Technology

Home Security Planning: Don’t Forget the Driveway

Technological advances and price moderation have put home security equipment within reach for most American families. That’s good. But home security equipment is only as useful as the plan through which it is implemented. When it comes to home security planning, it is important to think through every possibility. Enter the driveway.

A typical home security plan looks at first floor windows and doors. It considers door locks, window security, and even the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. But how many people forget the driveway?

It turns out that the driveway plays a crucial role in both safety planning and home security. It is simultaneously a powerful first line of defense and a potential vulnerability. Giving some thought to how the driveway impacts home security is a good idea.

A Potential Vulnerability

Effective home security rests on two principles: early warning and deterrence. As far as early warning is concerned, the more quickly a homeowner is warned about potential problems, the more quickly a response can be mounted. As for deterrence, keeping burglars and other criminals away is the best defense overall.

The driveway can be utilized for both early warning and deterrence. Think of it this way: the driveway is a gateway to your home. If you take steps to secure it – like installing motion sensitive lighting and surveillance cameras – you can accomplish the two main principles of home security: giving yourself early warning and deterring criminals.

An Unprotected Driveway

An unprotected driveway does not offer much by way of defensive capabilities. A burglar could walk right up the driveway and look inside car windows. If the garage door is open, the space is fair game for burglars who think nothing of stealing valuable lawn tools and sports equipment.

Even more concerning are garages that are attached directly to homes. Why? Because they offer direct entrance into said homes. Combining an unprotected driveway with a garage door left open is an invitation to criminals. They know that interior doors between garages and homes normally are not as secure as they should be.

A First Line of Defense

Now that you know the threat aspects of an unprotected driveway, let’s talk about using your driveway as a first line of defense. We begin with the understanding that most criminals do not want to be noticed. Burglars don’t want to draw attention to themselves as they approach a home. That being the case, are they more likely to walk up the driveway or cut across the lawn?

Walking up the driveway is the more natural way to approach a home. As an added bonus, driveways tend to be on one side of the house or the other. Without cameras in place, the view of the driveway is obstructed from certain portions of the home. It all adds up to the driveway being a good option for approaching a targeted house.

Homeowners can turn that vulnerability into a first line of defense by continually monitoring their driveways with video cameras. Cameras can be installed as part of a whole home security system or completely separate from any other security tools.

The View Makes a Difference

Homeowners have access to a wide variety of wired and wireless video cameras. Cameras come with all sorts of features and at a variety of price points. Homeowners make their choices and then start thinking about installation.

When it comes to installation, the view a camera offers makes a difference. For example, Vivint Home Security explains on their website that “driveway cameras give homeowners a clear view of who enters and exits the property.” Notice that Vivint’s explanation does not mention a clear view of the front door.

It is absolutely a good idea to have an exterior security camera offering a clear view of the area in front of the front door. Such a camera could also give a partial view of the driveway. But if you are interested in making the driveway a first line of defense, a clear view of the entire driveway is key.

Mounting a camera just above the overhead door would make sense. Depending on how a house sits on its property, another option is to mount the camera at the corner. This provides a view of both the driveway and most of the front yard.

Keeping an Eye on Vehicles, Too

The idea behind surveilling the driveway with video cameras is to keep an eye on who is coming and going. But there is a secondary benefit: keeping an eye on one’s vehicles as well. Burglars don’t always attempt to enter targeted houses. Sometimes they are content with burglarizing cars. This is especially true at night.

A properly installed camera with the right view can record a car burglary in progress. It can provide valuable evidence that helps the authorities track down and arrest perpetrators. And that takes us to the topic of deterrence.

Criminals Do Not Like Cameras

Earlier you read that one of the primary components of effective home security is deterrence. If you can deter criminals from approaching your home, you will not have to worry about becoming a victim. Cameras help a great deal.

The truth is that criminals do not like cameras. They aren’t big fans of video surveillance. The reasoning is simple: cameras produce evidence it can be used for both investigative and prosecutorial purposes. And remember, criminals don’t want to be noticed. They are not looking to get caught.

Real-Time Notifications for Homeowners

Capping off this entire discussion is the idea of real-time notifications. Cameras designed to send such notifications keep homeowners abreast of what’s happening at home. A camera without real-time notification capabilities can record video for viewing after the fact, but they don’t help homeowners mount a response when a crime is in progress.

When it is time to come up with a home security and safety plan, it’s important that homeowners not forget the driveway. The driveway can be either a potential threat or a first line of defense. Homeowners get to choose.

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