Background
Our homes are our sanctuary, but instances can arise where we are confronted by angry neighbours, protesters, porch pirates, other late-night or unwanted visitors. Are you ready to detect, protect and respond appropriately if you have a threat at your front door?
Security Principles
Among the most widely accepted approaches in designing security into any physical property is the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (“CPTED“) methodology.
- Natural Surveillance – The aim is to keep intruders under observation and also helps to create an increased perception of risk to the offender.
- Natural Access Control – The aim is to decrease crimes of opportunity, as well as to deny or delay access to a crime target.
- Territorial Reinforcement and Maintenance – Encouraging or promoting activity instills a sense of ownership and occupation to expand the sphere of influence over that space.
Protection – Before an incident:
- Ensure access to your property is clearly defined with signage, path maintenance, lighting and fencing where appropriate to deter unwanted access or approaches
- It should be clear where your designated access point is to receive visitors
- Ensure that access point is well lit
- Pre-program police and security company numbers into your phone
- Consider duress or panic buttons for home or keychain as required
- Research and clean up your online profile
- Make sure there are no interior photos available – (e.g. old listings / social media posts)
- Make sure geo-location tags are turned off of any photos of the home
- Check listing to see if your name and phone number are associated to the home
Detection – When alerted to a potential threat:
- The designated access point should be equipped to assess and engage with the visitor while maintaining a safe distance and unengaged from the threat.
- Effective Secure Engagement to assess a visitor:
- Two-way doorbell camera and microphone
- Static security Camera with quick access / monitoring capability
- Door Peephole
- Be wary of Sidelights: Vertical pieces of glass on the sides of entry doors are designed to add natural light to the home. They also allow visibility into the home which is a security vulnerability.
Effective Response: – When you are uncomfortable with the situation
- Do not answer your door
- Stay away from windows and put your phone on silent
- You are not obligated to give your name
- Call the police (emergency or non-emergency line, as required)
- You can say you are a neighbour reporting a disturbance
- Call your security provider or use duress alarm
- Private security are not advised to engage (let the police handle the disturbance)
- They can assess, record and report when the police arrive
- Call any members of the household that are not home
- Advise them to remain away from the home until the issue is resolved
- Wait for confirmation from police it is safe
This is provided for information purposes and should not be relied on as security advice for every situation. If you have any questions or would like assistance for your challenges, please get in touch and we can create a security plan that is right for you.