As a kid growing up, I lived in a house with security that rivaled Fort Knox. Every exterior opening was fitted with an old-fashioned hook and eye latch, which my mother would latch from the inside each and every time someone left the house.
As one who would leave from time to time, I can also report that it wasn't easy to get back in. I would have to knock and wait for her to come to the door, unlatch it and let me in, and then she would re-latch the door behind me. While my mother's security system was never breached, it made for an annoying way to grow up.
Thankfully, these days, there are much better ways to make our homes safe and secure that are also friendly to all who live therein.
While it's impossible to put a price on the value of protecting your home and family, there are inexpensive yet highly effective ways to beef up security and create a strong defense against intruders.
Very much like The Club that millions use to keep their cars secure, The Door Club secures any exterior door in your home so it will resist more than two tons of force. That's a lot of security for less than $30. This device is easy to install and a cinch to engage, and offers tremendous peace of mind.
We installed Ideal Security Patio Door Security bars (about $20 each) on the three sets of slider doors in our home. This system works like a dream, and the installation was easy, too. We can open a slider just enough to provide ventilation even while a door is fully locked. The bar easily swings up and out of the way when we want the door open all the way.
These days, local police typically advise homeowners to install secondary locks so windows cannot be opened by force. Good advice. The type of lock that qualifies is one with a metal clamp that attaches to the frame above the sash.
For less than $10 per window, the Defender Security window lock more than meets the minimum standard. The lock is adjustable to fit up to 1/2-inch-thick rails. And you can lock it in ventilating position, which allows the windows to be slightly ajar while completely secure against forced entry.
One of the cheapest ways to make it appear that you're home, even if you are on a two-week Caribbean cruise, is to leave a television on. The flickering light is a dead giveaway that yours is a house burglars don't want to mess with.
But here's the problem with that: TVs consume a lot of power. A much better idea is to invest $40 or less in a FakeTV. This gadget gives the impression that you're home even when you're away. It turns itself on and off with a timer. It consumes the power of a nightlight while filling a room with light. FakeTV accurately simulates scene changes and motions in thousands of colors, looking just like a real TV.
SPOTLIGHT MOTION DETECTOR
Install this light on the outside of your house to kick your home security efforts up a notch. At less than $20, the Mr. Beams Wireless LED Spotlight turns on in the presence of any kind of motion and will do more than just keep your home more secure.
It will automatically light the way when you need to empty the trash or take the dog out. The LED light is extremely bright and fully weatherproof. Installation is totally wireless, and the light gives 350 square feet of coverage. Awesome.
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