2024 has started off with a bang as inflation continues to drive struggling individuals to commit crimes, with life growing more expensive by the week. 

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In 2022, non-violent crime in Edmonton grew by 7% compared to 2021. Non-violent crimes include break-ins and property crimes. This noticeable increase in the crime rate is leading some to wonder what they can do to improve security around their home - and how to do so on a budget. 

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At Maxx Security Services, helping those in our community (and beyond) to feel safe and more in control of their surroundings is a top goal. Keep reading for our thoughts on affordable DIY home safety and security.

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Overview of the 10 Tips for Comprehensive Home Safety

 1. Reinforcing Entry Points

First, ensure that there are no broken locks, faulty mechanisms, cracked frames, broken glass, or other obvious weaknesses in any of your windows and doors.

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Consider replacing strike plates and deadbolts with higher quality versions, and look into easy, budget-friendly basics like security film for the windows. 

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There are several locks you can install on windows and doors for additional safety. One such lock is a pin lock, which works on windows and sliding doors. This lock consists of a large pin that is drilled into the frame of the window or door. 

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You can also install it in such a way that you’re still able to crack the window or door open to allow fresh air to get in while the lock is in use. 

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2. Strengthening Locks and Doorways

If your door hinges are weak or loose, a burglar can easily knock down your door and get inside your home. To reinforce the hinges, consider applying effective safety measures such as setscrews, safety studs, or corrugated pins. 

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While these tips are DIY-friendly, not all DIY projects require the same level of skill. Hinges can be a bit more challenging if you are a true beginner, and it can be a good idea to get the help of someone more experienced for this specific security upgrade. 

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With deadbolts, the trick is to find one that is very secure but not so secure that it becomes a hazard if there is a fire and you need to get out of your home quickly (or first responders need to be able to knock down your door). 

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A high-quality, single-cylinder deadbolt is ideal (single-cylinder means that a key is not needed to lock the door from the inside of the house). Since a single-cylinder deadbolt is easier to get through than a double-cylinder, consider looking into whether you can also replace doors that lead outside. A strong door coupled with a high-quality, single-cylinder deadbolt is ideal!

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Doors which are made of solid wood (as opposed to hollow doors) or steel, supported by a secure doorframe, are much more difficult to kick in even when using “just” a single-cylinder deadbolt. 

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3. Motion Detection and Alarms

Light is an excellent deterrent. Burglars mostly look for easy, ground-level access, preferably under the cover of darkness. Bright lights suddenly turning on are usually enough to scare off most individuals.

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Wireless alarms are a lot easier to install and are also a more budget-friendly option, as you can set them up yourself. Wired systems generally require a professional to perform the installation. Other benefits of wireless alarms include that the wires of the system can’t be cut (disabling the alarm), monitoring continues even through power and internet outages (just ensure your system uses a backup battery), you can check on your system and cameras via a phone app even when you aren’t home, and the software is always up to date as updates run automatically. 

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Bear in mind that some drawbacks include that the system could potentially be hacked, and that notifications about events can be interrupted or delayed if the internet signal is weak.

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4. Enhancing Security Measures

There are additional steps you can take to enhance your security measures further. You can place a rod on the roller track of your patio door so the door can’t slide open, use the pin lock we’ve already touched on, install an alarm, get a heavy-duty lock, apply security window film, or have automatic shutters installed. The last option can be a bit pricey, but we wanted to mention it as a possibility. 

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Peepholes are another great security measure! Insist that everyone in your home uses the peephole and refuses to open the door without being able to see who is on the other side. Sometimes, burglars will put tape or their hand over the peephole. The hard rule should be: if I can’t see you, the door is staying locked and shut. 

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To ensure nobody can look into your home from the other side of the peephole, consider putting tape over the peephole from inside the home or attaching a simple peephole shutter (which is essentially something like a small, round metal disc that can be moved to the side to look through the peephole). 

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If you have a mail slot on your door, consider replacing the door or securing the slot by installing a cover. To secure your regular mailbox, replace it completely if it is cheap (there are higher quality anti-theft mailboxes you can buy), or install a camera. Ensure you check your mail daily and do not use a mailbox flag that is raised to indicate there is mail in the box, available for the taking. 

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5. Leveraging Security Gadgets

There is a headache-inducing amount of security gadgets on the market! And yes, we do encourage you to look into them and consider using the ones you feel make the most sense for you and your family. 

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Home surveillance cameras can be an excellent deterrent, allowing you to monitor the outside of your home while you are indoors or to keep tabs on things while you are travelling. They can even reduce your insurance premium. 

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If someone does still commit a crime on your property, cameras can play a huge role in identifying the perpetrator. 

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There are many additional smart devices that can be utilized for added protection. These include sensors, doorbell cameras, control panels, and more. Home automation can also be amazing for deterring criminals, as you can be sure that lights are coming on regularly in the evening and window shutters are going up or down (as per your preferred settings), even when you are on vacation. 

