Home invasion incidents have always made the local news here in the country. Even with the years that have passed, stories of the Akyat-Bahay gang are still being told. The consequences of these incidents have ranged from property theft to happenings that are much more tragic. There’s no doubt in a lot of Filipinos’ minds that home invasions can be quite dangerous, and if you’re alone, the danger increases tenfold. With no one else to defend it, those who live alone have to strengthen their residence’s defenses to deter possible criminals from getting in.
With this, here are some security must-haves to ensure your home’s safety on all fronts.
Locks
Whether you’re using an old-fashioned lock or smart locks, these are an absolute must in order to prevent intruders from entering your premises. There’s still some ongoing debate on whether it’s better to have traditional or digital locks on your doors, but both have their pros and cons. Review the features of each before you decide. And don’t just limit this to your doors. Try to put some locks on containers so your valuable stuff isn’t stolen.
CCTV cameras
Installing CCTV cameras grants you access to several areas of your home through a command center. You can watch out for any suspicious activity around the premises, and you can also review and replay the footage for inspection purposes. There are different types of CCTV cameras you can use, but you should first determine the focal points of your residence so you know where and how to place them in a way that lessens any blind spots.
Motion sensor lights
Having these on your front yard (if any) can be helpful in determining if there are any people nearby. The way sensor lights work is if they sense movement in the area, they’ll automatically light up. This mechanism deters potential home invaders from moving into the house, as they’ll be detected through the lights either by you or by your neighbors.
Self-defense tools
In case the worse comes to fruition and the intruders do get in, you can either go on the offense or lay low. While the latter option can be done to avoid danger, sometimes going with the former is needed for your absolute safety. Make sure you have defensive tools at your disposal such as stun guns, pepper spray, or even makeshift weapons. Of course, you need to get the basics of using these down so you don’t end up hurting yourself instead. And remember, only use them if you have no choice.
Hotline
Emergency alert systems such as hotlines are absolutely crucial to combating home invasion. If you can’t defend yourself, being able to alert the authorities of any danger is your next best step in dealing with the intruders. Make sure you have relevant hotlines on your speed dial so getting help is quick, easy, and inconspicuous to your home invaders.
Trustworthy neighbors
This is the odd one out as neighbors aren’t actually something you can “buy” or “get”, and it all depends on your luck if you have trustworthy ones. You can, however, scout to see if your neighbors are friendly enough that you’d rely on them in case of danger. Take the time to introduce yourself and familiarize them with your usual routine so they can inform you or help if they see anything strange around your premises.
It can be quite scary to live alone, what with the threats to safety that most homeowners face. But with effective security tools and methods at your disposal, you’ll stand a better chance at defending both your home and yourself. Try not to feel too intimidated by such prospects and, instead, do your best to ensure all of these measures are in place and can be dependable when the worst happens. And if it does happen, make sure your finances are secured with an effective homeowners insurance policy in the Philippines so you don’t take too heavy losses because of such an incident.
