How to Protect Your Home: 16 Tips from Security Experts

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Locksmith Ray Lawrence reveals the top safety measures that will protect your home and valuables

Co-authored by Ray Lawrence and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: March 25, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Securing Your Home
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• While You're Away
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• Choosing an Alarm System
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• Video

|Show more |Show less

Securing your home not only helps protect you and your personal possessions, but it also gives you something more precious: peace of mind. We partnered with security experts to bring you simple yet effective ways to secure your home, safeguard your house and belongings when you're away, and choose an alarm system.

How do you secure your home from intruders?

Locksmith Ray Lawrence says to secure all exterior doors with deadbolts. He also suggests reinforcing the strike plate (where the deadbolt meets the door jamb) with 3 in (7.6 cm) screws. Here are other simple security measures you can take:

• Put locks on your windows.
• Make your windows hard to access from the outside.
• Eliminate hiding spots in your yard, like overgrown bushes.
• Install outdoor lighting, including motion-sensitive lights.
• Get to know your neighbors and watch out for each other.
• Get a dog that barks at strangers and noises.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

How to Secure Your House

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   Secure your exterior doors with deadbolt locks. Locks are the weakest point on a door, so Lawrence recommends reinforcing every exterior door with a deadbolt. This extra precaution will help prevent intruders from "forcing the door open by kicking it down or elbowing it in.” He also suggests installing a strike plate with 3 in (7.6 cm) screws, and driving the screws into the 2x4s behind the door jamb.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Ray Lawrence is a locksmith and the owner of NorCal Locksmith. He has over 20 years of experience and specializes in residential, commercial, and safe locksmithing services.

   Ross Cascio is a self-defense trainer and a fight instructor. He helps people become stronger, safer, and healthier through Krav Maga training.

   Saul Jaeger, MS, is a police captain of the Mountain View Police Department (MVPD). He has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, a field training officer, and more.
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   Reinforce the exterior doors and nearby weak points, like windows. Install 1¾-inch (4.5 cm) thick doors and door frames made of metal or solid hardwood, with the hinges on the inside. Ensure the door closes securely in its frame with no gaps, so it can't be pried open. If there's a window on or next to the door, install a 0.25 in (0.64 cm) thick pane of clear Plexiglas across the window frame with screws. This will help prevent thieves from breaking the glass behind it and reaching through the gap to open the door from the inside.

   • To secure a sliding glass door, place a wood dowel cut to size or an adjustable safety bar in the interior floor track. That will keep it from opening.
   • If you can only afford to reinforce one of your exterior doors, choose the back door. The back door is the most common point of entry for thieves, and they usually get past it by kicking it in.
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   Put locks on your windows. Windows are another common entry point, particularly in the summer, when they are often left open. Key locks work best. Otherwise, criminals can simply break the glass and turn the lock. If you want the option to open your windows for ventilation, install a window stop that prevents it from opening more than 6–8 inches (15-20 cm).

   • For extra security, consider replacing your windows with safety or shatterproof glass to make breaking them more difficult. You can also install bars or accordion gates on windows at street level or on fire escapes.
   • Install metal grates over basement windows. Alternatively, secure a metal bar in the middle of each window to decrease the crawl space for a would-be invader.
   • Secure window air conditioning units. Use a bracket or sliding window lock to prevent thieves from simply pushing in the unit and entering.
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   Make your windows hard to access from the outside. The next best way to prevent entry by windows is to keep the thief from getting to the windows in the first place. For example, you can plant prickly bushes like cacti outside your ground-floor windows to make them less tempting targets. Here are some other strategies to protect upper-floor entries:

   • Avoid leaving ladders out unsecured. Thieves can use them to reach second story windows.
   • Install plastic drainpipes, which are harder to climb than metal ones.
   • Cut back weight-bearing tree limbs that hang near windows or over the roof.
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   Eliminate hiding spots in your yard. "Cut back bushes and growth that could provide cover to someone who might be trying to break in," says self-defense trainer Ross Cascio. Also, consider replacing privacy fences or thick shrubbery with something that can be seen through. A tall, solid fence also provides privacy for the burglar kicking in your back door.
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   Install outdoor lighting. "Make the exterior of your home well-lit," says Cascio. Motion-sensitive lights are best. They startle criminals, and they also draw your attention and that of your neighbors.

