Prevention and Peace of Mind with Home Automation

When a lot of people hear about home automation, they imagine scenarios like walking into a room and asking the lights to be turned on or having the television turn on and begin playing their favourite movie.

However, some of the most important, impressive, and essential home automation functions do their best work when no one is around to watch the magic happen.

There are a number of reasons why someone would want to break into your home. Many of those reasons are out of your control, but there are several ways to make your home less appealing to opportunistic thieves.

Schedule Lights to Look like You’re Home

People who break into homes to steal belongings are typically looking for an easy way to make some money. In most cases, these thieves are not interested in having a confrontation with a homeowner. As a result, they look for homes that appear to be unoccupied.

If you’re going on vacation, then you can use your home automation system to control the lights throughout your home. Best of all, with popular brands like Lutron or Philips Hue, the setup can be quickly as easily done before you begin your vacation.

Set your lights to turn on in the evening, and turn off later at night. If you want to get a little more creative, you can alternate the lights that are on to give the appearance of a family going through their normal routine. In either case, many burglars will see lights turned on and simply move along.

Keep an Eye from a Distance

Not all thefts are a result of people breaking into your home and taking your belongings. For example, package theft is growing in popularity. Criminals also know to look out especially hard after Black Friday or during the holiday shopping season. Worst of all, these thefts can quickly occur in the light of day without arousing much suspicion from neighbours.

There are a number of products that can detect motion and capture video. Perhaps you have seen stories of so-called porch pirates being caught red-handed while swiping packages off the front step of a home. Using a variety of home automation products, you are able to monitor the interior and exterior of your home.

Set Light Schedules for Your Own Safety

Arriving home in the dark can be dangerous. There is the obvious risk of tripping on and item and causing injury, but there are less obvious dangers as well. For example, someone could be lurking in the dark and waiting to startle an unsuspecting homeowner.

If you know you will be arriving home after dark, you can use home automation to illuminate your yard and driveway, which will deter criminals from hiding in the shadows. Of course, there is the added benefit of being able to light your home to prevent unnecessary trips or falls.

Safety Is Priority Number One

Home automation is about more than just convenience. Using home automation to secure your property, your belongings, and your safety can be a top priority for people who want to enjoy the best comforts that life has to offer.

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