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Looking for home security ideas? We're going to take you through each entry point to the home and how to secure it, plus some extra home security tips and tricks to help prevent break-ins and boost your peace of mind.

How to secure each entry to your home

Do security doors prevent break-ins? 2022 burglary survey statistics tell us the most common break-in points in Australia were:

• Unlocked doors (40%)
• A broken door or window (35%)
• An unlocked window (28%)
• A picked/broken lock (20%)
• Other (15%)

So, by ensuring your doors and windows are next to impossible to break and stay locked when you lock them, you're eliminating the top 85% of most likely break-in points. We're not sure what "Other" is, but we bet at least a portion of the remaining 15% could be solved with a reliable security door, too. My Security Door offers steel security doors, Crimsafe doors, hybrid security doors and security windows.

Front door

A secure front door will sometimes be enough to deter an opportunistic burglar from bothering with your home. As your house's first welcoming point, it can help you feel at home to lock your front door behind you and know that it's up to or above Australian safety standards when you choose a My Security Door installation.

My Security Door offers top-of-the-line safety and anti-intruder features. We also offer exclusive designer styles, which can help create the level of privacy, airflow, light and overall aesthetic you're after – especially important for the front door!

Sliding doors

Sliding doors can be easier to break than hinged doors, particularly when made from sub-standard glass. My Security Door sliding doors are not only crimproof but offer fire-resistant and weather-proof designs for extra safety and less upkeep.

A popular DIY home security tip is to jam the runners of your sliding door with a broom handle or rod of some description, but this, of course, only makes it more difficult to force the door open – you still want to ensure the quality of the panels is break-in-proof.

Windows

A ground-floor window is an easy target to smash in or force open, especially if unlocked. Our security windows look unsuspecting, like a regular grille or flywire, but you can be sure all our products meet or significantly exceed Australian safety standards.

For extra security from the outside in, consider the Crimsafe Safe-S-Cape style, which allows an effortless exit through any window at any time without compromising security from the outside.

Garage

Don't forget the garage! If your garage has a connecting door to the house, consider installing a security door here too. Assess how reliable your garage door is when choosing to store valuables here.

How to improve home security overall

An unoccupied-looking home is at a far larger risk of being broken into, so keeping up appearances is an important part of deterring burglars, on top of taking security measures like high-quality doors, windows and locks.

Consider these factors in the appearance of your home to help improve security:

Keep the front of your house free of anything "inviting"

An opportunistic thief may spot certain items on your doorstep or even in your bins and take them as a cue to investigate further. Try to keep evidence of any big purchases hidden, for example:

• • Flatten boxes of luxury items, i.e. a new T.V. to ensure the brand or product description isn't sticking out of your recycling bin in sight of the street.
  • Organise to have any deliveries left out of sight if you're not home to bring them in.
  • Keep bicycles, scooters or nice shoes around the side or back of the house if possible.

Collect your mail regularly.

Keep valuables out of sight, especially from street view

The same as above applies to any street-facing windows, too. Consider what someone can see from outside when arranging your street-facing rooms. Alternatively (or as well as!), find some good one-way curtains that allow you to see out but stop others from seeing in. Be mindful of having the curtains open and lights on when it's dark outside.

Consider motion lights or lights on a timer if you're away

Security for while you're away for extended periods is another set of factors to consider, but motion lights are where everyday safety overlaps with security for when you're not home. Being hit by a motion light could make a potential intruder feel literally caught in the headlights, and it can be enough to make them turn and run. If you do go away, look into setting your lights to a schedule that mimics your usual patterns.

Home security system and sticker

A home security system can be a worthwhile investment for peace of mind, video footage if something unfortunate does happen, and alarms. Stickers displaying that your home is security protected can be a significant deterrent to anyone assessing the risk of targeting your home (whether you have the system or not!). Please be mindful that many experienced burglars could recognise a false sticker, so if you go for the pretend sticker, ensure it's legitimate.

Beware of dog sticker

Again, whether or not you've got a dog of which to beware, a sticker warning people could turn off someone considering entering. Remember that many unwanted entries into homes are opportunistic, so anything you can do to seem like a more risky or difficult option can help turn attention away from your home.

Make locking up a habit for the whole family

Everyone coming and going from your home should be locking up as second nature. If you’ve got children, please teach them this security habit. A good way to help remind everyone is to attach some kind of rhyme or song to locking up the door, so you can recall that you did it later that day when the paranoia hits!

Keep spare keys in secure places

The first places you think to hide your key are probably the first places intruders will think to look. Opting for a lock box that requires a code to open is a good extra layer of protection – even if someone else finds it, they shouldn’t be able to access the key.

More home security ideas

Check out more of our resources for extra home security ideas:

• Is your home an easy target for burglars?
• 5 ways to make your home more secure
• Is Crimsafe worth it?
• What is the Crimsafe difference?
• What makes My Security Door a market-leading brand?
• Can your home have a security door installed?

You can see all your options in our virtual showroom, visit one of our 12 showrooms across Victoria, or customise your designer door with our door visualiser. Get a free security door measure and quote.