   • Keep in mind that most break-ins happen during the day! The majority of thieves will target your house between 10 AM and 3 PM, when you're most likely to be at work. While lighting up the exterior of your home at night is still a great idea, take other precautions to protect your home in daylight.
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   Get to know your neighbors and watch out for each other. The neighbor across the street is your best friend when it comes to protecting your home. If they know who you are, they can let you know if they notice any suspicious activity around your home.

   • Pro tip: Be a good neighbor, too, and tell them if you see any strange comings and goings around their house.
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   Get a dog that barks at strangers and noises. "A dog that barks is a good thing," says police captain Saul Jaeger, MS. He explains that if you're a burglar and you knock on someone's door and hear a dog barking inside, you'll probably decide it's not worth it and go somewhere else.
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   Keep your keys safe and avoid hiding them outside your home. The only thing worse than leaving your door unlocked is letting a criminal have the keys. With that in mind, avoid hiding a spare key outside your house. Thieves know the most likely hiding places, so whether it's under a mat, in a flowerpot, or hidden under a fake rock, they'll probably find it. Instead, give a spare key to a trusted neighbor.

   • Avoid carrying house keys on a key ring bearing your home address, or leaving house keys with your car in a commercial parking lot or with an attendant.
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    Post signs that you have an alarm system (even if you don't). Criminals often move on as soon as they see a sign saying your property is protected by an alarm system. Even if you don’t want to pay for an alarm system just yet, be sure to invest in alarm signs.

    • Put the signs in the front and rear of your house, as well as stickers in any windows you're worried about.
    • Use generic signs with no real alarm system names. Knowing the security company can help thieves to disable the system.
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    Avoid showing off expensive possessions through your windows or online. Criminals case neighborhoods. If they can see valuables—or even if you just look much richer than your neighbors—they're more likely to target you. Similarly, don't post your expensive belongings on social media. You never know the intentions of the people who view your posts. You could have a thief watching your content and assessing you as a potential target.

    • Draw blinds and shut curtains to keep expensive items out of view and prevent criminals from "window shopping."
    • If you have a fancy car, keep it in the garage.
    • Avoid leaving empty boxes from your online purchases on the curb. This could signal to would-be thieves that you order a lot of stuff online and might be worth stealing from. Put the boxes in your recycling bin. Alternatively, break them down and fold them inside out, then put them out just before garbage pickup time.
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    Monitor workers who come inside your home. Plumbing or home improvement projects give workers ample time to case your home and pass their findings on to criminals. Ask potential contractors if their employees are subject to criminal background checks, and try to check in on them periodically while they're inside your home.
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    Lock up or hide your valuables to make them harder to access. Thieves want to get in and out of homes as quickly as possible. Make it more difficult for them by hiding or securing valuables in safes, safety deposit boxes, or locked, solid cabinets. Here are some other, more inexpensive ways to conceal small valuables like jewelry or cash:

    • Clean out old shampoo, conditioner, or moisturizer bottles and slip items inside.
    • Paint the inside of an empty spice jar with glue and add herbs so it looks full. Then put cash in a plastic bag, insert it in the jar, and keep it with your other spices.
    • Hide valuables in a full feminine napkin or tampon box.
    • Make a slit in a tennis ball, squeeze to open, and hide valuables inside. Then drop the ball back in its original container with normal tennis balls.
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    Engrave and register valuables or attach trackable AirTags to them. If your possessions are stolen, this tip might make it easier to recover your belongings when the thief tries to sell them. Engrave jewelry with your name or a number and take a photo of it. Record the serial numbers for your smartphones, computers, televisions, and other expensive electronics, as this will make them easier to track. Alternatively, attach AirTags inside your electronics, where the thief won't see them. That way, you or the police can track your stolen items digitally.

