iStock/Thinkstock(WILLIAMSBURG, Va.) — Are you prepared if a home invasion happens to you?
A family in Williamsburg, Virginia, allowed Good Morning America to conduct a test on their home to see how secure it really is.
Safety and security expert Bill Stanton was able to break into the family’s home, taking advantage of lapses in their home security system.
“There’s no single magic bullet to securing your home,” Stanton said, but he does have some advice to make your home more secure.
Stanton said to think of home security like venturing out in freezing weather, adding, “It’s all about layering. You should have several layers of protection that keep your home safe.”
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Here are Stanton’s top six tips to increase the safety of your home:
1. Having a good security system is paramount, but it’s only as good as when it’s activated. Install motion detection devices on both the interior and exterior of your home with mobile notifications enabled.
2. Lock up and secure out of sight any and all tools, devices and appliances that could help possible intruders break into your home, i.e. ladders, ropes, drills, etc.
3. Whether detached or connected, secure your garage’s entry points and windows as if the garage were attached to your home. It’s often the path of least resistance to gain access into your home.
4. While dogs are man’s best friend and aid in the detection of possible intruders, unless the dog is specifically trained, don’t fully rely on your furry friends.
5. Have highly-rated window and door locks on all strong and secure windows and doors.
6. The more you can create the illusion of people always being in your home, the better. Timed lights, a vehicle in the driveway, smartphone tech, etc., all aid in deterrence.
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