Burglary protection in a smart home


7th March 2019 in Know How
Crime statistics show that a burglary occurs almost every minute across England and Wales. Being burgled isn’t a momentary event that only affects our home and belongings; it can have a lasting impact on our lives. The level of security in your home can be a genuine deterrent or prevention of being burgled. 
What does protection from break-ins look like in a Loxone Smart Home?

On guard: ready to protect
A Loxone Smart Home is always on the lookout. It‘s
always prepared but hopes it never
needs to spring into action.

Imagine this: you and your family are on a much-
deserved holiday. Your home may be empty but it certainly doesn‘t appear that way to any on-lookers.
Sophisticated home automation means your home
doesn‘t give any clues to potential burglars that you‘re
not there. While you‘re away, your home mimics your
presence – turning the lights on and off and opening and
closing blinds just as it would if you were at home. By
realistically recreating these actions, it‘s very unlikely
that a potential burglar would think that no one is
at home. For opportunistic burglars, this presence
simulation feature quickly reduces the chance that
your home will be a target.

Lights, shading, action
If a burglar does try their luck, your home will immediately
spring into action – with conspicuous flashing
lights and an overwhelming alarm tone – all in a bid to
send them running for the hills.

You can’t hide from me
There are many ways a burglar could potentially find
their way into your home. Whether it‘s through a window
or an unlocked patio door. However, using a combination of
sensors, including motion sensors, and glass break
sensors, your Loxone Smart Home will know when something is amiss and start reacting immediately.

Smart Home 1 – 0 Burglar
If your home detects an intruder, a three-phase alarm
is triggered to alert you, and any passersby, as soon as
possible. This gives the burglar as little time as possible
to make off with any of your belongings.

What does protection from
break-ins look like in a
Loxone Smart Home?

On guard: ready to protect

A Loxone Smart Home is always on the lookout. It‘s always prepared but hopes it never needs to spring into action.

Imagine this: you and your family are on a much-deserved holiday. Your home may be empty but it certainly doesn‘t appear that way to any on-lookers. Sophisticated home automation means your home doesn‘t give any clues to potential burglars that you‘re not at home. While you‘re away, your home mimics your presence – turning the lights on and off and opening and closing blinds just as it would if you were at home. By realistically recreating these actions, it‘s very unlikely that a potential burglar would think that no one is at home. For opportunistic burglars, this presence simulation feature quickly reduces the chance that your home will be a target.

Lights, shading, action 
If a burglar does try their luck, your home will immediately spring into action – with conspicuous flashing lights and an overwhelming alarm tone – all in a bid to send them running for the hills.

You can’t hide from me
There are many ways a burglar could potentially find their way into your home. Whether it’s through a window or an unlocked patio door. However, using a combination of sensors, including motion sensors, and glass break sensors, your Loxone Smartv Home will know when something is amiss and start reacting immediately.

Smart Home 1 – 0 Burlar 
If your home detects an intruder, a three-phase alarm is triggered to alert you, and any passersby, as soon as possible. This gives the burglar as little time as possible to make off with any belongings. 

Einbruchschutz im Smart Home
Icon Stiller Alarm

Silent
alarm:

You will immediately receive a notification via the app on your smartphone. If a false alarm is registered, your home will automatically take care of this for you.

Icon Akustischer Alarm

Audible
alarm:

In the second phase, you will receive a call on your mobile phone and your Loxone Music Server will turn the multiroom audio up to full volume. It can play a sound of your choice, from a shrill alarm tone to heavy metal music. Either way, it attracts attention and makes a burglar more likely to leave in a hurry. 

Icon Optischer Alarm

Visual
alarm:

Phase three sees your smart home opening blinds and curtains to draw attention to the intruder. The Loxone Smart Home is now “transparent”. Coupled with conspicuous flashing lights throughout the house, your neighbours and passersby are more likely to see that something is amiss.  

What else can you do?

Five tips  

Even though your smart home will
keep watch and automate various
safety and security aspects for you,
there are still a few things you can
do to contribute to the protection of
your own four walls. Here are five tips
for you to consider to minimise the
risk of burglary and give you more
peace of mind.

1. Avoid hiding your
front door keys

Whether it‘s underneath the
doormat or under a flowerpot,
chances are criminals have thought
about these hiding places for
keys too. Don‘t risk it. Never leave
a spare key hidden somewhere
outside. Instead, keep your keys
with you or perhaps think about
using smart access features like
pin code entry that unlocks your
front door.

