If you’re living by yourself these days, you’re actually not alone. In fact, more than 2 million Australians live in single-person households and, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, that number is on the rise1. But along with the increase in single-person households, comes a growing awareness of the security concerns of living alone. Here are our top tips for feeling safe while living alone. Keep connected Get to know your neighbours. Keep in touch with your friends and family. Sign up to your local Neighbourhood Watch. The more people you know who keep an eye out for you and your property, the safer you’ll be. Know your neighbourhood Search online for resources to help you learn about the safety concerns in your neighbourhood. Join local Facebook community groups to keep in the loop with activities in your local area. Power and internet outages are quickly reported on these pages if they affect the larger community. Secure your property Don’t make it easy for an intruder to enter your home. Keep your trees and bushes trimmed and install exterior lighting around your home. Crimsafe has an excellent online quiz that can help you identify the safety issues around your area and your home. Visit Secure Score here and enter your postcode to get started. You could also check out the many wireless cameras and security alarms on the market. Most of these are very affordable and can connect to your smartphone. This means you can be alerted any time someone comes to your door, and you can speak to them remotely through the app on your phone. Lock Up It might seem obvious, but an unlocked door or window is an open invitation to a burglar. So make sure all points of entry to your home are securely locked – including doors, windows, gates and garages. It’s also a good idea to install strong and trusted security screens, such as Crimsafe, on your doors and windows. These are a proven deterrent to intruders and are sure to give you more peace of mind about living alone safely. Be aware Burglars are always on the lookout for vulnerable targets. So make sure you’re aware of some of the tell-tale signs that they’re looking for. Keep your curtains and blinds closed so passers-by can’t look in and see that you’re living alone, or not at home at all. If you’re living alone, particularly if you are a female living alone, don’t put your first name on your letterbox. Don’t hide your spare house key in an obvious place. Don’t give an intruder the opportunity to sneak inside. Always lock your doors, even when you’re just checking the mail or taking out the garbage. Plan your escape. Make sure you know how to get out of your home safely in the case of an emergency. Consider our Safe-S-Cape as part of your emergency exit. In summary Living alone is empowering and doesn’t need to come with a sense of fear or vulnerability. With some simple security measures in place, you can embrace living alone and feel completely safe in doing so. If you’re looking for that extra peace of mind, Crimsafe has you covered. Check out our range of security screen doors, security screen windows, Safe-S-Cape and patio enclosures. Want a tailored approach to your home security needs? Arrange a free measure and quote with your nearest authorise Crimsafe supplier here. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sources: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/household-and-family-projections-australia/latest-release
