While on holiday, we can keep an eye on what is going on around the house, because we can remotely connect to the video intercom. Sensors installed around the property will detect the presence of a thief before he even approaches the windows of the building. The alarm will sound automatically and notify the relevant services if there is a gas leak inside. These are the possibilities that modern security technologies give us today.
Basic home security measures against thieves include solid, burglar-proof doors and windows, lighting around the property that reacts to movement and a hard-to-break fence. In the past, simple motion detectors placed inside and connected to an alarm were enough. Today you can go a step further and support the security of your household and property with the latest technologies. The house can be filled with sensors, regulators, signalers and devices which will be interconnected to form a coherent automation system. Thus, buildings are equipped with sensors for e.g. window opening, shock, breakage, smoke, flooding, as well as cameras which can be viewed remotely from any place on Earth. All this protects both against burglary and malfunctions, the consequences of which may be large-scale damage.
Although today it is possible to equip and configure a building automation system in a way that is limited only by the available budget, it is worth remembering the basic principle of property protection. Safety depends on the weakest security element. In practice, this means that we can have an advanced alarm, but if we do not protect the whole house to the same extent, these solutions will not protect us against burglary. For example, a broken gate in the garden and an open garage window are enough for a burglar to get through and rob us of our valuables in just a few minutes.
If the thief has already forced the external security of the building, a solid home safe may be the last resort. If the nature of the place of residence or work is such that the house is left unattended for most of the day, it is worth investing in a branded safe from a proven supplier. A safe that is heavy enough, has a high burglary resistance class and is well-mounted will protect your valuables and set off the alarm if there is an attempt to break in. So if you want to invest in advanced technology, let's also take care of all the basic security features and keep checking that they are in working order.
Read also: Why a safe in a smart home?
In the movie "Home Alone", the eponymous Kevin McCallister (one could say "the pioneer of the industry") did what advanced alarm systems and home automation do today: they "control" a house and actively protect it from theft. This is because, once the settings have been configured, many actions take place automatically. This is because sensors are integrated into various devices. Thus, the system can close windows, switch off all devices in the house, cut off water supply or activate the alarm, notify the owner and relevant services when it receives a signal e.g. from shock sensors, which may indicate an attempt to forcefully open doors or windows. The alarm can also be configured with a safe. In this way, even if a robbery occurs, entering a specific code will summon the services without activating the alarm siren. New technologies support household security, but nothing can replace common sense and, just like in the movie about Kevin, traditional solutions, i.e. a vigilant neighbour whose help may prove invaluable.
