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To get a better understanding of home security in Canada, we gathered interesting home security statistics compiled from home security firms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- A residential break-in occurs every 90 seconds<\/strong> in Canada. (SGI Canada<\/a>)<\/li>
- More than 80% of break-ins occur in the daylight<\/strong>. (SGI Canada<\/a>)<\/li>
- Most burglars enter through a ground floor or basement<\/strong> door or window. (SGI Canada<\/a>)<\/li>
- Twenty-seven percent of Canadians depend on a loud or large dog to prevent break-ins<\/strong>. (AlarmForce Industries<\/a>)<\/li>
- Sixteen percent of Canadians rely on a baseball bat or golf club<\/strong> to take on break-ins. (AlarmForce Industries<\/a>)<\/li>
- In 2018, around 12% of all Canadian households utilized smart home security cameras<\/strong>. (Statista<\/a>)<\/li>
- In 2019, 51% of renters reported not having home security<\/strong>. In comparison, 31% of homeowners reported not having home security. (Statista<\/a>)<\/li>
- More than two-thirds of Canadians believe having home security increases their home\u2019s value<\/strong>. (AlarmForce Industries<\/a>)<\/li>
- The Smart Home segment Security in Canada is expected to have $598 million CAD<\/strong> ($472.8 million USD) in revenue in 2025. (Statista<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Home Security Interest by Province<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThroughout 2020, people searched for the term \u201chome security\u201d an average of 3,800 times per month in Canada. Google Trends reveals that in 2020, a majority of those searches were coming from Alberta<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second most interested province was Ontario<\/a>. Nova Scotia, Manitoba<\/a> and British Columbia<\/a> all have a similar amount of queries, which indicates that they have a similar concern about home security. Quebec<\/a> has the least amount of searches for \u201chome security.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
32 Home Security Tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
No matter which province you call home, there are safety precautions you can take to prevent a break-in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Secure Doors and Windows<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMost often, burglars enter the home through the doors or windows. The first way to prevent this is by locking your doors and windows. This might seem obvious, but thieves view an open or unlocked window or door as an invitation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also add layers of protection to these entry points. Here are some additional home security tips for securing doors and windows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Install a deadbolt on the front door for more security. If you\u2019re renting, ask the landlord to install one. <\/li>
- Be sure to secure your door\u2019s strike plate with at least 2.5 centimetre long screws. You may also choose to invest in a reinforced strike plate, as this is the weakest part of the door. <\/li>
- Put a wooden dowel in the track of your window or sliding glass door. If a burglar gets past the lock, the window won\u2019t be able to slide open. <\/li>
- If you are especially concerned with protecting your city dwelling, install burglar bars on your doors or windows.<\/li>
- Change the locks when you first move into a home. Previous owners and their acquaintances could still have access. If you move to a new rental, request a new front door lock and keys. <\/li>
- For extra protection, you can install window sensors. These will alert you when windows are opened and closed. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re renting or in a pinch on the road, Boris Milinkovich, owner and training director at True North Tradecraft<\/a>, suggests using a broken fork to secure the door. Milinkovich says, \u201cI\u2019ve used this trick when travelling for work and staying at hotels.\u201d It\u2019s a great option for renters who don\u2019t have permission to permanently alter the lock. Check out this video<\/a> to learn exactly how to make a fork door lock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t Forget About the Garage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you\u2019re considering the doors as an entry point, don\u2019t discount your garage door. The garage can often hold valuable items you\u2019ll want to keep safe. Even if your holiday decorations and old kids\u2019 toys aren\u2019t valuable enough to steal, the garage is still an entry point to the home, which will have more valuable belongings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some additional tips for securing the garage: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Don\u2019t leave your garage door opener visible in a car in the driveway. <\/li>
- Cut the emergency cord on your garage door opener to prevent an easy break-in<\/a>. <\/li>
- Keep the door in your home that connects to your garage locked. <\/li>
- If you have a service door (a door on the side of your garage that leads outside) be sure it has a deadbolt. This door is hidden from the street and can be an easy point of entry. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Make Your Home Appear Occupied<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBurglars know they\u2019ll run into trouble if someone is home when they try to break in. Make it appear like you\u2019re home even when you\u2019re away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Allan Baum, founder of Protection Plus<\/a>, suggests using a dog food bowl as a decoy. Baum explains, \u201cWhether you have a dog or not, leave any empty bowl outside your back door. A few dog toys would also help \u2014 nothing like Rover to keep the burglars away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some additional tricks for making burglars think you\u2019re at home include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Keep your home well lit. Invest in outdoor lighting and keep lights inside on. <\/li>
