Skills and How-To

Reading Time: 7 minutes

This is from an issue of Popular Science magazine from 1962 and it’s a real classic. I love watching combat sports like the UFC, kickboxing, and Muay Thai but reading articles like this one brings back memories of when I was a teenager and studying Shotokan Karate under a then local instructor.

In our time mixed martial arts and mixed martial arts training has risen to the point of interest that most people who are just starting out on their martial arts journey turn their “nose up” to the suggestion of training in traditional martial arts and that’s a shame really because traditional martial arts still have a lot to offer.

As I mentioned at the start of this article this was first published in an issue of Popular Science magazine from 1962 with the original contents taken from a book called Modern Judo and Self-Defense” by Harry Ewen. The original book can still be found on Amazon.com in hard copy (here is a link to the book on Amazon.com if you want to check it out).

Okay without further ado let’s get started with this classic text. I hope you enjoy it and if you would like to see more articles like this here at Making Sense of Manliness please let me know by leaving a comment in the comments section below…

Three Ways to Defend Yourself from Chokes from the Front

Finger Lock

Grab the thug’s little fingers, with your thumbs under the tips (fig. 1). The knuckles of your index fingers should be over the second joints of his little fingers (fig. 2). Move your wrists in a circular motion down toward your hips. Applied pressure will force the thug to his knees to avoid broken fingers. As he goes down, strike him in the face or jaw with your knee (fig. 3).

Nose Break

First, clasp your hands (fig. 1). Then, with fingers locked and elbows bent, swing hard from the waist and strike the thug’s forearms with the bony parts of your arms. Follow through until your clenched hands are above your assailant’s head and the choke is broken (fig 2). Finish by bringing down your still-clenched hands, with all the force you can muster, on the bridge of his nose (fig. 3). Stop short of this, naturally, while practicing this move.

Basic Arm Lock

Grasp the thug’s right forearm with both your hands (fig. 1). Holding his right wrist firmly with your left hand, slip your right thumb under his right palm and pull his arm toward you to ensure that it is straight (fig. 2).

Keep on turning until you are almost at your assailant’s side (fig. 3). Keep his hand elevated above the level of the rest of your arm (fig. 4). Now put all the weight of your body behind your left upper arm and elbow, pushing down on his right arm just above the elbow (fig. 5). Unless he submits, he will end up with a dislocated shoulder.

How to Break a Grip from the Front That Pins Your Arms

Force the thug to move back by giving him a couple of sharp jabs in the groin with your thumbs (fig. 1). As he draws his hips back, pivot on your left foot and move your right foot across in front of him (fig. 2). You should now be facing the same way he is. As you turn, slip your right arm behind his back and grasp his right sleeve with your left hand to keep his body close to yours (fig. 3)

Keep your knees bent slightly, maintain a steady pull on the attacker’s sleeve, and keep your right hand in the small of his back (fig. 4). Straightening your legs will now raise his feet off the ground (fig. 5). Your opponent is now balanced on your right hip, and you can toss him by turning him over as you continue to pull on his right sleeve (fig. 6).

How to Break a Bear Hug from the Rear

This defense works as well against an overarm grip as against an underarm one (fig. 1). With your feet apart, bend your knees, stoop down, and grab your assailant’s right ankle with both hands (fig. 2). Pull his ankle forward and upward to throw him on his rump (fig. 3).

Defense Against Kick Aimed at Face or Stomach

Trap the thug’s foot by bending your knees and crossing your hands in front of you (fig. 1). As the kicker’s shin contacts your wrists, turn your left hand (fig. 2) so that you have a firm hold around his calf. Assuming that the kicker uses his right leg, spin around to your right, throwing him forward on his face (fig. 3). Once he’s thrown, follow up by going down on the ground with him. In the final position (fig. 4), your left forearm is behind his calf, your left hand is on your own right bicep, and your right hand is on top of his foot. Use care when practicing this lock: doing it jerkily could dislocate the leg.

Three Ways to Subdue a Thug Who Tries to Choke You From Behind

Grab the choking forearm at the wrist with your left hand and place your right hand under the assailant’s elbow (fig. 1). Pull down with your left hand and push up with your right, turning and bending your body as you do so. This should give you enough space to extricate your head from between your attacker’s elbow and body. Bring your left foot back as you turn, so you are at his side (fig. 2). Twist his right arm behind his back (fig. 3).

When his right arm is twisted almost as far back as it will go, slip your left hand under his right wrist (fig. 4). Slide your left arm across his back (fig. 5) until your left hand is trapped in the crook of your left elbow. To apply the pressure part of the lock, raise your left elbow in a forward circular motion while holding your assailant’s right elbow steady with your right hand.

Shoulder Throw

Grab the thug’s sleeve at the elbow with your left hand while your right grips his shoulder (or as high up on his sleeve as you are able to reach) (fig. 1). Bend your knees, but keep your torso upright. Bend your body forward. Pull down and to the left with your left hand, forward and slightly to the left with your right (fig. 2). Push your hips back against your attacker’s thighs as you pull, and he’ll be thrown over your shoulder. (fig. 3)

Shoulder Drop

This throw starts the same way as the shoulder throw. You first grab your opponent’s right sleeve at elbow and shoulder. All you have to do now is drop onto your left knee, stretching your right leg sideways as you do so (fig. 1). Pull down with your right hand and the thug is tossed over your shoulder (fig. 2). This and other throws that are shown on these pages should be practiced only on well-padded surfaces or on a soft lawn.

