I recently came across someone who referred to their home defense strategy as an ‘onion,’ with different layers of protection, and thought I’d share mine too. Hopefully, it helps, and I’d love to discuss it more with others!
Layer 1: Static Lighting – We keep our property well-lit. We’ve got about 20 of these solar lights spread around our yard. They shine up onto the house and a few big trees in the front. From the street, you can see the whole front of our house lit up, and it gives a nice look at night. The idea is to make our home unappealing to anyone thinking about breaking in.
Layer 2: Dynamic Lighting & Cameras – Every entrance, including the garage, has a Nest floodlight camera, and our front door has a Nest doorbell (we already had ADT set up, so it made sense to go with Nest). These cameras are useful for security, but also for everyday things, like talking to the UPS driver, checking when my wife gets home, or watching the dogs in the backyard. We also added motion-sensor flood lights on the corners of the house. This layer’s goal is to scare off anyone who might’ve ignored the static lights, and having people on camera is a bonus if I need to file a police report.
Layer 3: Locks & Hinges – Every exterior door, including the garage door, has a deadbolt that stays locked. At night, we also lock the handles and flip the door stops. A police officer friend of mine said the first interaction with an intruder should be a door that won’t open. It immediately gives the impression the house is secure. We also replaced the screws in our strike plates and door hinges with longer screws.
Layer 4: Alarm System – We use ADT’s Total Safety package since our home came with ADT already installed, but there are plenty of other good alarm systems. We have sensors on every door and window on the ground floor, including the garage door (this was an easy fix to know when the garage is open). We also proudly display the ADT signs and stickers around the house. The two dogs we have help too.
Layer 5(.56): 2nd Amendment – In the worst-case scenario where everything fails and someone’s inside my home, I’m prepared to defend myself until help arrives. We practice emergency drills with the kids, making it lighthearted and fun. If the alarm goes off, we don’t plan on going through the house by ourselves like some SWAT team. The plan is to grab the kids, get to a safe spot, and defend ourselves from there with whatever we need until the police show up.
Other Random Safety Habits – When coming home, always watch out for cars following you, especially after something like a trip to the bank. We don’t open the door for anyone we’re not expecting, and having a video doorbell is great for that. Don’t leave valuable boxes, like TV boxes, on the curb after trash day – that can invite trouble. We use a keyed mailbox to protect our mail from being stolen. And having good relationships with neighbors is a must! Being friendly with them can help in ways you wouldn’t expect.
Growing up, my dad always taught me that the best defense is avoiding problems in the first place. For me, home defense starts way before someone steps foot on your property. I hope something in here is helpful, and I’d love to discuss more with others!