Get off my land! Perimeter security explained
A lock doesn’t just have to be something that protects your home from unwanted attention, generally speaking it’s more like the last line of defense because let’s face it, once someone is at your door they have already compromised your security as they are on your property!
Think Like A Criminal
In an ideal world, when updating the security of your premises, I would recommend starting from the outside and working inwards. Standing on the nearest public footpath to your property, take a look at the big picture, try and think like a criminal. If the perimeter looks abandoned and unkempt then this is not a good start, the less it looks like pride is being taken in the property then the more likely it is that a criminal will try their luck.
Hedges and Fences. The Spikier The Better!
A long term action to resolve this would be the planting of dense hedge rows around the perimeter with a fence sandwiched in the middle. There are plenty of fast growing species to do exactly this job, Leylandii is a prime contender as it grows fast and tall in short order. If you are lacking space in the back garden or if you are concerned about not getting enough light then a Red Tip Photinia are dense but let some light through the branches. Another, less friendly species that is also worth your consideration is something that most day hikers hate with a passion, Gorse. It’s fast growing, spikey and will make an intruder think twice before wading through a six foot wall of needles!
Now you’ve got some ideas for the outer edge of the property it’s time to look at the entrance and exits. Most properties with sizable grounds here in the UK have a main entrance gate backing onto a driveway for vehicle access. Usually there is a second rear exit in one form or another such as a traditional wooden door fixed into a frame in between a fence or hedge.
Where To Focus
These two entrance/exits are obviously where the security has to focus but it’s always important to pair the level of security on the door/gates to the surrounding material. For example, there’s no point in putting a top of the range combination lock on a thin, perished wooden door without making supporting modifications to eliminate any weak spots.
Luckily for the security savvy landowner there are plenty of different means to lock both metal and wooden gates. For a simple wooden gate or door you can simply fit a mortice lock case (such as CISA 42021 as an example) which works just like the lock in most front doors. For metal gates there are similar versions to suite, now because most metal gates cannot be ‘morticed’ (have a hole cut in it for the lock) the best and most secure option here would be a metal rim gate lock that can be welded to the existing gate forming a strong bond that can only be opened by a key.
Finally, a point I would like to close on and a quote that I think should keep things in perspective is that “boundaries are there to protect life, not to limit pleasure”. Edwin Luis Cole
This is a guest post by Sam Ryder who works in the security industry.
He blogs about different aspects of home security and offers tips and inside knowledge on how best to protect your home at LocksOnline.
If you would like to read more of Sam’s blogs, follow him on Twitter.