Investing in an up-to-date home security system from an experienced security system supplier is very important in ensuring the safety of your home. Similarly, installing a good alarm system, having a high-quality video intercom system, and securing high-grade locks on windows and doors are also essential steps one should take to safeguard their home.

If you would like to take extra precautions to ensure your home is 100% burglar-proof, this handy checklist will help you assess the strength and effectiveness of your existing security measures so that you can make improvements where necessary.

Is the perimeter of your house secure?

Go around the perimeter of your house and check for:

• - The sturdiness and functionality of your fences, walls, railing, or any other barriers you have in place. It is best to get these barriers made out of solid wood or any metal-clad material as they are kick-proof and break-proof.

• - The placement and sensitivity of your motion-triggered lights. It is best to have it at all pathways or entrance points of your home, especially in the darker areas.

• - Any overgrown shrubs, trees, or large bushes that could act as potential intruders' hiding spots. Trim them to ensure burglars cannot camouflage behind them.

• - The placement and functionality of your outdoor security cameras. Make sure the cameras are placed in key locations and are functioning in tip-top condition.

• - Any weak locks at your windows and doors, including your garage, shed basement, and attic and replace them. You can even add a secondary locking mechanism such as a glass-break detector or double deadbolts to these entry points just to be safer.

• - The durability of your safety bars. If you have not installed safety bars on your windows, it is highly recommended that you do, especially if you live in high-risk areas or a ground-floor home. These bars will ensure your windows cannot be forced open from the outside.

• - Any unlocked or open entry points such as your pet door, mail slots, and dryer vents. Skilled burglars can use these entry points to access your home so make sure you have a mechanism in place to block them out when you are away.

Is your home automated?

One of the best ways to ward off burglars is to ensure your home gives the impression that it is always occupied – even when you are away. You can do this by setting automatic timers to your lights and home electronics such as your television and radio. Some automated systems let you control the timing of individual devices from an app on your smartphone so you can keep the show on from afar.

Are your valuables visible from the street?

Having floor-to-ceiling windows may be aesthetically pleasing but without proper security measures in place, it is the perfect opportunity for burglars to target your home.

View your home from the street and see if you can spot your valuables; if you can, store them away from your windows. You could also invest in tinted windows or good quality curtains to block your valuables from prying eyes.

Are all your valuables kept in a safe?

Having a safe is the most secure way to protect your highly valuable items from theft. If you already have a safe in place, here are some extra steps you can take to ensure your valuables cannot be accessed easily:

• - Install sensors nearby your safe, on your safe, and on your valuable items themselves. You can also have your valuable items engraved or marked for identification should they get stolen.

• - Have more than one safe and strategically place them at random and hidden areas in your home to confuse the burglars. This will also prevent your items from getting stolen all at once.

• - Install hidden security cameras in key areas inside your home and ensure there are minimal blind spots.

Are your neighbours trustworthy?

Instead of keeping your spare key “hidden” outside and risk having an intruder find it, you can pass your house key to your neighbour and have them keep an eye on your house while you’re away.

Having an actual person look out for suspicious activities can help prevent crime faster as they can notify you if something is wrong and call the police immediately. Hence, it is best to know your neighbours and work with them to keep your neighbourhood safe and secure.

Get professional evaluation

The following checklist is not exhaustive – it can definitely assist you in ensuring the essential security aspects of your home are well-maintained and functioning correctly. For a more thorough evaluation of your home’s security, it is best to seek advice from an experienced and professional security system supplier.

The experts can check and ensure your existing security systems and measures are in optimal working order, as well as recommend additional steps that you can take to minimise the risk of break-ins to your property.