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6. DIY Solutions for Outdoor Security

Don’t forget your yard! Ensure that anything of value to you that’s in your yard is bolted down, unnecessary items are fully out of sight and behind locked doors, there are no ladders which can be used to enter your home, etc. 

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If you’re going to be hiding a spare key in the yard, avoid the most obvious spots (such as under a doormat)! Try to think outside of the box. We have a few suggestions for you: 

• A hollow, fake rock that is not obvious and does not stand out
• Beneath a loose brick or tile on a walkway
• Nailed onto a tree in a hard-to-see spot
• Inside the dryer vent hood (hot-glue a small magnet to the key first - you might also need to hot-glue a magnet to the vent hood if the hood is made of plastic or aluminum)
• In a pill bottle, burying the bottle in a potted plant or elsewhere in the yard
• Inside a birdhouse that’s not actually being used by birds (block off the bird entrance)
• Key Lock Boxes are a great way to more safely store spare keys that need to be accessed by someone else. This can be a great (and more professional) alternative to tucking away a key when you need someone else to be able to get into your home, garage, or shed. 

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Lastly, don’t forget your air conditioning if you have an AC unit! You can use wire fencing or an AC cage and attach a strong lock to the disconnect box, which needs to be accessed to remove the AC from power before the unit can be stolen. 

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7. Affordable Solutions for Garage Security

Garage break-ins are also a growing issue. First, consider not keeping anything valuable in your garage. If you do have things of value stored in there, keep them hidden and out of sight. If you have garage windows, consider putting privacy film over them as well as security film. 

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Break the habit of keeping your garage door unlocked, and install a single-cylinder deadbolt if you do not have one yet. Many garage doors do not have deadbolts, and this can greatly reduce security.

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To improve security for your garage’s overhead door, consider installing bright lights with a motion sensor, replace the garage door opener if it is old, do not keep garage door openers in any visible spot (including inside vehicle parked outside), and consider keeping your overhead door locked whenever possible. 

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8. Tips for Theft-Proofing Your Home

Some things are better kept in a fireproof safe at home than in a safety deposit box at the bank. This is because, at home, you have insurance covering the contents of your house (including the contents of a safe). At the bank, no such insurance exists unless you’re able to purchase it separately. Access to the items in your deposit box at the bank is also limited to the bank’s hours of operation. 

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Important identification documents, wills, and spare keys are just a few of the items that are better stored at home than in a bank. 

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9. Evaluating Security Measures & Forming Connections

Think like a criminal! Walk around your home, property, and garage, and put yourself in the shoes of a burglar. If you wanted to enter your home (or other property structures) or steal something, how would you do it? What would you take? Make a list of vulnerabilities around your home and property, and write a solution next to each one, creating a Security To Do List. 

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Next, consider joining your Neighborhood Watch, or establish a group if one does not yet exist. Get to know your neighbours. People are far more likely to watch out for one another if they can put a name to the face and are comfortable greeting one another. 

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You could have a neighbourhood barbeque to get to know those around you even better and exchange numbers. Being able to text or call a neighbour can come in extremely handy in case of an emergency. The same goes for getting out into the community to attend events and volunteer. 

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10. Additional Tips for Intruder Deterrence

Make it look lived in! It’s especially important to ensure that your home looks active if you are travelling. We have a great blog post on this topic called “Keeping Your Home Safe While You’re On Vacation.” Be sure to give it a read!

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Conclusion

Here is a simple list for you to summarize the 10 DIY Home Security Hacks we’ve just gone through. We encourage you to write it down and start implementing it around your own home! 

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✅ Ensure windows and doors are secure, nothing is broken, and the locks work well; consider using additional locks (like pin locks)

✅ Reinforce door hinges with safety screws and pins, and ensure you have high-quality, single-cylinder deadbolts installed on all doors that lead into your house or garage

✅ Install motion sensor lights by your house (front and back) and garage, and install a wireless alarm system

✅ Don’t forget your patio door, peephole, and mailbox! Patio doors are often easy to break into, requiring additional enforcement

✅ Consider security cameras as well as other smart devices that can greatly improve your home’s security (such as home automation devices)

✅ Ensure anything accessible and visible in your yard is OK to be there and that everything is secured and bolted down. Be smart about hiding spare keys, and don’t forget to secure your AC unit

✅ Make sure your garage door and overhead door have been secured. This includes having a deadbolt on the garage door and being smart with the garage door opener

✅ Consider using fireproof safes for certain items instead of a safety deposit box at the bank

✅ Walk around your home and property, pretending to be a burglar. Make a list of vulnerabilities. Become active and known in your community and get to know your neighbours

✅ Last but not least, ensure your home looks lived in when you are travelling (read our blog on Home Safety when on vacation!) 

By implementing the above affordable, DIY safety and security measures, you are well on your way to better protecting your home and property!