Dislodging a One-Hand Hair Grab

Grab the attacker’s wrist with your right hand. Hold his hand on your head (or throat) as you turn right and raise your left arm high (fig. 2). Bring that arm down upon your foe’s upper arm, placing your left foot in front of him (fig. 3). If you do this swiftly, you may well injure your assailant. Better go slow when you’re practicing, though.

Two Defenses Against a Boxer

As your opponent aims a blow, spin to your right with your full weight on your right leg. Bend your left knee and then straighten that leg right out at the attacker, catching him just above his right knee with the sole of your left foot, backed by the full force of your body. As your left leg kicks out, jerk your head right. This counter-balances the weight being pushed left. It also gets your head nicely out of the way of the aimed fist of your opponent (fig. 1). An alternate method is to deflect the blow with your right forearm and counterattack with a knee to the groin (fig. 2). Skip the knee jab, however, during practice sessions.

How to Protect Yourself from a Knife Wielder

As the knifer raises his blade (fig. 1), parry the blow by striking his forearm with the edge of your own left forearm (fig. 2). Quickly seize his clothing near his right shoulder with your right hand. Then with a strong, but smooth movement, pull his right shoulder toward you while also pushing his right (knife) hand upward and away from your body (fig. 3).

Grab his right wrist with your left hand as you push his knife up, while still holding on to his shoulder with your right hand (fig. 4). Now move your right hand from the knife-wielder’s shoulder to his right elbow. Pushing down on that elbow keeps his knife arm straight (fig. 5). Pulling his wrist toward you applies a very drastic shoulder lock. Unless your assailant drops his knife, you can easily dislocate his shoulder.

Well, guys, I hope that you all enjoyed this article “blast from the past” and again please add your thoughts in the comments below. Also, let me know if you would like to see more reprints from the past like this one?

Reading Time: 8 minutes

There is no doubt that our home is the place where we spend quite a bit of time. It is the place we would like to be happy, safe and enjoy the best of time with our near and dear ones. It is quite obvious that we take all the trouble to spend the best part of our time, money and effort to ensure that our home is perfect in more ways than one.

There are quite a few things that we would like to take care as far as our home is concerned. To begin with, we would like to decorate our homes as best as we can. This does take some bit of thinking and at times, we also need to think out of the box.

Security Of The Home

Apart from decoration and comfort, you would, as a homeowner, do all that is necessary to secure your home. This is extremely critical and vital because of a number of reasons. There are increasing instances of home theft, burglaries, murders, and other such heinous crimes and activities.

Therefore, many homeowners spend a lot of money on fancy apparatuses and gadgets to secure the safety of the home and also its inmates. However, in this article, we will be spending more time finding out some simple, cost-effective and DIY ways that could increase the overall safety and well-being of homes without having to spend a fortune on the same.

Click the following link to read our article 12 DIY Home Security Hacks for Under $20 or better yet finish reading this article and then come back to it… it’s worth your time. Trust me on that.

We are confident that it will not only enhance the safety of your home but also help you to save quite a bit of money and the complexities surrounded by assigning the job to professionals.

Always Secure Your Doors

Some of the biggest robberies and burglaries happen through the first door. There are enough research studies to prove that almost 34% of thieves find the front door or the main door of the homes, the easiest route to committing robberies and burglaries (click here to read our article on how to secure a front door). Hence, the first and foremost task is to secure your main doors as best as one can.

While installing the front door, there are a few things that you must always keep in mind. Be sure that you thoroughly inspect everything about the exterior doors. The frames of the main doors are extremely critical and it should be very strong.

The hinges must be well protected. Further, it is common for most homes to have a mail slot. The mail slot must be carefully located so that the burglars are not able to find out ways to use it to break or pry open the door.

There are some common DIY reinforcements that are quite good and have stood the test of time and have been proven more often than not. Installing a deadbolt is considered one of the best options to secure your main door. You also could look into the possibility of adding a striking plate.

Spending some money and upgrading from conventional locks to smart locks is also something that you could consider. The instances of burglaries have been reduced significantly whenever homeowners have installed a video doorbell – this is the most popular one at Amazon.com.

Professional home security and safety specialists always recommend reinforcing sliding glass doors. This is because intruders always have a liking for sliding doors. Make sure that the sliding doors are as well protected as you possibly can think of.

The old-school thought of using a dowel or a window bar in the track could prevent the door from being forced open. If you are looking for a high-tech solution, you also could add a door sensor or even a glass break sensor – here is a set of four at Amazon.con. This will help you get an alert when the glass door is tampered with. It should be good enough to drive away thieves.

Keep The Windows Locked

Apart from the main door, back doors and side doors, windows are considered to be the most commonplace from where burglars enter the home. Though all windows do have latches inbuilt, experts believe that they are not of the best quality. In most cases they are flimsy.

A simple look and feel of it would most certainly help you to have an idea whether the window latches need strengthening or not. There are many simple ways that could be used for beefing up security. These include key-operated levers and locks.

