Easy ways and tech tricks to ramp up security in your house without it costing a fortune

Australia’s burglary rate is one of the highest in the world – but you can secure your home and valuables without breaking the bank. SEE HOW

Australia has a troubling record for burglaries.

According to a Budget Direct survey last year, we had the seventh highest rate of burglaries in the world in 12 months to April 2021, with 4.3 per cent of households experiencing at least one break-in or attempted break-in.

In Victoria alone a home is burgled every 20 minutes, prompting the RACV and Neighbourhood Watch to join forces and develop the How Safe Is My Place (howsafeismyplace.com.au) app.

Designed to take the guesswork out of home security, it asks a series of questions and from your answers it can determine if you need to beef-up security.

Bambi Gordon, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch, says that residential burglary was lower in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

“With so many people at home, thieves didn’t want to risk being spotted or caught, and would deliberately avoid occupied houses,” she says.

“Now that we are returning to ‘normal’ it’s anticipated that crime will again increase.”

Gordon says homeowners make common mistakes increasing the risk of a break-in.

“The biggest one is failing to keep the house locked, including when you’re home,” she says. “Seven out of 10 cars stolen in Victoria are stolen with the owner’s keys. If you lock your front door when you return home, and keep your keys out of sight, it could prevent a lot of cars from disappearing.”

Bambi Gordon, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch.

TESTING TIMES

The five minutes it takes to do the RACV test can reveal a range of modern and easy ways to keep your house and loved ones safe.

* Doors: External doors which have at least 3 steel inside resting hinges can be harder to force open and security doors should ideally have a steel frame and grille, reinforced corners and a deep receiver channel. Snib locks are easily tampered with – deadbolts and three-point locks are better.

* Windows: Close and lock windows when you leave home and draw blinds to keep away curious eyes – and consider installing grilles, external shutters or security glass. Even a simple Neighbourhood Watch sticker on the front window can be a deterrent (get one by emailing [e-mail])

* Fences: A low, see-through front fence makes it easier for neighbours and passers-by to see potential intruders. At the rear, a fence at least 1.8m high and has vertical posts or palings can be harder for a thief to climb, even more so if it has sharp points or a thorny climbing plant.

TV presenter and interiors expert Neale Whitaker says family heirlooms need to be considered when protecting homes.

TECH TRICKS

Technology can also help: in April, a report published by the smart-home security brand Ring revealed that we’re in the middle of a home security boom.

And according to TV presenter and interiors expert, Neale Whitaker, we are upping the ante to protect more than just electronic goods.

“Family heirlooms like jewellery and art, and rare wines, are some of the more unusual items Aussies are keen to protect,” he says.

“In Ring’s report, over a quarter of Aussies wanted to protect childhood objects, while almost one in ten Australians noted sporting memorabilia as a key item they wanted to keep safe from theft or damage.”

Mark Fletcher, Managing Director of Ring APAC, says there are plenty of security devices to consider that won’t break the bank.

“The Ring Video Doorbell is ideal for anyone dipping their toes into smart home security,” he says.

“It allows you to answer your doorbell when you’re away from home, and has extra features like Motion Alerts, to let you know when someone’s approaching your door, Quick Replies, which is like an answering machine for your door, and Package Alerts, so you know when a delivery arrives.”

The Ring Doorbell is a good start for a home security system.

Other useful devices to consider include Alexa friendly security systems which can arm or disarm your security alarm, and pet cameras such as the Tech4Pets Smart Pet Feeder, which has a live camera and two-way communication. According to Whitaker, they can be easily integrated into your home.

“As a general rule of thumb, opt for devices in neutral tones such as black, white, grey and cream,” he says.

“Not only will this likely compliment your existing decor, but it will also help the devices to blend into their surroundings, and your lifestyle.”

Kealey Carew and Aiden Lindsay have been living in a Melbourne townhouse for the past two years.

“When we moved in we did the usual things like change the locks on the doors,” says Kealey, age 30.

“But when we got our miniature Dachshund Frank last year, we overhauled our security again. Aiden and I both work, so we wanted to have extra surveillance for when we left Frank at home during the day.”

The couple are expecting their first child in June, and they have installed a Ring door camera connected to Kealey’s smartphone.

“While it’s great from a security perspective, it’s also super handy for accepting deliveries remotely,” says Kealey.

“Now we’re having children, it’s also good to know that we have an added layer of protection.”

Neighbourhood Watch: www.nhw.com.au/connect.

Kealey Carew and Aiden Lindsay with dachshund Frank are getting more security conscious.

THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO NOW

1. Remove hiding spots

Cut back trees and bushes that hide your front entry from the street. Stand on the footpath or road in front of your house and make sure you can see the front door, windows and entry clearly.

2. Leave a light on

The last thing a burglar wants is attention, so having motion-activated lights above your front, back and side doors and in your driveway or backyard may be enough to make them leave.

3. Watch out for each other

Befriend your neighbours: they can report suspicious activity at your home and keep an eye on your place when you’re away; and you can do the same for them.

Source: RACV’s howsafeismyplace.com.au

Originally published as Easy ways and tech tricks to ramp up security in your house without it costing a fortune