2. You‘ve got mail
…plenty of it!

If you‘re going away for more
than just a relaxing weekend break,
then chances are your letterbox
will be an easy telltale. If your
letterbox is beginning to burst
at the seams, then it‘s likely no
one has been home for a fair few
days. What a great opportunity
for a burglar to make their way in
and take their time going through
your belongings. To avoid this
obvious indicator, why not ask your
neighbours to clear your mail while
you‘re away.

Gaunerzinken Einbruch
Gaunerzinken lohnenswert
Gaunerzinken Rentner
Gaunerzinken Geld

Good target

Something good here

Older people live here

Rich people live here

3. Be wise about your
social media posts

You‘re waiting to board your 10
hour flight for an all-inclusive week
away at a 5 star resort. Social
media might be a great way to
share the news of your holiday, but
the information this gives potential
burglars is invaluable. It‘s no effort
for someone to search for specific
hashtags and locations to narrow
down their options of houses to
burgle. Try to hold off from posting
your holiday snaps until you’re back home.

4. The writing
is on the wall

Perhaps you‘ve seen such markings
before. A weird symbol in chalk on
one of the bricks. It‘s probably kids
being a nuisance, right? Well, it might
not be. Some criminals have been
known to make chalk or charcoal
markings on walls, letterboxes,
driveways, or doors as part of a
secret language. For example, these
can denote a wealthy target, a
vulnerable occupant, a warning of
a guard dog, or a property with no
alarm. If you ever find one of these
on or near your property, take a
photo, try to remove it, and contact the police.

5. Close and lock
those doors & windows

Check your insurance policy; it
probably asks you if your windows
have key-operated locks and if your
doors have five-point multipoint
locking systems. If they do, you‘re
expected to use these. Leaving
your window slightly open to
allow some air circulation while
you‘re away on holiday is not worth
the risk. This makes it easier for
someone to gain access to your
home. Be sure to properly close
all doors and windows and to lock
them. Plus, ensure keys are out of
site of any curious passersby. This
is more than just good practice,
it can also be a condition of your home insurance.

What else can you do?

Five tips

Even though your smart home will keep watch and automate various safety and security aspects for you, there are still a few things you can do to contribute to the protection of your own four walls. Here are five tips for you to consider to minimise the isk of burglary and give you more peace of mind.

1. Avoid hiding your
front door keys

Whether it ‘s underneath the doormat or under a flowerpot, chances are criminals have thought about these hiding places for keys too. Don‘t risk it. Never leave a spare key hidden somewhere outside. Instead, keep your keys with you or perhaps think about using smart access features like pin code entry that unlocks your front door.

2. You‘ve got mail
…plenty of it!

If you‘re going away for more than just a quiet weekend break, then chances are your letterbox will be an easy telltale. If your letterbox is beginning to burst at the seams, then it‘s likely no one has been home for a fair few days. What a great opportunity for a burglar to make their way in and take their time going through your belongings. To avoid this obvious indicator, why not ask your neighbours to clear your mail while you‘re away.

3. Be wise about your
social media posts

You‘re waiting to board your 10 hour flight for an all-inclusive week away at a 5 star resort. Social media might be a great way to share the news of your holiday, but the information this gives potential burglars is invaluable. It‘s no effort for someone to search for specific hashtags and locations to narrow down their options of houses to burgle. Try to hold off from posting your holiday snaps until you’re back home.

4. The writing
is on the wall

Perhaps you‘ve seen such markings before. A weird symbol in chalk on one of the bricks. It‘s probably kids being a nuisance, right? Well, it might not be. Some criminals have been known to make chalk or charcoal markings on walls, letterboxes, driveways, or doors as part of a secret language. For example, these can denote a wealthy target, a vulnerable occupant, a warning of a guard dog, or a property with no alarm. If you ever find one of these on or near your property, take a photo, try to remove it, and contact the police.

Gaunerzinken Einbruch

Good target

Gaunerzinken lohnenswert

Something good here

Gaunerzinken Rentner

Older people live here

Gaunerzinken Geld

Rich people live here

5. Close and lock
those doors & windows

Check your insurance policy; it probably asks you if your windows have key-operated locks and if your doors have five-point multipoint locking systems. If they do, you‘re expected to use these. Leaving your window slightly open to allow some air circulation while you‘re away on holiday is not worth the risk. This makes it easier for someone to gain access to your home. Be sure to properly close all doors and windows and to lock them. Plus, ensure keys are out of site of any curious passersby. This is more than just good practice, it can also be a condition of your home insurance.

– Special Tip –

Speak to one of our smart home experts


Thinking about installing smart security in your home? Or just want to discuss the possibility of turning your home into a Real Smart Home? Book a free consultation with one of our team.Â