Home Security Gadgets & Reviews

If you’ve read our article on Choosing Deadbolt Locks, then you’re probably shopping for new locks for your doors. As mentioned in that article, lock-picking is actually fairly uncommon when it comes to breaking-and-entering but methods with less finesse, such as jimmying the lock, are simple and therefore popular with thieves.

To thwart a burglar armed with a crowbar, you may want to consider a jimmy-proof deadbolt lock.

Also called a vertical deadbolt, a jimmy-proof lock can put up a lot of resistance to jimmying attacks. These deadbolts have rectangular bodies with multiple cylindrical bolts on the end. The locks are mounted on your door so the bolts are aligned with the eyeloops of a matching strike plate. Because the bolts drop vertically, instead of extending horizontally, the lock can’t be separated from the strike plate without breaking the whole thing.

If you’re considering a jimmy-proof lock, just keep in mind that they’re really only effective when installed on a strong door with a strong door frame. (The doors in a lot of typical homes aren’t strong enough to properly support a jimmy-proof deadlock). But then, for good home security, it may be time to replace your exterior doors anyway!

Several models are available from Amazon: Jimmy-Poof Locks

A garage door monitor is a device that simply lets you know if your garage door has been left open. If you’ve found yours up more than once (hey, it’s easy to forget to push the button when you’re herding kids inside while toting bags full of groceries), then his gadget could make sense from a home security standpoint.

If you have an attached garage that provides access to the house, then you don’t want any old person to be able to walk in from the street and get into your house. Also, you don’t want them to be able to steal your valuables out of the garage.

Most thefts are simply crimes of opportunity, so a garage door monitor can help you ensure your door is never left open, inviting a theft from a random passerby. Knowing you have a monitor like this one can provide peace of mind.

The unit shown here is from Chamberlain, and it’s supposed to be easy to install (no tools required). Just stick it up in the kitchen by the refrigerator, in your bedroom, or in some other area you visit frequently, and you’ll be alerted if your garage door was left open.

Available via Amazon for less than $30:

Chamberlain Garage Door Monitor

If you have kids and you’re tired of neighbors zipping their cars through your neighborhood (the worst are those people who don’t even live nearby and just cut through your street to avoid lights), this “kid alert” sign can remind drivers to slow down. After all, most folks are just in their own world and not really thinking about their speed. The vibrant yellow sign will catch their eye and remind them that children are at play nearby.

“Kid Alert sends a “Children at Play” safety signal. Child like figure stands 32″ high and holds a 39″ tall red warning flag to alert motorists. Flourescent body and reflector strip belt are visible during twilight hours. Easy positioning at end of drive to heigten driver awareness of children at play. For optimum recognition, set up and removal for each play time is recommended. Constructed of heavy duty plastic, minimal assembly required.”

$36 from Stacks and Stacks:

Kid Alert Road Sign

If you’re looking for an inexpensive home security system that you can install yourself, X-10 has quite a few offerings.

For instance, their Protector Plus Dial-Up burglar alarm costs less than $100 and comes with several bells and whistles (well, actually they’re flashing lights and sirens). When triggered, the alarm also automatically calls up to 4 pre-set phone numbers to alert you and family members that someone may be trying to break into your home.

Security systems like this, while not the most high-end, are an affordable alternative to pricy security cameras and monitored systems run by alarm companies. The Protector Plus is supposed to be simple enough that the average do-it-yourself type can install without trouble.

Protector Plus Dial-Up Home Security System

When you move into a new house, condo, or apartment, it’s a good idea to have the locks changed, since you don’t know how many people have lived there in the past who might still have copies of the keys to your door locks. And if you lose a key during your own time as the homeowner, you may also want to change locks.

Changing out door locks is a bit of a pain however. That’s why this new system from Kwikset looks nice.

Kwikset’s SmartKey lets you re-key your own locks quickly and easily without removing the mechanism from the door. Also the locks are supposed to be good for other home security reasons.

The SmartKey uses a patented “side locking bar technology” which replaces your traditional pin and tumbler design. This design also features “BumpGuard” protection for improved security against lock bumping. (Lock bumping is a burglar’s technique that uses specially cut keys that can get through regular pin and tumbler locks.)

All in all, the SmartKey looks like a wise investment.

More information from KwikSet

So, we’ve talked a lot about home security, but some of the most expensive items you own may be the things you tote with you to work or school every day. $3,000 for a laptop, $500 for an iPhone, a few hundred for the iPod or other mp3 player… these things add up, and the ease with which someone can swipe them make them big targets for thieves.

So, how do you protect your electronic goodies?

You might want to check out GadgetTrak.

It’s kind of like a burglar alarm or home security system, but it’s designed to protect your gadgets. You download the system onto your laptop, iPhone, etc. for a fee (costs start at $13 a year), and then if someone steals your gadget, the software alerts the company whenever someone else tries to use it. The company lets the police know where the product is being used, and chances are you might actually get your device back.

If you don’t mind paying the fee for your peace of mind, it sounds like a better option than just getting your name engraved on the back of your iPod.

If you’re interested in the idea of adding a little video surveillance to your security system (or you just want to set up a hidden spy camera in your dorm room so you’ll have proof that your roommate stole your Cheetos), then this small wireless unit is an easy way to set up and get started with single-camera video surveillance.

“The ultimate addition to your wireless miniature surveillance system. Use an existing 2.4GHz receiver in combination with the MicroCam 4 for closer monitoring. The camera offers extended range, and the clarity and picture quality have been enhanced for even better full color images. The extremely small camera is portable and easily concealed. Position it in a baby’s nursery, use it on a pole to check for leaves in your guttering, monitor business transactions or use it for fun. The tiny MicroCam 4 will transmit up to 330ft/100m.”

And if you’re worrying about it messing with the signal from your wireless router or wireless phones, the surveillance system actually can be programmed to different frequencies, so it shouldn’t be any problem.

The camera system costs $130 at Amazon:

Swann Microcam 3 Wireless Ultra Miniature Security Camera System

We’ve talked about what a good idea secure locking mailboxes are before. In this day and age of identity theft, you have to worry about a lot more than someone swiping a check out of your outgoing mail pile and cashing it. Being the victim of identity theft can do a lot of damage to your finances and credit rating, damage that can take years and lots of hard work to recover from.

So doesn’t it make sense to make sure your mail is secure?

If you have a perfectly good mailbox and don’t want to buy a whole new unit, you can just pick up an insert like the one shown here. It fits into standard mailboxes and makes it so only you and the mailman can get into your box. It looks to be less expensive than replacing your entire mailbox.

http://www.mailboxworks.com