While this is the basic that you could do to enhance home security, here are a few more things that you could keep in mind. Using a window security film to reinforce the glass on the windows could be a good option – here is a roll of the type of window film that I’m talking about. You also should install glass break sensors and window break sensors.

Adding window bars, and planting prickly bushes just under the first-floor window could be useful tips. However, be sure that the prickly bushes are trimmed regularly and properly. You also could add backyard light in the night because thieves and burglars love to operate under cover of darkness.

Let The Landscape Be Lighted Well

Criminals, robbers, vandals, burglars, and other such people always would like to be discreet in their operations. They hate to remain in the spotlight. If you spend some money and have generous outdoor lighting you can keep quite a few such bad elements away. It does not cost big money but it is highly effective.

You also could place adequate lights around the back and front yards. The same applies to pathways, and also near the garage and various other outdoor structures. You will certainly make the intruders jittery and unsure.

Further, it could also be useful for you and the members of your home. You could almost rule out the risk of an accidental stumble and fall because of darkness or insufficient lighting.

You could make the outdoor lighting system more effective by following some simple tips. Go in for solar-powered lights (these are best sellers on Amazon.com) because it could help save energy. Motion-activated lights could add to the overall safety of the front yard, backyard and the home in particular.

You could use a timer when installing outdoor lights. This could help save energy and avoid wastage quite a bit. There are other things that also could be effective while planning cost-effective DIY home security. They include wireless spotlights, and also encasing the outdoor lighting systems effectively to prevent damage by natural and also human elements.

Do Not Lose Sight Of The Garage

An analysis of all major and minor robberies and home burglaries point out to one thing. The garage is becoming on the most sought after entry point for criminals. Though some garages might be away from the main house, they could have some costly and valuable items stored inside them.

You should always make sure that all the doors of your garage are locked properly. This is for both the exterior and also the interior. It also would be a good idea to have the garage door opener in the house rather than keeping it in the garage.

This will prevent burglars to make use of the same either from the garage or from your cars. Many instances of car theft have been reported because the garage door opener was not kept inside the main home.

There are a few more things that one should keep in in mind. You could look into the possibility of upgrading to a smart garage door opener that is digitally operated. Keep the garage door window adequately covered.

This could help to keep the valuable things hidden inside. You also perhaps should seriously consider securing garage doors with the help of extra locks and this could include zip ties. Look for smart, cost-effective and DIY ways of home automation that also takes into account the needs and requirements of your garage.

Plan And Put In Place An Integrated Security System

It is important that your home should have some type of integrated security system. While there are many DIY options available out there, if you are serious about securing the safety of your home, you could look for professional home automation and monitoring system.

If you look around you will be able to identify some of the best home security options. There is something for every budget and to cater to each and every level of protection. You must sit with your family members and then evaluate your specific needs and cover each and every level of protection and security.

You could look into the security systems in your neighborhood and perhaps take a cue or two from the same. It also makes good sense to contact your local police department and get some idea about the crime statistics of your neighborhood.

You could decide on a security and safety system of your home, taking into account the threat perceptions that your neighborhood faces based on records and statistics.

Keep Your Wi-Fi Network Locked Down

There is no denying the fact that each and every home today has a wireless network. While this does make life easier for all of us, it also comes with its own share of problems and challenges. In most homes, your wireless network could be the doorway for all your vital financial and personal information.

When you use home automation, instead of making your home safer, it could make it vulnerable to an unwanted break-in. There are many tricks and tips that could help keep hackers away from your home network.

You should find out ways and means to ensure that your wireless router is well secured. Use the best of WPA2 encryption or enable WPA or Wi-Fi protected access. Ensure that all your home network and hidden and renamed regularly.

Spend some money and have a firewall in place. Do not cut corners when it comes to installing anti-malware and antivirus protection. Follow time tested and proven password regimens and protocols. Always remember to change passwords at least once in three months.

If you have kids in your home, use parental control software. Kids these days spend quite a bit of time going inline for fun and also for their education. Your duty as a parent is to ensure that your kids are kept safe from online predators and also cyberbullies. There are special routers, apps and software packages available for this purpose.

Try Eliminating Hiding Places

While there is no doubt that shrubs and trees help in giving a much better curb appeal, quite often they also become a handy tool for burglars to hide and execute their nefarious activities. It would be better to trim down plants and trees near your home that could be used for cover.

Instead, it would be a better idea to go in for smaller sized bushes and flowers. If you have windows that are adjacent to such plants and shrubs, you should either remove them or ensure that the windows are strengthened adequately.

This is a very simple way to secure your home and does not cost anything much. The main objective should be to thoroughly examine your outdoors as well as the indoors and be sure that you have done away with all possible hiding places.

Stools and ladders should be put away from the reach of possible intruders. Sheds, gates and other outdoor buildings should be locked properly. Use of security stickers and signs is also recommended. The role of a simple outdoor camera is vital and it could prevent many burglaries and thefts.

Have Security Cameras In Place

The importance of security cameras cannot be underestimated. We have all come across news articles where some of the most deadly burglaries have been foiled because of security cameras. They act as a big deterrent for the wrongdoers.

