The end of summer signals the winding down of a house full of daily activities and people coming and going. Fall brings school bus stops, Friday night lights and a house that is emptier than normal. Maybe you let arming the alarm system lax while basking in the joy of having everyone home, but now it’s time to get back in the habit of arming your alarm system and working on a plan to protect your house that the whole family can follow.
Alarm Systems
Now is a great time to analyze your existing alarm features. Do you have everything you need to monitor doors and windows and well-placed cameras to keep a watchful eye on things while you are gone? Install a doorbell with camera monitoring to keep an eye on packages being delivered and front of the house activity. Get back into the habit of turning on your alarm system every single day and give everyone in your family the information to disarm the system.
Remote Monitoring
Install all relevant apps to your phone and family members if appropriate. Being able to monitor your system to turn it on in off, in the event of an accidental alarm or watch the cameras remotely to ensure your kids get safely in the house will put your mind at ease. Additionally, utilize tracking apps on your kids’ phones and set them to notify you when kids arrive at school and again at home. This will allow you to make sure they are locked in and safe until you come home.
Family Involvement
Everyone should contribute to the safety of your home. Make safety rules for kids coming home by themselves. Educate your kids on basic emergency plans such as when to evacuate, what to do if the door is open and never to answer the door when home alone. Kids entering the house using a key or code should be taught never to give that information to others. Don’t hide keys in obvious, visible from the road locations. Lastly, make a family rule that the comings and goings of the members of the house should never be posted online or given to friends.
Going back to school is a busy time that involves being away from the house more and leaving it vulnerable to break-ins. With a few extra steps, your family can have a back-to-school plan to keep your home and the people in it safe from break-ins.