Balcony Security: 7 Essential Steps
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7 Essential Balcony Security Measures for a Safe Home
Balconies offer a luxurious extension of your living space, providing a perfect spot for relaxation and enjoying the outdoors. However, while these spaces enhance your home’s appeal, it’s crucial not to overlook balcony security. Without proper precautions, balconies can become vulnerable entry points for potential thieves.
Securing outdoor property and maintaining strict safety measures are essential to protect your home and peace of mind. You can enjoy your outdoor space without compromising safety by implementing effective balcony security measures.
Here are 7 top tips to improve your balcony security and protect your home.
1. Check your perimeter
Your home’s surroundings should be the first thing you look at when thinking about balcony security. A third of all burglaries start at the back of a house. If you can make your property’s perimeter as off-putting as possible for potential thieves, you’re halfway there.
Consider CCTV warning signs, tall fences that are difficult to climb and thick, thorny hedges that aren’t easily penetrable. Keep garden gates and any rear entrances locked when not in use. Ladders should be safely stored away or locked to prevent them from being used to gain easy access to upper floors.
Motion sensor security lights and decorative lighting can deter thieves, but remember to carry out regular and proper maintenance checks – you can make it part of your pre-winter schedule. Make sure gates or locks are in good condition – they’re no use if they’re rotten, rusty or crumbling away.
2. Shield your space
If your balcony is below the second floor, you live in a built-up area or the balconies are easily accessible from other areas, you might want to find a way to prevent anyone from seeing in. This can be achieved in two simple cost-effective ways.
- Use privacy glass on your balcony: either choose this option when you purchase your balcony or install a frosted vinyl layer to your glass afterwards.
- Use standalone privacy screens, which have the additional benefit of providing adjustable solutions for creating shade and acting as windbreakers.
Both are simple and inexpensive ways of increasing your balcony security by screening it from prying eyes. If the inside of your home doesn’t have blinds or curtains, they will also provide more privacy for indoors.
3. Secure any furniture
Opportunist thieves will target any items left unsecured on balconies – and we mean anything. If bringing everything inside isn’t practical, you need to ensure they’re as difficult to remove as possible.
You can secure furniture with ground and wall anchors or security cables. You can also use outdoor storage boxes with locks to put things like cushions and throws away when the balcony isn’t in use.
4. Always lock your balcony doors
Over 40% of people leave doors unlocked when they go out, yet more than 1 in 5 burglars enter a property through an unlocked door. In warmer months in particular you’re more likely to open doors and windows for fresh air. Always ensure they are locked if you are going out and remember your balcony doors too.
Even if your balcony is on a higher floor, you still should not neglect basics like this.
5. Balcony security smart-tech
Smart security tech is everywhere and cheaper than ever. Adding this into your home is essential, especially when it comes to balcony security.
There are numerous options available that offer varying levels of protection, all of which can be tailored to suit your specific needs and budget.
- Battery-powered doors and window sensor alarms are a budget-friendly option. These devices are simple to install and provide basic security by alerting you whenever a door or window is opened with a very loud 120db siren.
- Security Signs – Placing signs with “Warning: CCTV in operation” or “Beware of the Dog” is a very cheap and easy solution for creating a more secure environment. Even these alone may be enough for would-be thieves to think twice.
- Motion Sensor Lights – With the development of better long-lasting batteries and more efficient LEDs, outdoor security lights can be a simple and cost-effective deterrent. But make sure you do your research: ask friends, family and colleagues, or look for people’s recommendations online, such as in forums like Reddit. This will ensure you avoid products with fake reviews or false claims that get their video to go viral on social media. Ideally, you should find the right product based on people’s genuine personal experiences.
- Balcony Screens – These are readily available and cheap options to create privacy, which come in a multitude of materials and finishes.
- Smart door and window sensor alarms – These systems offer upgraded features, like smartphone notifications and integration with other smart home devices. They provide enhanced security and convenience, allowing you to monitor your balcony entrance remotely.
- Smart cameras – Cameras like the ones made by Nest or Ring have become a normal household must-have. They offer features like automatic detection and alerts, zone management, face recognition, and remote 2-way communication. The only downsides are that they’re usually limited by the strength of your wi-fi signal (although this can be improved with wi-fi mesh systems) and the additional running costs of subscriptions, which can be frustrating to discover if you didn’t know in advance.
- Smart lights – The most common version of smart lights is the Google Nest Cam with Floodlight, which is a hard-wired camera and light. It has all of the features listed above and the additional benefit of lights that can be activated based on your personal preference. You can have the lights turn on based on: any motion; motion in a specific zone within your camera’s view; and motion of an animal, person or vehicle. You can also set the brightness of the light. On top of this, you can still control the light from the app, turning it on/off and the brightness up and down.
- Integrated burglar alarms – Managed alarm systems, such as Verisure, ADT or Simplisafe, offer full-service security solutions for total piece of mind. These systems often include additional features like motion detection, cameras and professional monitoring services, ensuring your balcony and entire home are well-protected.
- Bespoke security systems – There’s a wide selection of companies available when you search for “bespoke home security”, such as Bespoke CCTV Telecoms, who provide fully custom security solutions for luxury homes, estates and even super yachts. They use the latest technology, including ANPR cameras, face detection cameras, smart camera tracking, and audio and visual smart deterrents.
It’s increasingly common for modern alarm systems to be connected to all points of entry, including doors and windows, along with traditional motion detection. Ensuring your balcony entrance is part of this integrated system can significantly enhance your overall security, providing peace of mind that your home is safeguarded against potential intruders.
6. Be aware of ground level visibility
Balconies that are easily visible and accessible from the ground level can attract opportunistic thieves, making it essential to take precautions. To avoid becoming a target, it’s important to be mindful of what you keep on display.
Avoid placing valuable items or personal belongings on your balcony where they can be easily seen from the street or nearby areas. Items like expensive furniture, electronics or decorative pieces can tempt thieves, so it’s best to keep them out of sight.
A user on Reddit reported that his bike was stolen from his second-storey balcony, showing how determined thieves can be. Ensure you take steps to either reduce the risk or remove it altogether.
If you must store items on your balcony, consider keeping them hidden with discreet storage solutions, such as lockable storage boxes or cabinets. Additionally, installing privacy screens or using plants to create a natural barrier can further reduce visibility and deter potential thieves.
7. Get to know your neighbours
Building a sense of community and getting to know your neighbours can be a powerful tool in enhancing balcony security. When you establish good relationships with those living nearby, you create a network of support that can help protect your home.
If you’re struggling to connect, consider looking on Facebook – you’ll usually find a local community group and this will give you the ability to connect and share any concerns too.
Trustworthy neighbours can be invaluable when it comes to keeping an eye on each other’s properties. If you’re away or unable to monitor your balcony, neighbours can step in to notice and report any suspicious activities. This shared vigilance makes it more difficult for potential thieves to target your property, as they know that a close-knit community is likely to notice anything out of the ordinary.
Additionally, neighbours can offer practical help, such as collecting packages or moving items out of sight, reducing the chances of your balcony becoming a target. By developing a supportive neighbourhood, you improve your balcony security and get a safer, more connected community overall.
Keeping your balcony secure
With all of these measures, it’s now easier than ever to ensure peace of mind and effectively deter potential intruders. By following these balcony security tips, you can fortify your balcony security and frequent checks will help make sure you haven’t overlooked anything. Start enjoying your outdoor space with confidence, knowing your property is well-protected.
