If you want to protect your property and your assets for peace of mind and to help keep your insurance premiums down, then it’s worth looking into the benefits of specially designed home security systems. We asked our security experts and advisors at TI Security Ltd to provide some guidance to help you get the right system for your needs…
Advice from TI Security – experts in bespoke systems
Part of our day-to-day work here at TI security is to ensure that every customer gets tailored advice so that any home security system they choose is entirely fit-for-purpose. A theft from your home isn’t just an inconvenience, it can also be very stressful for yourself and your family, making it all the more important to consider your options.
There are lots of things to consider when choosing your security solutions – for example, do you want to detect an intruder’s presence as soon as they step foot on your land, or are you only concerned with your property itself, with detection focused on your doors and windows?
You also need to think about any particularly vulnerable areas that represent a ‘weak point’ in your security, such as a potential access point that’s out of view of your cameras.
Here we’ve compiled a list of 5 key considerations for home security systems to help you decide what level of protection you may need:
1. Deterrent – the first thing to ensure is that you make it evidently difficult for a burglar to access your property; the more things they need to overcome in order to gain access, the less likely they’ll bother.
In other words, if you have security solutions in place, make sure you use them – and that they’re fully functioning and send a clear message that you take your security seriously. For example, if you have entrance gates fitted, do you keep them closed? Are they automatic gates with integrated access control? What about the rest of your property’s perimeter? Do you have a robust fencing system? Other ways to deter an intruder include:
- A visible intruder alarm with functioning LEDs
- A dummy bellbox can be useful, but an active sounder is more effective
- The installation of a well-designed CCTV system with good camera positioning
- Signage – not really for home use, but if you have outbuildings such as stables, you may want to alert potential intruders to the fact you have security in place
2. Detection – while deterring burglars is an essential element of a good security system, if someone does manage to gain entry to your land or home, how are you going to know they’re there? It’s worth having a CCTV camera or sensors installed at your entrance so that any breach is detected straight away. Have you also considered monitoring?
As technology has advanced, there are now a range of options to choose from, such as having your external – or even internal – CCTV cameras linked up to your mobile phone, tablet or a monitor, with an alert function that will send you a message if any motion has been detected. If you don’t want the hassle of self-monitoring, you can link this to a professional service where your security system is managed via a dedicated monitoring station.
You could also add shock sensors for an extra level of security – they can be installed on windows, doors and even walls, so if someone is trying to gain entry, your monitoring station/software will send an immediate alert.
3. Delay – a good home security system will delay the intruder from gaining access, and also delay their escape – by issuing an immediate alert, the time-frame they have to potentially escape is cut down, and the police could be on their way and ready to act before they’ve had a chance to create distance from the scene.
4. Response – linking in with the above point, effective home security systems aren’t just about stopping an intrusion in the first place, but also about catching the culprit should they gain access – so response time is crucial. This is a key question to ask your security expert – what response time do they offer, if any at all? Again, if you don’t want to deal with the authorities yourself, choose monitoring services that provide a fast-response service on your behalf.
5. Maintenance – do you have a security maintenance or servicing package in place? You might think it’s surplus to requirements but often, you won’t know if there’s a system problem until it’s too late. After investing in a solid security solution, it would be pretty heartbreaking if it didn’t fulfil its remit when you most rely upon it. You need to have it annually checked to ensure all elements are functioning properly – and it’s also worth considering things such as power outages – is your alarm able to sound if there’s no mains power?
Creating a customised home security system
Statistics show that a burglar will spend between 8 and 12 minutes in your home – so they could be in and out in the time it takes you to visit the local shop. However, if they can’t force entry in less than a minute, they’ll usually just move on to the next potential victim.
There is no generic ‘one size fits all’ solution – which is why it makes sense to ask for assistance from a security expert who can tailor a bespoke solution specific to your individual needs.
Some of the system elements you might want to consider using include:
- Visible burglar alarm
- Security lighting
- Automatic gates
- Monitoring and response services
- CCTV cameras
- Security grilles, shutters, safes & locks
A cleverly designed integrated system can also offer other benefits too – such as the installation of smoke detectors built into your alarm.
Security experts to trust
At TI Security, we’ve been offering expert advice and state-of-the-art solutions for nearly 50 years, with a strong reputation demonstrated by our excellent customer feedback and high retention rates.
As a family business, we promise to offer a reliable, proactive, transparent and convenient service that fits your needs. We’ll do everything we can to save you time, solve your security issues and keep everything running smoothly at all times – your family and home security are always our top priority.
If you’d like a free survey from our trusted McClarrons Affinity security partners at TI Security, we recommend them for their expertise in integrated and standalone home security systems – you can contact them for a FREE survey on 0113 281 2106.
