By: Richard Armen
Submitted: 2011-10-07 21:11:24 | Word Count: 531
As the weather grows warmer, families move outdoors to their decks and patios. While such features certainly add an enjoyable element to the outdoors of your home, there is a downside. Decks and patios can create security vulnerabilities around your home. These are far too often overlooked by homeowners who focus on enjoying their backyard, rather than protecting it from home invasions and other security threats.
Doors leading from a patio or deck into the home are some of the most vulnerable entry points from the point of view of a burglar. Burglars don't just come through the front door; they often come around the back or side of a home to find the easiest entrance. If there's a way in, burglars will find it, especially if it's a glaring security weakness such as a large, unlocked glass door leading onto a dark patio shielded from view by passerby.
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Often made of large panes of glass, these doors are often left wide open, especially during summer weather. They commonly have easily broken glass or flimsy locks. To reduce this threat, install a sturdier lock and glass break detectors, and put a bar in the door track to prevent it from being forced open.
Unlike the front door, back doors and patio doors do not often have adequate outdoor lighting. It's a good idea to install patio lights, not only to prevent your friends and family from slipping or falling in the dark, but also to keep away burglars and other criminals. Lighting is a key aspect of any home security plan, as no burglar wants to break in if they can be spotted doing it.
If your backyard can be accessed from the street, consider limiting access to the deck or patio. If you can't fence the entire yard, consider a fence or railing with a gate around the patio or deck. Don't forget about a simple alarm on this gate so that you know when someone's entering the area.
When considering the safety of your deck and patio, don't overlook the rest of the yard. Often, those with a deck or patio also have a swimming pool or a tool shed. A swimming pool is certainly a lot of fun, but it also presents a very real danger. Even if your yard is fenced, install a swimming pool alarm for peace of mind. This alarm will sound if anyone jumps or falls into the pool, and it is a crucial home security device for anyone who has a pool in the yard. A tool shed, meanwhile, presents a different danger. A resourceful criminal may raid the shed for potential tools for breaking into your home, or may simply make off with those expensive lawn tools. Lock these tools up in your garage or install a lock, alarm, and adequate lighting on the backyard shed.
While backyard features such as these may look nice, and provide you with many hours of summer enjoyment, they are a would-be burglar's dream. Patios and decks present some unique security vulnerabilities, but they don't have to. Enhancing your backyard security is relatively easy using simple and effective security devices such as locks, alarms, and fencing.
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