Even if burglaries and thefts happen, it is quite possible that these cameras could play a big role in finding out the culprits and have them arrested and punished as per the provisions of law. It also could help in recovering the stolen household belongings that in some cases could run into thousands of dollars.

You must do your research and choose the right home camera and surveillance systems. You must look for cameras having motion detection features, built-in wi-fi capabilities, night vision features, and the cameras should be nestled in a casing that is weatherproof.

The Final Word

In fine, the responsibility for ensuring home security lies clearly on the homeowners. Tenants will not be ready to invest money and time for obvious reasons. While there could be many who could propagate the use of professionals for doing the job, there are many DIY tips and suggestions that could help secure your home.

A few have been discussed above and if you look around, do your research and gather knowledge and information you will be able to identify a few more without much of a difficulty.

Reading Time: 8 minutes

by Tom

Being one of the responsible property owners out there, it’s your duty to keep your residence protected as well as safe. However, it is not the fact that you will be able to do so only by investing a considerable amount of cash.

There are many ways to get the job done without breaking the bank and sometimes you can do it free of cost as well. In the following paragraphs, we will be mentioning some surefire DIY home security hacks that will come of use to every homeowner out there.

But, first, we will talk about those things which are actually going on in the minds of the burglars.

Things Going On In the Minds of the Burglars:

• In case alarm systems are installed in your residence, about 90% of the burglars will try to avoid entering your house.
• The favorite time for the intruders to enter your home will be the daytime when none is present inside.
• It will be possible for the burglars to understand whether your abode is vacant or not by looking at the recycling bins, trashcans, and a lawn which is overgrown.
• Nearly 30% of the burglars are in the habit of entering residences without exerting any force by means of an unlocked window, door or any other opening.
• On some occasions, these intruders may also knock the front door and in case someone answers from inside they will come up with some fake stories.
• Instead of going to the bedroom of the kid, the housebreaker will go directly to the master bedroom.
• Most of them will think that someone is within the house in case they hear television or radio going on.
• The thieves dislike a couple of things, in particular, namely curious neighbors and barking canines.
• Next, we are going to mention the top 12 DIY home security hacks below $20.

1. Fortify the door

The first and foremost thing to protect your residence against robbers will be to strengthen your door. For this, you can do several things which will make sure that intruders cannot enter into your house forcibly.

• Make sure to swap the regular lock using long-throw deadbolts
• Prevent entry by using reinforced strike plates
• Make the door more secured by using long wooden screws drilled right into the doorframe
• Use a metal frame to replace the regular wooden frame
• Make use of more than 1 lock at various heights and a couple of them at the identical height
• Make use of a steel core door rather than a regular wooden door
• Make certain that the locking mechanisms are left exposed in the doors and windows

2. Make the sliding glass doors and the windows secure

The most common entry point of the intruders happens to be the front door. After the front door, the windows and the rest of the doors are the most common avenues of entering a house. Sliding doors, in particular, can be lifted from their tracks easily and this makes them vulnerable to the housebreakers. Windows are also targeted by these criminals.

However, it is feasible to keep something in the track of the windows and the sliding doors to prevent them from being forcibly opened. You may use a charlie bar in case of the sliding glass doors for this. Otherwise, using a wooden or metallic rod in the track will also not be a bad idea.

You can also secure the windows in the same manner. Screws can be placed in the tracks or additional locks can also be provided to the windows to make them secure.

3. Contact the post office

In case you are going to some distant place away from your residence, make sure to inform the local post office to place a hold on your mails. The same can be said of the daily newspaper delivery to your house.

In fact, a burglar can easily understand that your house is empty in case they see a pile of mails overflowing from your mailbox. A heap of newspapers at your doorstep will convey the same thing to them.

You might likewise request your friendly neighbors to collect the newspapers each morning while you are out of the station. This way you can avoid informing the burglars about the fact that your house is vacant.

4. False home security sign

Criminals have plenty of targets in front of them and your house might also be one of them. Therefore, you ought to do something that will not encourage them to enter your house by force. You can make use of a false security system sign (here is an ADT sign on Amazon.com) in the front yard. This will serve the purpose of protecting your house at a relatively inexpensive rate.

5. Affordable door and window alarms

As mentioned earlier, robbers prefer to enter through the windows, and in case you do not remember to lock them you will be inviting your own danger. Try to get hold of several door as well as window alarms and install those on every window and door in your house. The alarm is going to sound once a window is opened by anyone within your residence. Check out these ones on Amazon.com.

6. Ensure that your house is taken care of while you away

Suppose you are going to spend your vacation on foreign soil for a couple of months. In that case, make sure to request your helpful neighbors to mow the lawn at regular intervals during your absence. If the lawn isn’t mowed for a couple of months, the burglars can easily comprehend the fact that none is there in the house to take care of the lawn.

The same rule applies in case of snow piles up in your backyard during the winter months. The absence of any footprint and snow shoveling will inform the thieves that your house is empty.

Consequently, always request or appoint someone to look after your home while you are away. This will aid you to protect your house from the burglars and you will also be able to avoid paying fines to the authorities that they can impose against your property.

7. Get a dog

 

It is a fact that dog is man’s best friend, and this has been aptly demonstrated by the way in which the pooches protect their masters in times of need. Try to get hold of a dog for safeguarding your property while you are not there.

