Think Like A Thief

Thinking like a thief is the answer if you’re thinking of installing a home security system for the first time. When looking to install a security system, the first thing to consider is to make sure it is well planned out. Look at the exterior of your house and note what type of equipment you would like to employ and where it will be positioned along with any other relevant notes.

In terms of thinking like a thief ask yourself "If I were a thief where would be the best entry point to gain access to this house?". Then you can go on to decide the best way to protect these areas.

Steel shutters, window bars and adequate locks could protect some areas. This will deter the majority of criminals. If you have vulnerable areas on your property, you may want these protected by security lighting triggered by body heat or CCTV cameras with night vision.

When you have considered all the options for the exterior, then move to the interior.

Enter your property via your previously identified access points, keeping in mind the type of security equipment that could detect your presence and what position it would have to be in.

Some security equipment to consider include:

• Alarms – tend to go off regularly and therefore don’t raise concern when they go off among some housing estates, but do provide deterrent against intruders.
• Passive Infra-Red sensors – will detect the body heat of any intruder and can be linked to alarms or CCTV cameras.
• CCTV – offer monitoring capabilities whether viewed across a wireless link or recorded onto a DVR.
• Window and door sensors – notify immediately when a threshold has been breached.

An alternative is to have the system monitored by a dedicated intruder alarm monitoring service, which, if also connected to a CCTV system, can be viewed through monitors allowing immediate decision to be made if required.

Most CCTV systems can be set up to operate on detection of motion, and then programmed to perform a number of tasks. They can again contact interested parties by telephone, SMS, and email, and can even transmit the video pictures to a dedicated website which can be viewed from anywhere in the world.

Of course, if you are operating on a limited budget, you will have to prioritise which areas of your property need protection. But please remember to use reliable security equipment from reputable manufacturers.

For further information and advice on your security and CCTV requirements, please don’t hesitate to contact us.