings. The retrofitting and renovations can be kept minimal if strategic planning was performed by you and the contractors. In the case of building a new home, the expenses are almost the same if you’re incorporating CPTED in the first place.
Make home safer and more secure
The environment has a bigger influence than we realise. An urban environment can either encourage or discourage criminal acts. That’s why altering the environment is one of the first steps in crime deterrence (or discouraging intruders from breaking in the house).
It starts with enforcing territoriality, natural surveillance and access control. These are the essential elements in taking advantage of physical design to modify or restrict other people’s behaviour regarding your property.
In addition, target hardening (or improving home security standards) will also prevent and discourage criminal acts. One way to accomplish this is by installing stronger locks and security screens. Moreover, the exterior doors, hinges and frames should withstand brute force from the outside to protect your home’s interior.
In other words, building and displaying strength is the best way to deter and discourage burglary and intrusion. After all, being strong is the ideal form of offence and defence. A “strong” home is your first line of protection. Secondary are the alarm systems that will alert you in case of attempts.
One way to display strength is by installing a security door with a heavy duty frame. Aside from providing an additional layer of security and protection, the security door may also come with a flyscreen so flying insects would be blocked. It’s worth the investment because the security door will last long while giving you peace of mind.
If you think that this is right for you, you can contact us here at Sydney Flyscreens. Aside from security doors (whether sliding or hinged), we can also install durable and stylish window grilles for your home. We also provide optional extras such as one-way vision mesh and pet-proof mesh. You can enquire us today and ask us about our packages, extras and other offers.