A key reason for choosing a remote retreat in a secluded location is the greater degree of security. Accordingly, many of the homes featured at SurvivalRealty feature ioslated end-of-the-road locations, are fully fenced and gated, and may even have safe rooms or other defensive features.
But regardless of where your dwelling is located, it’s possible to increase your level of security against burglary, home invasion, or other threats.
Home security has two key components:
- Be a less attractive target—reducing the risk that a crime will be attempted
- Be a harder target—reducing the risk that an attempted crime will be completed.
Be Security and Privacy Conscious
The simplest way to discourage drive-by “crimes of opportunity” is to avoid leaving ready temptations easily visible. A garage door or back door left ajar, a gate or window left open, or a car left unlocked may be an irresistable target, simply due to how easy it appears to be. Being conscious about keeping doors and windows closed and locked. If leaving windows open for ventilation, use a track lock or stop bar to prevent them from being opened from the outside.
Next, avoid making your residence conspicuous as a lucrative target. If you drive a luxury car, keep it out of sight in the garage. If you have particularly valuable electronics, art, or other items, do not place them in direct sight from the street.
Exterior
Exposure is a key deterrent. The potential for an intruder to be seen by a neighbor or passing driver while trying to gain entry to your home makes forced entry much less attractive. Avoid creating an area where an intruder can gain access without being visible to passersby.
Additional exposure is created with use of security cameras. Wireless cameras have become relatively cheap and easy to install. They provide an additional deterrent, by suggesting that any intrustion could not be attmepted without being noted and documented.
Except for a full-height perimeter fence with locked gates, don’t rely on a fenced yard to deter intruders. Low fences are easy to jump over, and a full height fence can actually allow an intruder to work with greater privacy, if the gate is not locked.
Entry Points
Your next priority to strengthen the entry points to your home. Making these points more resistant can defeat a crime before entry is gained. (One important note—any barrier can have potential hazards, such as hampering escape in the case of a fire, or preventing emergency workers from gaining access.)
Exterior doors should have a deadbolt at a minimum, and preferably a full reinforcement kit, such as the Door Armor kit offered by Armor Concepts. This prevents quick access by “kicking in” the door. Sliding doors and french doors are more difficult to secure, but can be strengthened by the addition of a security stop, or even transparent anti-shatter film, depending on your needs.
Windows should minimally be protected with latches and stop bars or track locks. Special attention should be given to ground-level or basement windows, which are easily accessible and out of sight. This is another excellent reason to have security cameras installed to cover the less visible areas of your home.
Inside
Assuming that a burglar does gain access to your home, your next goal is to minimize the potential loss. Don’t leave valuable items sitting unsecured and in plain sight. A thorough burglar will find even hidden items, but there’s no need to make it easy.
Keep guns and valuables in a vault. Keep that vault out of sight, and securely bolt it to your floor or walls. If you’ll be away from home for an extended period, place any additional valuable items in your vault, if space permits.
Research the applicable laws and options for self-defense in your locale, and prepare appropriately. This may mean buying a weapon, finding a safe and accessible place to store it, and getting requisite training to use it effectively and safely.
Train the members of your household in basic safety measures. Make sure they know when and who they should open the door for, and to keep doors and windows secured.
Rural Homes
A location in the suburbs or an urban area will always be vulnerable to crime, because the home is readily accessible from public thoroughfares. If only a few steps across the yard or two the front door, it’s very hard to have anything except a single secured perimeter, right at your doorstep.
Choosing a location with more acreage, and in a more remote location, has the benefit of putting more space between your dwelling and a potential intruder. For example, a locked gate at your driveway and perimeter fence present an additional obstacle. A larger yard means that an intruder cannot appear to be simply “walking by,” and has to risk more exposure before attempting entry.
One important proviso—a isolated location can be an excellent deterrent against un-premeditated crime, but can also be more vulnerable to purposeful burglars or robbers, who can expect to be safe from detection. Additionally, remote locations will have longer response times to 911 calls or burglar alarms. You’ll need to take additional thought to protecting your family, because a greater portion of that responsibility will lie on you.
Next Steps
Most of these steps can be accomplish whether you live in an apartment, the suburbs, or in a rural area. Whatever your current situation, there are steps ou can take now to have your family better prepared and more resilient.
If you’d like to learn more about establishing a self-sufficient and resilient home, check out our new book, Survival Retreats & Relocation. Whether you are planning to relocate to a remote retreat, or want to be better prepared in your current location, you can find the insights you need to prepare.
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