Autumn Equinox: 5 ways to maximise home’s security ahead of darker nights revealed

The autumn equinox, which marks the start of autumn, occurs on Saturday, September 23. With darker evenings ahead, the experts at ADT have shared 5 ways to maximise home security.

Home security optimisation

Michele Bennett, General Manager at ADT UK&I comments, “Opportunistic thieves use darkness to their advantage, so it’s no surprise that the number of burglaries committed increases when the darker nights draw in."

"Our 2022 burglary report found that burglaries are most common at night, with 58% of burglaries occurring between 6 pm-6 am. Taking steps to optimise your home’s security before the clocks go back this year will provide reassurance that your property is as secure as possible.”

5 ways to secure property

1. Get a monitored alarm installed

In the event of a break-in, a monitored alarm will alert the user, their keyholders

A visible alarm system is a strong deterrent to potential burglars, as criminals are less likely to target a home that is protected.

In the event of a break-in, a monitored alarm will alert the user, their keyholders, and depending on the package they take out, the police, ensuring a swift response to an alarm activation.

2. Light up the dark

Well-lit exteriors make a home less appealing to potential intruders. Install motion-activated lights around any entry points, particularly porches, and gardens, which alert the user to movement on their property. 

This will also prevent burglars from operating under the cloak of darkness and increase the chance of a passerby spotting suspicious activity.

3. Trim garden landscape

Thieves look for escape routes and hiding spots when deciding which homes to break into, making gardens with high, overgrown hedges more likely to be targeted. This is especially true in the darker evenings, so be sure to give the garden a thorough tidy-up to make the property less likely to be targeted. 

It’s also advisable to ensure any tools are locked away in sheds and garages that could assist a burglar such as ladders, or a garden spade to force entry.

4. Be smart with lights

Programming lights to come on at different times throughout the night will help deter burglars

Using smart plugs allows users to turn on a few well-appointed lights and radios or televisions from any location from their phone. Used in conjunction with an outdoor camera or video doorbell, users can have lamps plugged into smart plugs come on when motion is detected. 

Programming lights to come on at different times throughout the night will help to deter burglars by making the property look occupied. 

5. Purchase a smart doorbell or outdoor camera

Smart doorbells are an effective way to deter burglars as they provide evidence in the event of a break-in, package theft, or other suspicious activity around the home.

They also notify users when someone is at the door reducing the chance of being caught out by a late evening or early morning robbery. 

• New outdoor camera

Smart doorbells also act as a deterrent to unscrupulous door-to-door sellers and con artists, as video footage is recorded. In the event of a late-night door knock, users can see and speak to whoever is at the front door, without having to open the door.

ADT’s new outdoor camera also has two-way audio and a high-pitch deterrent siren so users can warn off anyone from the property to deter any further encroachment.