How to Layer Your Home Defense – National Preparedness Month

We don’t simply want to rely on someone else to protect us like neighborhood watch, police or even your husband. We need to be responsible for our own safety and deter people as much as possible.

We want to layer our home defense, just as we layer our food storage or layer our preparedness plans.

• Layer 1: Make your home look like a hard target by installing motion lights, security cameras, rose bushes under windows, never leave boxes of things you’ve purchased outside and so on.
• Layer 2: Secure windows and doors with additional locks like window bars and door bars, window and door alarms, as well as a door kick plate. Always keep your garage door closed and locked.
• Layer 3: Do not open the door for anyone you don’t know. Once that door is open, it’s too easy for people to overpower you to gain access into your home. Do not make it easy for people to access your home.
• Layer 4: Barking dogs, alarms and other loud are another layer to help deter people and make your home seem like a hard target.
• Layer 5: The last layer would be your self-defense options in case someone were to gain access into your home.

This is not an end-all-be-all list of security measures.

You also have awareness, of course, and should be in condition yellow even at home. Pay attention when your dogs perk up, pay attention to noises outside (but look at your security cameras instead of going outside), talk to people through the door or through a Ring doorbell without having to open the door and in general, be aware of any different or strange activity going on in your neighborhood.

Taking an extra step to mix up your schedule could also make you look like a hard target. If someone is casing your home, having an unpredictable schedule won’t make it easy on them to choose when to make a move.

In this day and age of masks being the norm, those who wish to do us harm are taking advantage of wearing a mask to hide their face. Do not simply believe what people say, even if they ‘seem’ nice. Though we can be nice to strangers, if someone is coming into YOUR space (your home) then they DO NOT have the right to demand you open the door or even step foot onto your property.

Your safety comes first. Period.

Home security measures should be discussed with the whole family.

These many layers can help make you a hard target and make your home less appealing to those who might want to do harm or steal something.