The sound made by these animals will be adequate to drive any burglar away from your house. Even though your dog belongs to a small breed like a Chihuahua, the sound made by them will be enough to wake you up from your sleep in the middle of the night.

If there is ample time, you might likewise train your pet on how to safeguard your home. You will come across lots of dog-training classes out there, and one of them can impart the necessary training to your pooch.

8. Let everything be illuminated

Robbers hate lights, particularly while they are about to enter your house in the wee hours. Lights will help to expose the hiding spots of these offenders and they will be in all sorts of trouble.

When it comes to outdoor lighting, it will be a smart idea to install motion-sensor or automatic lighting on the outskirts of the garage, the back patio, or any other entrance to your home. You will find different types of affordable options on the market to choose from. These are nice… check them out at Amazon.com.

For indoor lighting, you may make use of the outdated Christmas lights for lighting up your abode while you are away, and connect them to a lamp inside your house. You can switch on the lamp using a timer and switch it off as well from a remote distance. In this way, you will be able to make it appear that you are present in your abode.

9. Conceal the precious items

It is the natural propensity of the offenders to enter your house stealthily and also leave it as soon as possible after stealing your valuable items as well as jewelry. Being a responsible property owner it is your duty to secure your home, and therefore, you should make every effort to protect these items in the best possible way.

For this, it will be a prudent step to purchase a safe which will help you to get the job done impeccably. You can hide the precious items within the safe in your abode. A safe that resembles an electrical outlet or a wall clock safe will serve you just fine.

Check out this awesome Fire-resistant safe at Amazon…

10. Make the garage secure

It is not known to many folks out there that they ought to safeguard the garage from the intruders given that they are likely to store costly equipment right there, not to mention their cars as well. The garage can be secured in the following ways:

•Locking the door which leads to your room from the garage

•Closing the garage door such that it is impossible for any passerby to understand what’s going on inside

•Purchasing a motion sensor light and installing it above the garage… see the link above to motion sensor light…

•Trying not to leave the garage door opener in your vehicle particularly while the automobile is parked in the parking lot.

11. Reconsider the “Hide-a-key”

It is a fact that most of the individuals are aware of the “hide-a-key” trick. On some occasions, you would like to hide your key somewhere else apart from your residence which might include your porch, under a plant or a rock, the welcome mat, or any location similar to that.

However, the unfortunate thing is that the intruders are aware of this fact too, and it is rather simple for them to locate your hide-a-key and enter your house while you are outside. It is similar to leaving the keys on top of your vehicle’s sun visor. Burglars are experienced enough to detect them without much problem at all.

In case you plan to use a hide-a-key make it a point to find out a spot which is not in the close vicinity of the door which the key unlocks. Try to conceal the key somewhere which is at least 30 feet away from your residence. However, the most sensible thing will be to avoid using this option at all.

The reason for this is that in case you are being observed by any criminal that you are in the habit of checking a particular spot prior to unlocking the front door, they will be able to comprehend that it is the hiding place of your key. Thus, they won’t have any problem to force into your home.

This hide-a-key solution looks just like a rock… place it where rocks would normally be in a location away from your house and you’ll be golden and never be locked out again. Check it out on Amazon.com…

12. Set up a video doorbell

It will be possible to control who is permissible to enter your home with the aid of a smart lock while a video doorbell (this is the top of the line video doorbell on Amazon.com) will enable you to observe who has arrived at your door. In case you own both of these helpful items, you won’t find it difficult to see who has come to your doorsteps and then it can be unlocked remotely in case you have no problems in letting them in.

The video doorbell will likewise allow you to monitor the porch in case you have any package delivered to you in your absence. You will come across lots of different types of doorbells on the market at present and you will never run out of choice till you find the one within your budget.

Conclusion:

All these DIY home security hacks are not only meant to provide your home with total security against any intruder, but these will also likewise aid in minimizing any possibility of your home to become the target of the criminals.

Apart from these above-mentioned home security tips and tricks, there are several more out there as well. Feel free to look out for these DIY home security solutions on the web where you will come across lots of video tutorials that will be available to you for free. Experiment with several of these hacks till you find some that are according to your preference.

Reading Time: 6 minutes

If you’re looking to save yourself from the possibilities of a potential home break-in, it is high time you consider upgrading your front-door security. But how exactly do you get your security a notch- above? What measures should you take? Let’s explore!

First Upgrade your Locks

Locks are one of the most essential aspects of your front door security. So, before anything else, you need to invest in a good set of locks. One of the best options here would be a deadbolt lock. These locks are solid, hardy and incredibly useful.

Once you get the lock, make sure the deadbolt of your door completely extends to the opening of the door jam. This should be further reinforced with a strong metal strike plate.

Also, while choosing a lock, do make sure that the bolt doesn’t have any exposed set of exterior screws. This will ensure an added layer of security.

Finally, you should also take the time to reinforce your existing key locks. Using cylinder guards is a good idea here. These guards around your locks will prevent from trying to wrench your locks loose.

