Turn on the tech – the smart way to secure your home

Smart tech is transforming the world as we know it, from the way we order takeaways to how we keep in touch and how we control the washing machine. While sales of mobile phones have started to fall in recent years as innovation slows down, sales of smart security systems have started to boom. In fact, smart security is credited with helping the number of burglaries to actually fall across the pond in the US.

Put your phone and the latest smart security together and viola! You have the perfect partnership which allows you to monitor everything that is going on in and around your hone, whether you’re there or not.

With our crime prevention hats on, we took a look at the latest smart home security systems, to see how they can help prevent your home from intruders.

Smart doorbells

Perhaps the most well-known of the smart security set, smart doorbells allow you to see who is approaching your door through a motion-activated camera. There are different levels of tech packed in to each device depending on price you pay, but the best will send an alert to your smart phone, tablet or computer when the camera is activated, and allow you to speak to whoever is at your door – whether you’re at home or out and about.

And if you see some suspicious behaviour going on, the system acts as basic CCTV, allowing you to capture evidence and call the police if you see a burglary in progress.

Smart plugs

From the most popular, to the most overlooked: the smart plug is a fantastic way to put-off intruders by ensuring lights and/or appliances come on at certain times, to make your home look lived in while you’re away.

A futuristic answer to the retro timer plug, the best smart plugs can be programmed to do just about anything. With the right kit, you can programme a smart plug to turn a light on when a certain door is opened, or turn on lights and the TV when your doorbell spots an intruder in the garden.

With small personal tags that can live on your key ring, your smart plug can also turn on outside lights when you approach home, so you don’t have to worry about what’s lurking in the dark.

Smart alarms

You probably know about the benefits of a burglar alarm – but today’s smart alarm has taken its traditional features and turned them up to 11.

Smart alarms are completely wireless and work using your wifi to arm your house however you want to protect it. Contact sensors on your windows and doors allow you to arm entry points even when you’re home, so you’re notified – or your alarm is set-off – when a window or door unexpectedly opens. Motion detectors work in the same way as a traditional alarm, while top of the range systems have their own wifi network, for if yours goes down.

The big benefit of smart alarms is that they notify your smart phone as soon as the alarm is triggered – rather than traditional alarms which often rely on your neighbours being home to call the police on hearing the siren. You can even set your alarm as you walk out the door by asking Amazon’s Alex to simply arm the house.

Smart lighting and CCTV

These used to be separate systems, but smart design has led them to become one, with floodlit, high definition, motion-activated cameras now a reality in many people’s gardens. As with all the other systems we’ve looked at, alerts can be sent directly to you to see what has activated your sensors, while you can speak to anyone who has entered your property, through your phone.

It doesn’t have to cost the earth

There’s no doubt that if you stock-up on everything we’ve spoke about above, you could end up looking at a pretty hefty bill once everything is counted up. However, video doorbells start at around the £50 mark, which is a small price to pay for a high level of security.

You don’t simply have to protect your home with tech, though – our recent piece – 5 super simple ways to prevent burglary – gives you plenty of hints and tips to secure your home for free.

If you’ve been affected by burglary, contact us.