- To save energy, put your lighting on a timer<\/a>. <\/li>
- Try leaving a speaker or television on when you\u2019re away. You can use timers for these as well. <\/li>
- Don\u2019t leave packages on the porch or mail in the mailbox for more than a few days. This is a clear sign that you\u2019re not home. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Keep Expensive Items Hidden<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf it\u2019s clear from the outside that you have expensive items, a burglar will be more likely to risk a break-in. Investing in privacy will keep wandering eyes from landing on your home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some home security tips to improve the privacy of your home:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Invest in curtains and keep them closed when you\u2019re away. <\/li>
- Be especially aware of what\u2019s visible from the outside of your window. Do you have expensive electronics showing? You may want to consider repositioning them. <\/li>
- Try adding window film to your windows so no one can peek inside. <\/li>
- Shut all your blinds at night. With lights on inside, it\u2019s easy for someone to spy on you while staying hidden in the dark of the night. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Be Aware of Your Yard<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYour yard could be the perfect hiding spot for burglars, out of view from any passersby who could catch them. Be sure that you take care of your landscaping so that there\u2019s plenty of visibility from the street. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some home security tips for landscaping include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Trim trees and bushes that are close to your home. Overgrown shrubbery can serve as a handy place to hide. <\/li>
- Put away any ladders or stools after you use them in the yard. <\/li>
- Light any dark corners of your yard. You can also install motion sensor lights.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Rely on Your Neighbours<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile security systems can help, the best response team is living right next to you. Take advantage of friendly neighbours by using them as part of your security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- When you move to a new home, be sure to meet your neighbours. If they know you, they will be more likely to notice if someone unfamiliar is trying to break in.\u00a0<\/li>
- If you\u2019re going on vacation, ask your neighbours to take your trash cans to the curb and bring them back in. This will give the appearance of someone being home.\u00a0<\/li>
- Ask trustworthy neighbours to collect your mail and water your plants when you\u2019re on vacation. These small acts will make it look like someone lives there.\u00a0<\/li>
- Join a neighbourhood watch program. You can find these groups on specific apps, online forums or social media. If your neighbourhood doesn\u2019t have one, create a group and invite all the neighbours. Post any disturbances that happen so that the neighbourhood is aware and prepared for theft.\u00a0<\/li>
- If you\u2019re part of a neighbourhood watch program, consider advertising it with a sticker on your window. This may deter amateur criminals.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Consider a Smart Security System<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLast but not least, you can invest in a home security system to protect your home. Home security systems<\/a> range from simple alarms to advanced smart home security that allows you to control the alarm and cameras from your smartphone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the threat of these alarm systems may deter a burglar, they aren\u2019t always the most effective. According to economics professor Simon Hakim, police response time to home security systems is typically between one and four hours<\/a>. Unfortunately, this is plenty of time for the criminal to escape with your belongings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be sure you\u2019ve secured your home with the above tips before spending on this expensive technology. If you do decide an alarm system is worth the money, here are some tips for making it effective: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Before investing in a high-tech security system, be aware of the upfront and monthly costs. <\/li>
- Be sure your wi-fi is secure. Hackers can use your internet to hack into your smart alarm system and disarm it. <\/li>
- If you have an alarm system, remember to engage the alarm when you leave home. <\/li>
- Get the alarm system fixed if it\u2019s broken. If the alarm has gone off multiple times, be sure your neighbours know you\u2019ve fixed it. Neglecting to do this will lead to a \u201cboy who cried wolf\u201d situation \u2014 your neighbours will ignore the alarm when someone actually breaks in. <\/li>
- Add a security sign and security stickers to your property. Whether you have an alarm system or not, security signs may deter potential intruders. <\/li>
- Conceal any wiring that can be easily cut. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
When deciding on a security camera for your home, you might want to consider indoor cameras as well. Anas Mustafa, CEO of Canadian Security Professionals<\/a>, explains, \u201cWhen considering a home security system with cameras, most people believe outdoor cameras are important but don’t think about getting an indoor camera. An indoor camera can be more beneficial in many ways as it gives you the ability to see what’s happening inside your home if you have a break-in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- More than 80% of break-ins occur in the daylight<\/strong>. (SGI Canada<\/a>)<\/li>