Next, Get a Security Screen

Having two doors is always better than having a single one. And this is exactly why you need a security screen. For the uninitiated, security screens are the pierced metal barriers that have enough space for extra locks. They are usually installed in the open along with the point of the ingress. This, in turn, prevents the possibility of attacks that involve kicking your door wide open.

The extra locks in the security screen will also prevent the possibilities of covert entry. This is because you have an added deadbolt and knob as an add-on for the security of your front door. The best part: since these security screens have pierced openings, you can easily open the door and see everything that’s happening outside without involving in the risk of getting yourself outside. Security screens offer more vision than regular peepholes.

While choosing a security screen for your front door, make sure the product is durable enough here is a nice one on Amazon.com. A durable and high-quality product will go a long way in preventing destructive entry. In fact, the stronger the metal is, the better will be your defense.

Then Lengthen the Set Screws

If you’re looking for a quick, affordable DIY home security hack, this is one of the best ways to go about it. For this, all you must do is replace your existing set screws with longer, 3-inch screws. But how does this work in the first place? Well, the idea is simple.

When your standard door is kicked, the pressure is exerted by the bolt of your deadbolt. Now, when you have smaller set screws, your strike plate will only be secured till the door trim. Since this trim isn’t usually strong, the strike plate will be easily destroyed.

Finally, your bolt won’t be able to extend anywhere. Luckily, with 3-inch set screws, you’d be biting along the stud of your door jam. This will further prevent your strike plate from being easily destroyed.

Consider Strengthening the Glass Surfaces

Most front doors are located at a proximity with windows. Some of them even feature glass windows on them. Either way, both the arrangements can cause major damage to your front door security, if not addressed the right way. There are three ways in which you can deal with the issue.

First, get rid of the glass so that if someone smashes it, they won’t be able to get their hands inside for manipulating the thumb turn on the other end.

Next, try installing bars on the glass. As you do this, make sure the bars are close enough, thereby preventing the possibility of anyone reaching them. Finally, place a security film on your windows to offer an extra notch of security.

This will keep your windows safe and prevent the possibility of sudden, unannounced disruptions. You can order a roll of security film from Amazon.com click here to check the current price.

If Possible Get a Surveillance System

If you really want to protect your loved ones from potential danger, it is high time you invest in a good surveillance system. A good security system will help you deter burglars while also identifying intruders. But in order for this to happen, you need to place the camera the right way.

To start off, try to place the camera right above your front door. Make sure this is completely visible from your subsequent street. Now, get another camera and position it directly, pointing to your door. This will further ensure that you get the footage from different angles. Since this will also give you the footage of the intruder’s face, it is especially useful.

Here is the wireless camera system that I use. I bought this from Amazon a few months ago and so far it’s worked great and super easy to set up. You can click this link to see it at Amazon.com.

In addition to deterring burglars, the right security system will also play a major role in helping you monitor your deliveries and kids when they play outside. At the end of the day, you’ll be at complete peace of mind.

Strengthen your Door Frame

If you’re really looking forward to proper home security, take adequate measures in strengthening your door frame. While most external doors are built quite sturdy, not all of them fall under this category. Also, if your door is hollow in the interior, it’ll be easy to break through even if its body is made from metal.

So, before anything else, check if your front door is completely solid. Double-check to ensure that it isn’t hollow in the interior parts. Since solid wood doors are much better than their hollow core variants, it is always better to invest in a good, solid door frame.

Also, while you strengthen the front door, don’t ignore your back doors either. Ideally, your back door will need the same degree of security as your main door. So, add deadbolts, sophisticated locks, and strike plates to your back door as well.

If your door is sliding, try getting key locks both at the top and the bottom. Alternatively, you can also get a metal rod and fit it along your door’s track. This will prevent it from automatically sliding open, while you’ve locked the door.

Door Jammers and Security Bars

Another way to strengthen the security of your front doors is by using sophisticated tools. While there are many tools that can help you here, some of the top options include:

Door lock Reinforcer – These tools are positioned along with the existing lock of your door for offering extra security when someone picks or tries to break the lock for forcefully entering your house.

These reinforcers are extremely portable, and you can conveniently install them by snapping them in place along with the lock. However, before investing in a good reinforcer, check if the device works with your lock because certain products don’t work well with smart and horizontal locks.

Door Jammers- Made from plastic or steel, door jammers are yet another common measure for notching up your front door’s security. Ideally, a door jammer will be placed on the floor while having a distance of at least half an inch from your door.

These devices are pressure mounted for added portability and can be easily removed during emergencies. Click here to see an example of a door jammer.

Door Security Bars- These devices are kept right at the center of your door for preventing burglars from directly kicking your door. While some are hardware mounted variants, others can be easily installed with their pressure-mounting functionality.

Available in plenty of shapes and sizes, you can easily adjust these bars with the width of your door.

Get Wide-Angled Peep Holes

One of the most common ways criminals intrude your privacy is by knocking on your door or ringing the doorbell. Once you gullibly answer the door, they forcibly intrude in your property. Yes, this can even happen when your door is partially open.

A good way to avoid this issue is by getting wide-angled peepholes. Once you have this installed, you’d get to know if the person at the other end of the door is carrying any harmful tools.

Consider Instaling Metal Grills

If you have a glazed or semi-glazed door, you can always notch up its security by getting decorative metal grills in the interior of your door. Alternatively, you can also add a protective layer along the back of your door’s glass.

