Do you have outdoor home security?

Once you have installed your indoor home security system, it’s important that you complement your system with outdoor security to improve the safety of yourself and your family.  There are many different options to protect the boundaries of your house that will meet any size budget.

Outdoor lighting is one of the first options you should consider and is an excellent deterrent for home invasions.  Outdoor security lighting makes a burglar feel vulnerable and exposed which is why intruders will look for homes with little or no outdoor lighting. One of the most popular options is all-night lighting which gives continual lighting for your property.  Motion-activated lighting is another option in which lights are activated by a motion detector. This is also a preferred option because not only does it suddenly scare burglars, but it also saves on electricity.  Some people also choose to use “Hi/Low combination” lighting which uses a low intensity light at night and gets brighter and brighter if the motion detector senses movement.  Whatever type of lighting you choose to use, it’s important that you focus on strategic areas such as the backyard and doorways, keeping glare and shadows down to a minimum. 

Outdoor cameras have also become a popular home security option in recent years. The best cameras will operate wirelessly, be able to monitor activity in low lighting conditions and are weatherproof. The type of camera you select will primarily depend on lighting conditions, environmental conditions and features needed. 

Cameras that provide a black and white picture do better than color video in low light conditions, but color video is very effective for recording detailed movement. If you desire color video and yet have very little outdoor lighting you may want to purchase an infared camera.  These types of cameras can record video in absolute darkness. 

You also need to regard environmental conditions when buying your home security camera. Outdoor security cameras require special housing depending on where you decide to install your camera. If your camera is not sheltered, you will want camera housing that is waterproof and weatherproof.  It’s important that you invest in durable outdoor housing so that your camera is not damaged and rendered useless.

To get the most out of your home security camera, you might want to invest in quality features that will give you the best picture possible.  If you want to monitor a huge area, you will want to purchase a camera that has a wide-angle lens; whereas a long range lens is the most effective for catching small details.  Quality surveillance cameras will have adjusting shutter speeds and automatically adjust to lighting conditions.  Finding a camera that meets your needs is the only way you can be assured of adequate protection to keep your home and your family safe at night.

Landscaping also plays an important role in outdoor home security. Making sure that large bushes and trees are trimmed regularly is necessary so that burglars don’t have a place to hide.  Placing a thorny bush under a window and in other vulnerable areas can also deter intruders from entering.  Installing landscaping lights along walkways can also be an effective way to stop home invasions.

Other things you can do to stop criminals is to place your security provider’s sign on your lawn or their logo stickers in highly visible places, such as the window. You can also install a motion detector alarm on your driveway or a fake security camera to convince burglars that you have outdoor monitoring.   Always walk around your property periodically, so you can be aware of any vulnerable spots on your property. Having strong outdoor home security coupled with an indoor alarm system not only gives peace of mind, but is the best defense against home burglaries.