During our lifetime, it can be argued that our home is our single biggest purchase. As we spend so many years of our lives paying towards a mortgage, what could be more important than protecting such an asset, in addition to our families that life there? Homes that lack deterrents around outdoor boundaries are very vulnerable to criminal behaviour. Yet there are many easy, cheap and highly effective ways to prevent such occurrences. In this post, we have outlined a range of ideas that can provide immediate deterrents for suspect burglars. Here are our best outdoor security tips now that spring is here.

Thorny and dense bushes are difficult to climb over and could make a painful experience for a potential intruder. Consider planting some bushes with thorns. Such varieties include Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Berberis.

Trellises placed at the top of a fence will not hold an intruders weight. Consider attaching these to your existing fence for a quick and easy way to detract intruders. Ensure that the trellis is at least 30 cm tall. You could even grow roses up it as the thorns will detract intruders further.

An alternative to using trellis is to run wire between posts. You can then grow roses up this, which distract potential intruders. This is one of the overlooked outdoor security tips today.

Hedges and fences that are tall can provide a potential hiding place for intruders. Ensure that when installing fences, they are no taller than one meter in height.

Back gates that are not fully secured or use poor quality padlocks are an easy entry point for potential intruders. Ensure that you use a good quality padlock. Additionally, make sure that clutch-head screws are used to attach the hinges. A gate that can simply lif off its hinges provides no deterrent whatsoever!

Regular concrete pathways and paving slabs are a popular choice for many gardens. However, they do little in the way of deterring intruders. By installing gravel paths, the likelihood of hearing any potential intruder is increases.

Although it can be considered an added unwanted expense, homes that do not have CCTV installed are much more vulnerable to criminal activity. Furthermore, if an incident did occur, the owner would not be able to review the footage, which can be used as evidence by police. Consider installing a CCTV system in your property. They are cheaper than you think, and the potential benefit could be immense.

Properties with dark perimeters can be appealing to burglars. This significantly reduces the risk of sight or capture. Consider some outdoor motion sensor activated lighting installed. Such devices are affordable and easy to install and provide an immediate deterrent for unwanted visitors lurking around your property during the darker hours.

We spend many years of our lives paying towards a mortgage and our home can be regarded as one of the single biggest purchases we make in our lives. Yet so many people leave perimeters of their homes vulnerable to unwanted visitors and criminal behaviour. In this post, we have outlined a range of quick, affordable and easy to implement ideas that can help you protect your property for you and your family.