If you’re planning to replace the glass or purchase side panel or glazed door, make sure the glass is completely laminated. In this way, it’ll hold itself in place even when it is completely shattered. Also, when a laminated door is installed from the interior, it can’t be easily removed from outside, thanks to its solid beading.

Strike Box

A strike box will strengthen your front door and prevent intruders from barging into your home. This is usually done by getting the existing strike plates replaced with a stronger structure that features a metal pocket, big plates, and a strong connection to the wall studs. For accommodating this added feature, you’ll have to enlarge both the recesses of your cover plate as well as the hole in your jam.

The Bottom Line

Once you adopt the given measures you will successfully end up securing your front door against burglars, strangers, and intruders. Since the given hacks are easily accessible and simple to follow, we are sure it won’t take you much time to get through.

Reading Time: 8 minutes

If you’re looking for simple and effective tips to secure your apartment without breaking your bank account then you’ve come to the right place……

Buying a ready-to-occupy or customized apartment is just one part of the story. There also is the need to ensure that the apartment remains in the best of the condition and also is safe and secure. It is common for most homeowners and tenants to hire professionals to take care of apartment security.

While there is no doubt that this could be a good decision, there are also many other options that could help you to secure your apartment without having to burn a big hole in the pocket.

How Do The Minds Of Burglars Work? 🤔

No burglar would like to get noticed as he or she attempts to rob or burgle a home. Hence, if they find that the home has surveillance cameras and other such monitoring systems, they would like to stay away from such homes.

Contrary to opinions and beliefs, robbers find day-time the most appropriate for burgling. This is because in most cases, the apartments and homes remain unoccupied and totally empty of human beings because of obvious reasons.

Robbers are intelligent in guessing whether an apartment is occupied or not. They look garbage bins, recycling containers and trashcans. A lawn that is unkempt and overgrown is a definite sign that the apartment is question could be unoccupied at a particular point in time.

Burglars always love to enter into a home without forced breakages as much as possible. They prefer improperly sealed or closed windows and doors as the easiest and safest means to break into a house and rob it.

Checking and testing the waters is a tactic that is often used by robbers and burglars. They knock at the front door or ring the bell and if there is a response from within, they come out with some vague and false stories. Professional robbers and burglars will not just break into the homes suddenly.

They certainly try and understand the overall plan of the home. They would rather break into the master bedroom instead of the kids’ bedroom. This is because they know for sure that some of the most valuable household belongings could be kept in the master bedrooms.

When we talk about intelligent security tips, we should bear in mind that robbers would not like to risk entering homes where there is the sound of a television or sound system running.

Now that we have some idea as to how the minds of the robbers work, we are happy to share some useful and pertinent information that could be quite efficient and useful. These ideas and tips will not cost a fortune and it could be completed just under $30. We firmly believe that they will be useful for all those apartment owners, who are running on a tight budget.

Further, it could be useful for those who are moving into an apartment on rent as a new entrant. Once a person decides to buy an apartment, in almost nine out of ten cases, he or she would have spent almost their entire savings and would also be in a big debt because of mortgage loans.

In such situations, spending a few thousand dollars more on answering for the question of how to secure an apartment could certainly be a tough ask.

They certainly would be on the lookout for cost-effective tips. We are sure that the following tips could be useful in more ways than one. They are all affordable but at the same time, we also believe that they are also efficient and perhaps even foolproof.

Get Inputs From The Local Police Station 👮

Expenditure: Free – No Cost

There is no doubt that each and every neighborhood has a police station. It contains complete information about the law and order situation, in general, It has full details regarding the number of successful and attempted break-ins robberies and other such criminal activities.

They also will be able to give specific details about the specific localities that are at higher risk for such break-ins and robberies. This will help you to plan your apartment security accordingly and incorporate special features in areas that are more at risk.

Quality Window Locks

Expenditure: Under $10

According to cops and also experts who research burglaries and robberies, windows are considered to be the most vulnerable when it comes to home security. The job for robbers becomes easier if your window is located near a fire escape ladder.

Hence, you must try and find out ways and means by which it is possible to strengthen your windows. Simple and low-cost window locks can do the job adequately well. You have many options to choose from, including window wedge, sliding window locks and burgle bars.

You must do your research and then choose the right taking into account the exact needs and requirements depending on the type of windows that you have in your apartments. They are easy to install and by following simple DIY tips, anyone should be able to install the same.

Window And Door Alarms

Expenditure: A Pack Of 4 would cost around $20

This is another extremely cost-effective way of protecting your apartments from burglaries. It takes just five minutes to install these alarm systems. They work the same way as window and door alarms that are installed by security companies.

You don’t have to pay anything extra for monitoring the same. The siren or alarm is built right into the sensor. The sensors also have keypads. These keypads help in arming and disarming the system.

When you are home, you could disarm the system and open the windows and doors and enjoy some fresh air, especially during summer. They are extremely useful and robbers are paranoid about touching homes that have door alarms and windows.

Glass Break Alarms

Expenditure: around $12 or $25 for four.