    • Pro tip: Most home insurance companies provide 2-15% discounts on their premiums for devices that make a home safer! Those include dead-bolt locks, window grates, bars, and smoke/fire/burglar alarms. Once you've secured your home, let your home insurance provider know, and ask if they have any discounts available.
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    Update your anti-virus and firewall software, and secure your WiFi network. Cybersecurity is just as important as installing physical alarms. The National Security Agency (NSA) recommends taking basic measures such as keeping all your software, including anti-virus programs and your firewall, up-to-date. They also encourage homeowners to turn on Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) on their routers and create a secure password for your WiFi network. Finally, make sure to disable remote access on routing devices.

    • Only reveal your WiFi password to people you trust. If you write it down, hide the piece of paper you wrote it on.
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    Get a police inspection. Call your local police department and schedule an appointment for an officer to inspect your home and suggest security fixes. This is a good way to decide what you should prioritize in protecting your home.
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Section 2 of 3:

How to Protect Your Home While You're Away

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   Turn your alarm system on (if you have one). Your security system won’t help if you forget to turn it on. It will also be less effective if you don’t let burglars know it is there. Follow these best security practices:

   • Always activate your alarm system, even when you take a quick trip to the store, visit neighbors, or walk the dog around the block.
   • Never post your passcode near the home security alarm keypad.
   • Make sure the yard signs and window decals that say your home is protected by a security system are clearly visible.
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   Make it look like you’re still home with timers on lights and televisions. The key to protecting your home when you’re away on work or vacation is to trick burglars into thinking you are still there. Light timers turn your interior lights on and off, or better yet, your lights and TV, at set times each morning and evening. Most burglars avoid occupied homes. If they think you're around, they’ll look elsewhere.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Saul Jaeger, MS

   Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department

   Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.

   

   Saul Jaeger, MS
   Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department

   Expert Trick: Leave your car in the driveway when you're not home, instead of the garage. That way, it will look like you're still home. However, be sure to take any valuables out of your car, since that does increase the risk that it will be broken into.
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   Tell your neighbors you're leaving and ask them to watch your house. Tell a dependable neighbor how long you plan to be away, and ask them to keep an eye on your house while you're gone. It's also a good idea to ask them to pick up your mail and packages and use your curbside trash can. That way, thieves will think you're still at home and doing all your normal activities.

   • If a neighbor can't pick up your mail, ask the post office to hold or forward your mail to a trusted relative or friend. That way, the mail won't pile up in your mailbox and make it look like you're not home.
   • Alternatively, ask a friend or family member to house-sit.
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   Hire someone to tend your yard and walkways while you're gone. If you're going to be away from home for longer than a week, arrange to have your lawn mowed in the summer and your walk and driveway shoveled in the winter. Pay the person you hire to do these chores with cash ahead of time, or send them a deposit on CashApp, Venmo, or PayPal when they text you that the job is done.
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Section 3 of 3:

How to Choose an Alarm System

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   Consider a monitoring service for professional 24/7 protection. A monitored system will notify an off-site center if a break-in is detected. They will call the police if they can't reach you, or if they do contact you and you ask them to do so. Just keep in mind that these systems are more expensive than installing your own cameras and alarms. Below is a breakdown of the types of monitoring systems with their unique advantages and disadvantages:

   • Landline: A landline phone connection is used to communicate with the monitoring center. It's the slowest option, and if you choose it, you should get a cell uplink backup, or cutting the telephone lines will disable your system.
   • Cellular: A cellular uplink is used to communicate with the monitoring center. Cellular monitoring is faster and more reliable, but also more expensive.
   • Broadband: Your broadband internet is used to communicate with the monitoring center. It is much faster than a landline, and while not as reliable as cellular, it is cheaper.
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   Install security devices yourself to save money. If you don’t want to invest in a full home security system, you can install simple, inexpensive alarms yourself. Many of them send alerts to your smartphone, so even if you're not home, you're still aware of what's happening. Below is a list of the different available devices:

   • Doorknob alarms sound off loudly when they are moved. If someone tries to break in, they will emit a piercing sound just like an alarm system.
   • Window alarms make noise when someone tries to open a window in your home from the outside. In addition, you can purchase alarms with vibration sensors that trigger when a window is broken.
   • Motion-sensitive cameras can monitor your home and send video feeds to your smartphone or computer. 24-hour surveillance can help dissuade criminals from entering your home and catch them if they do.
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