The best way to keep burglars away when you’re on vacation is to pretend you’re home. Your smart home can help with that.
Keep burglars at bay with your smart home
The summer months are interesting times for burglars, because many people are away from home for a long time due to vacations. Thieves then have plenty of time to steal things. The best way to do something about that is to make it look like you are at home.
There are various methods for this that do not involve technology. For example, it is not smart to tidy up too well or to close all the curtains, because then it is immediately clear that you are not home. Good neighbors are also useful, if they sometimes want to park their car in your driveway or get the mail from the mailbox.
But did you know that you can also use your smart home to keep burglars at bay? We give you some tips.
1. Turn on the lights when it is dark
The most common method to pretend you are at home is to turn on the lights when it gets dark. If you have smart lights, you can simply control them from abroad via your smartphone. It is often also possible to have these lights turn on automatically when it gets dark, so that you do not have to think about it yourself.
Philips Hue even has a “presence mimic” function. This turns the lights on and off in different rooms as if you were home. For example, the light in the bedroom is the last to go off.
2. Also consider the lights outside
Thieves like to work in the dark. If you also have outdoor lights that automatically turn on when it gets dark or when there is movement, this will deter thieves from taking a look.
3. Set notifications for your camera
If you have a smart camera, you can of course keep an eye on things from your holiday location. However, you will not really relax if you are constantly busy with your house in this way. Therefore, do not forget to turn on the notifications.
With most camera systems you have to take out a (temporary) subscription, so that you get a notification if, for example, someone walks into the picture when that is not the intention. You can then take action immediately.
4. Make your home even smarter
You can expand your smart home in many ways, making it seem like you are at home. There are even devices that move the curtains for you. You can also attach sensors to your doors or windows, after which you will receive a notification if they open when you do not want them to.
You can make this security as expensive as you want. IKEA recently introduced a range of new sensors for a small price, with a door/window sensor or a motion sensor for 10 euros each.
Philips Hue has also been in home security with cameras and sensors since last year, but you pay a bit more for that. For such a door/window sensor you pay 40 euros.
More smart home tips
Did you know that you can also use your smart home to save energy? We also tell you everything about organizing your smart home with the Google Home app.
Source: www.androidplanet.nl
