Most break ins are opportunistic. They favour the property that is easiest to enter and hardest to be seen at. That means the cheapest security work is usually the most effective, and it rarely involves an alarm system.
Work through this list in order. The first four items cost very little and remove most of the easy opportunities.
1. Fix the front door lock properly
A deadbolt that is not thrown is decorative. A striker plate screwed into thin door jamb timber with 20mm screws will fail to a shoulder. Upgrade to 65mm screws into the frame stud, and make locking the door automatic rather than a decision.
This is where digital door locks earn their money. Auto lock on close means the door is secured every single time, including the times you would have forgotten.
2. Secure the side gate
Side access is how most people get into a back yard, and back yards are where tools, bikes and rear doors live. A gate with a working latch and a lock is a genuine deterrent because it forces a climb in view of the street.
Self closing hinges plus a lockable latch is the combination that actually works, because a gate that closes itself is a gate that is closed.
3. Remove the hiding spots
Trim shrubs near windows and entry paths back to below window height. Anything that screens someone from the street while they work on a window is a problem.
A sensor light at the side gate and at the rear door does more than a camera in most cases, because it changes behaviour before anything happens.
4. Sort out key management
Spare keys under pots, in meter boxes and above door frames are all checked. If you need to give access to family, a tradie or a cleaner, use a keypad code or a temporary code rather than a physical key you cannot recall.
5. Windows and sliding doors
Sliding doors lift out of their track more easily than most people expect. A length of dowel or a proper track lock stops both sliding and lifting.
Key operated window locks on ground floor windows are cheap and are still one of the best value upgrades available.
6. Boundary and visibility
A 1.8 metre boundary fence in good condition removes the easy hop from a neighbouring property or laneway. Broken palings and gaps at the rear are worth fixing for security alone, not just for looks.
At the front, resist the urge to build a tall solid fence. Solid front fences hide the front of the house from the street, which helps anyone at your door.
What to spend money on last
Cameras and alarms are useful, but they mostly help after the fact. Spend on locks, gates, lighting and fence integrity first, then add monitoring if you still want it.
Are digital door locks secure? A quality digital lock with a mechanical deadbolt and a key override is as secure as a good conventional deadbolt, and it removes the human error of forgetting to lock up.
What is the cheapest way to improve home security? Longer screws in your striker plates, working window locks, a lockable side gate and a sensor light at the rear. All of it costs less than an alarm and removes more opportunity.
Do I need an electrician for a sensor light? For hardwired lighting and any new power point, yes, that work must be done by a licensed electrician in Victoria.
Does a taller front fence improve security? Usually not. Solid tall front fences reduce visibility from the street, which helps rather than hinders anyone working on your front door.
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