Some old school things need to live on in our culture—like those awesome vintage trailers, Coca Cola, and rock n’ roll. Other things…maybe not so much. Pimento loaves, Jell-O rings, and Yugos can have an honored place in our memory, but we’ve moved on. The same should be true for old school security practices. Though the practices our parents grew up with may have worked back in the day, they do not offer the kind of security needed today. Criminals have gotten increasingly sophisticated and emboldened and yesterday’s security practices are now not just ineffective, they can be downright dangerous.

The good news is, home security and automation technologies offer a better alternative.

Don’t Look Under the Doormat

Believe it or not, putting a key under the welcome mat is not uncommon, even today. It may be handy but it is also dangerous. The number one point of entry for burglars is the front door, and the chances are pretty good that they will check under the mat (and above the door jamb) for a key, just in case. For a criminal, the key under the doormat is as good as an unlocked door.

The better alternative is using home security smart locks and keyless entry. With this you never need to leave a key out for the kids, or visitors. You just assign a code or unlock the door remotely from your smart phone. This way you keep intruders out, and have an added advantage of getting alerts when the code is used so you know that loved ones made it home safely.

Those Plastic Rocks Never Look Real, Anyway

Today’s fake rocks look much more realistic than those from years ago, but still fairly easy to spot is you are a savvy burglar—or even if you are not. If you happen to lose your keys frequently or have a need to grant access to family, friends, or service professionals opt out of the fake rock. It is as good as gold to a criminal.

Instead, consider the options home automation offers. With home automation and geofencing, your doors can unlock automatically when you are within range, or you can open the doors for loved ones from a smartphone or tablet.

Leaving the Lights on is a Beacon

Walking into a lit home is smart. Leaving the lights on the entire time you are gone is not. Leaving the lights on as a security strategy just doesn’t work. Having the lights on and no other signs of life acts as a beacon for burglars.

A much better practice is using home automation to simulate your presence. Having lights, electronics, and appliances go off and on at unpredictable intervals makes it difficult to discern whether the home is occupied or not. For the criminal, the risk is too high.

Peep Hole or Video Doorbell, Who Wins?

The video doorbell wins hands down in this old school vs new school battle. The peephole has been around a long time and served us well, but the video doorbell is a formidable challenger. With the peephole, you need to get close to the door to see out, which not only gives away that someone is home, it can put in the way of danger. It only offers a vary warped and narrow view, and useless in the dark. You can answer the door from anywhere, whether you are home or not, using the video doorbell. A potential criminal never knows you are away, and you never have to get close to the door. HD video doorbells offer a wide view, work in low light, and act as an extra home security camera.

Keep the retro trailers, and all things cool, but ditch outdated security practices. Brinton Security Services is dedicated to serving the community with high-tech security solutions and help protect what matters.