Glass break alarms are considered extremely useful and effective in preventing robberies and burglaries. You could go in for window bars, or even choose a shatterproof film. These make it extremely hard for robbers to break the glass of your windows.

There are also vibration alarm systems that can be placed right to your glass window and is capable of detecting vibrations. If there is an attempt to break the window or open the window when the alarm is set, it will send a warning signal.

This will alert your neighbors and will also deter to robber to carry on further with the robberies. I like these ones that you can get at Amazon.com.

Door Barricades

Expenditure: Below $30

It takes just around a minute to install door barricades. The door is the most common place where intruders try their luck out. Just locking the doorknob may not be enough to completely secure your home.

Unless you have a deadbolt lock, it is quite easy for robbers to break through your door. These days even deadbolt locks can be easily broken open using sophisticated bump keys. This is where door barricades could come in handy. Check out current pricing here.

This is a device that helps to physically keep the door closed. They are much more effective than deadbolt locks. They could be perfectly suitable for rented apartments where the owners do not permit drilling holes in the floor.

Door Stop Alarms

Expenditure: About $7

If you are not keen on choosing the barricade route and are looking at some other efficient security tips then going in for door stop alarms could be the right choice. There are many apartment inhabitants who do not like to use the barricades even during the day.

This has a simple technology and it does work quite effectively and efficiently as far as securing your home is concerned. The alarm sits on the floor and a lever is pushed down when somebody tries to open the door.

Once the lever is pushed down, it sets off an alarm and sends an alert that somebody might have entered through your door. You can check out the ones that I use at Amazon.com.

Dummy Security Cameras 🎦

Expenditure: Under $8

If you cannot spend big money on real security or surveillance cameras, it would be always better to look for something that is less expensive but also effective at the same time. You could install something that is not real but looks almost real.

This will make the intruders believe that they are entering a high-risk area. In nine out of ten cases, it has been found that intruders would prefer keeping away from homes. At the end of the day, burglars know that there is no point in robbing or burgling if the chances of getting caught are extremely high.

Just the thought that the home is a high-risk target is enough to keep the intruders away. We are talking about a dummy camera. They are low-cost but they look almost like real. In fact, at times even experts find it difficult to differentiate the dummy cameras from the real ones.

It comes with a blinking camera and it blinks, thereby giving it a near-natural look. The battery that powers the LED blinking lights lasts for many months. Yes, it is a fact that dummy cameras are not like real ones in terms of functionalities and features. It can have the desired impact on the intruders and robbers and act as a powerful deterrent.

You can, later, if you wish to go in for a real camera so that the real needs and requirements are taken care of. There are different models and makes of dummy cameras and if you do your research, you will be able to come across some of the best ones.

As mentioned above, they look as good as real cameras and it takes quite a bit of time and effort to make out that they are dummy ones. Robbers work under a lot of stress and time is against them always. Hence, it is almost impossible. These ones at Amazon are low-cost for a set of four.

Home Security Stickers

Expenditure: Just $8 for a whole pack.

Home security stickers, work almost like dummy security cameras. You can place stickers that talk about security systems on your doors and windows. In most cases, it will act as a deterrent and will shoo away possible intruders.

This is because they will be convinced the particular apartment may not be the right one to break into. You could install the security camera up there and back it up with a warning sticker stating that “the home is under camera surveillance”.Robbers will for sure be terrified and would rather try their luck elsewhere.

Hence, by spending a small amount, you could keep your home safe and in good condition. It would be better to buy these stickers along with a dummy camera. These are generally sold as a bundle along with dummy cameras.

Even if the intruders miss out on the cameras will most certainly not miss the colorful and eye-catchy stickers that have big words stating the fact that the home is under surveillance. You could also do away with the dummy cameras and instead go in for stickers making bold and fearful announcements.

You could use stickers that talk about the cameras and monitoring devices being placed out of sight and in indiscreet places

Solar Spotlights

Expenditure: $26

These are easy to install and cost-effective ways to protect your apartment from unwanted intruders and robbers. They offer around 45 feet of illumination range. They come in weatherproof casings. They certainly can work on the psyche of robbers and intruders.

This is because they would always like to carry on their work without being seen. These outdoor solar spotlights could give everything away as far as the robbers are concerned. However, it may not work on cloudy days and dark winter months because of the lack of sunlight that is needed to power the solar spotlights.

Also installing these could be against the rules at some apartment complexes.

Etched Glass Window Film

Expenditure: Under $15

This could be helpful for keeping prying eyes away from the insides of the apartment. It could keep valuables like jewelry, clothing, electronics, and furniture out of view. It will reduce the temptation psyche of the robbers.

It is user-friendly and can be installed using simple DIY steps. These window films while ensuring privacy do not hinder the flow of light inside the rooms. They are available both in readymade sizes and also customized sizes.

They do not have a sticky adhesive that could damage the window glasses. You must research and buy only fully opaque ones failing which it may not serve the purpose.

Conclusion

The above are some simple hacks and tips to secure your apartment will go a long way in enhancing overall apartment security. The inhabitants of the apartments or the apartment owners can do it on their own without the need for professional help (and the cost).

Finally, these tips are extremely cost-effective and could prevent big and gaping holes in your pocket in the name of professionally thought out and implemented apartment security tips and solutions.