When evaluating your home’s security, it is important to look at each room of the home separately as each room offers different security weaknesses. Over the next couple of months, we will be taking an in depth look at different rooms in the home and providing tips on how you can make your home safer.

First up is the basement. Commonly forgotten or ignored during home security evaluations, the basement is a space that offers extra living areas or is simply a place for storage. Check out how you can protect your basement with these 6 tips.

1. Install Grates

Grates are placed at the top of the window well and prevent unwanted critters or visitors from gaining access to your basement windows. Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials and finishes you are sure to find one that fits the design of your home.

2. Reinforce Windows

Depending on your needs and budget there are a couple of different options here.

For a lower cost and quick solution there is a security film, sometimes called window laminate, that is placed over your existing window. The film makes it more difficult for the intruder to break through the glass.

If you have smaller basement windows that don’t need to be used as emergency exits, consider using glass blocks. Glass blocks are much thicker than a traditional window, but they still let in natural light while still offering privacy.

3. Hide Your Valuables

Like other rooms in your house you should use shades, blinds, or other window coverings to keep valuables out of sight from the windows. While large items will draw burglars into a home it is the smaller items that will be taken as they are easy to get out of the home. Making it even more important to keep jewelry, cameras, laptops, and cash out of plain view.

4. Outside Lights

Having ample light around your basement windows makes them less appealing to burglars. No matter your budget or needs there are a variety of options for lighting up the outside of your home. If you are looking for a more robust solution, there are motion sensor lights that may startle and intruder or alert you to suspicious activity. Looking for something simpler and budget friendly? Check out a solar-powered light that can keep a space illuminated all night.

5. Decorate for Security

The arrangement of furniture can make it harder, sometimes easier, for a burglar to get into a home. A basic tip is to keep furniture away from high windows, this ensures home owners aren’t helping a burglar into the home. If there is a way obstruct their path.

6. Have a Home Security System

Whether home or away, having a home security system is a great way to protect the entire home. Vigilante Security offers a full line of in home security systems, including Lyric® by Honeywell. Lyric® has window sensors that can be placed in the basement alerting homeowners when there is any movement of the window. Allowing homeowners to have peace of mind even when they aren’t home.

To get more information about Lyric® by Honeywell or other home security services that Vigilante Security offers contact us today!