Weed out the weak points in your garden security

Now that you’ve assessed and reinforced your first lines of defence by optimising your perimeter security, it’s time to peel back that next layer. Do you have devices in place that will alert you when an intruder steps foot into your property and make his way toward your home? Put your garden security to the test and weed out the weak points.
Outdoor beams are essential early warning devices. Point-to-point beams form a reliable and stable direct barrier that ranges between 10 to 100 metres and are mounted on walls or brackets, while outdoor motion detectors are affixed to building walls to pick up movement up to ten meters away, within a 90 degree angle range.
Point-to-point Beams

• Identify weak spots in your yard and ensure the main vulnerable areas are covered. These are places where criminals will most likely be able to gain access to your property, so you want to stop them in their tracks.
• Try to keep the beams out of sight, to prevent intruders from spotting them and using that to their advantage.
• Ensure there is a clear line of sight between the two units and regularly check that no foliage, shrubbery or trees are disrupting the beam.
• It’s important that the beams are accurately aligned with one another, thus ensure they are not installed on sloped terrains.

Outdoor Motion Detectors

• Outdoor motion sensors are best utilised affixed to your house to cover areas such as a courtyard, or outside your kitchen or laundry room.
• For prime functionality beams should be dual-stacked. To prevent a burglar from bypassing the sensor, the bottom beam should ideally be 30cm above the ground to stop someone from crawling underneath, and the top beam placed at 1.5 metres so it can’t be jumped over.
• Windows at the back of a property are often left unsecured and are an easy way in for criminals. If any of your bathroom or bedroom windows are potential weak points, we recommend installing detectors strategically around these spots to minimise the risk.
• If you have pets roaming around your property, ensure you choose pet-friendly sensors.

When it comes to managing your beams, we urge clients to be thoughtful of false alarms. Consider your lifestyle and arming patterns and plan how to best implement and optimise your outdoor beam security. If you are having a braai with your family, it’s advisable to keep your point-to-point beams armed, but deactivate your motion detectors if your outside entertainment area falls within its range.
Dogs are also excellent at giving you an early warning of any unwanted persons on your property with ill intentions. Man’s best friend will make criminals think twice before entering your property in the first place, and will ideally send them scarpering when they set foot in your yard.
Contact one of our sales consultants today if you need assistance with a free assessment of your garden security.