In a world where home security is a growing concern, former CIA Officer and New York Times bestselling author Jason Hanson shares his top strategies to protect your home from potential break-ins. With extensive experience in security, Hanson now focuses on ensuring the safety of his own family and helping others do the same. Here are six proven home security hacks he recommends to stop break-ins and secure your property.
1. Case Your Own Neighborhood
Hanson’s first piece of advice is to take a walk around your neighborhood to understand its security landscape. “Criminals often case neighborhoods to identify which homes are the easiest targets,” Hanson explains. By observing how many homes have visible security measures like alarm signs, you can better understand your own home’s vulnerability. This simple exercise can help you identify areas where your home security might need improvement.
2. Install a Driveway Alarm
One of the most effective yet underutilized tools in home security is a driveway alarm. Hanson describes it as a “passive infrared sensor that alerts you when someone steps onto your property.” This simple device, which can be easily installed by hammering a stake into the ground, provides an early warning system that can give you precious moments to react if someone approaches your home uninvited.
3. Light Up the Exterior with Motion Sensors
According to Hanson, exterior lighting is a critical deterrent to would-be intruders. He suggests installing solar-powered motion sensor lights around your property. “These lights are not only cost-effective but also reliable during blackouts,” he notes. By illuminating potential entry points, you make it much harder for intruders to approach your home unnoticed.
4. Set Up Video Surveillance
Hanson stresses the importance of having video cameras installed around all exterior doors. “If a criminal sees a camera, they might think twice about targeting your home,” he says. With the cost of video surveillance systems decreasing significantly, there’s no reason not to have cameras as part of your home security setup. They provide both a deterrent and valuable evidence if a crime does occur.
5. Reinforce Your Doors
Even with strong exterior defenses, Hanson emphasizes the importance of reinforcing your doors to prevent them from being easily kicked in. He recommends installing door stoppers or barricades on all exterior doors. “These tools can slow down an intruder and give you time to respond,” Hanson explains. This simple step can make a significant difference in preventing a break-in.
6. Prepare for Interior Defense
Finally, Hanson advises having a clear plan for defending your home from the inside. As a self-described “big gun guy,” he keeps firearms in rapid-access safes on his nightstand. “If someone breaks in, I know exactly what to do,” Hanson states. However, he acknowledges that not everyone is comfortable with guns and suggests alternatives like large knives or tomahawks for self-defense. The key is to have a plan in place so you can act quickly in an emergency.
The Importance of a Comprehensive Security Plan
Hanson’s advice underscores the importance of layering your home security. Each of these hacks works best when combined with others, creating multiple layers of defense that make your home a less attractive target for criminals. Whether it’s visible deterrents like alarm signs and cameras or physical barriers like reinforced doors, each layer adds to your overall security.
Why You Should Act Now
According to FBI statistics, a burglary or home invasion occurs every 15 seconds in the United States. Hanson urges homeowners to take proactive steps to secure their homes before they become victims. “I’ve worked with many people who only beefed up their security after a break-in,” he says. “Don’t wait until it’s too late – start protecting your home now.”
“Fences Serve Another Purpose”
People in the comments shared their thoughts: “If you put up alarm signs, put signs up for a system OTHER than the one you actually have. Each system has it’s strengths and weaknesses. Let the more ambitions criminals think they have the work-around for your system and then they find out the hard way that your system is DIFFERENT than what they were expecting.”
Another person added: “Fences may not be a big deterrent, but they do serve another purpose. I live at the end of a dead end street with open space around. My fences would not stop a determined criminal, but if you cross my fence you deliberately trespassed. You didn’t just take an innocent short cut across my yard. So, when my lights go on, and I see you standing right outside my window I can assume you have bad intent.”
Peace of Mind Through Preparation
Jason Hanson’s home defense strategies are simple yet effective. By following his advice, you can significantly reduce the risk of a break-in and ensure the safety of your loved ones. As Hanson puts it, “I pray you never have a home invasion, but with these tips, you’ll be prepared if it ever happens.”
Improving Overall Safety
What do you think? How secure do you think your neighborhood is, and what steps could you take to improve its overall safety? Which of these home defense strategies do you think would be the most effective for your particular living situation? How do you feel about using technology like driveway alarms and video surveillance in your home security plan?
To dive deeper into this topic, check out the full video on Jason Hanson’s YouTube channel here.
