4 Great Tips to Improve Your Home Security

By Ring on February 20, 2019

Everyone wants to feel safe and protected at home, but home security can seem complicated for new homeowners and apartment dwellers. To help you prepare for a move or secure your current home, we’ve worked with Redfin to answer a few commonly asked questions about home security.

How important are outdoor sirens?

All Ring security cameras feature a siren to scare off intruders. If a Ring user answers a Ring Motion Alert on their phone, for example, and they see an unknown person on their property, they have the ability to speak with them through the Cam, and even set off the siren to scare them off the property.

Sirens are important because they can alert both homeowners and neighbors to a break-in, whether it takes place while you’re asleep or out of the house. It also lets the burglar know that both you and your neighbors are aware of their presence and that the police are likely on their way. There is no home that wouldn’t be made safer by the presence of an outdoor siren. – Ring

What are the best places to place indoor cameras throughout your home?

The best places to place indoor cameras in your home are those places where you have the highest chance of catching an intruder red-handed.

Front and rear doors are the most likely entry point for burglars, so make sure you have indoor cameras pointed in that direction. If any of these cameras detect motion when nobody is home, you can get a notification on your mobile device along with a snapshot or video clip. You can then call law enforcement if required.
Windows are the other potential entry method for burglars—place cameras to cover windows that are not easily visible from the street.
Garage doors: if you park vehicles there or if they lead to the inside of the house.

Visible indoor cameras can also serve as an effective deterrent. But there is a risk that a burglar may try to destroy or steal your camera before retreating. Good hiding spots for cameras are inside empty sections of bookcases, shelving units, or any other place where the camera can easily blend in. Even if a burglar manages to get away, there is a good chance that at least one of your strategically placed cameras would capture some identifying feature that the police can use. – Vueville

Should I display window decals and a yard sign?

Yard signs are a great deterrent for passing cars or people to see.

Window decals, on the other hand, are great for when a person is up close to the house. You should have a decal near the front door as a reminder that security cameras are recording. You should position one on the garage window to inform potential intruders that breaking in is not a good idea.

There is a greater benefit to having yard signs and window decals than not having them as you are less likely to experience an intruder breaking into your home. – Orange Security

What is the benefit of a security system that automatically calls the police versus one that does not?

Life is unpredictable and break-ins, gas leaks, fires, and medical emergencies do not care if you’re able to dial 911. That’s what a UL certified monitoring station is for. In case of situations when you can’t get to your phone or tablet in time or you aren’t home to handle the situation yourself, these systems call the emergency contact list in the order specified and the necessary authorities prevent loss and damage.

Having a security system that is monitored 24-hours a day does not mean that you should not have safety measures and emergency evacuation plans in place, it simply means that you are not alone when the unthinkable happens. – Ackerman Security

Want to learn more helpful home security tips and tricks? Read the full article on Redfin.