Home security is getting more effective all the time—to the degree that sometimes it feels like technological advances are outpacing household awareness. From WiFi doorbells to remote control alarms that can be set via your Smartphone, there is more choice on the market than ever before. Don’t miss out on innovation—here are five of the best home security gadgets available today.
Doorbot
Doorbot is essentially a visual doorbell for your smartphone that allows you to see anyone who comes to your front door from any vantage point. Simply download the software to your phone, and you can access a video image whenever someone knocks.
Imagine how convenient this could be when door-to-door salesmen come to call! You could identify them, assess the situation, and decide whether it’s worth getting off the couch to answer the door, all from your smartphone. Even better, there’s quite a home security advantage—if you’re away from your property, you can still see those images in real time, 24/7. Maybe the caller won’t be aJehovah’s Witness—perhaps they will be an opportunist burglar, trying to gauge whether anyone’s at home. With Doorbot, it’s as though someone always is—especially when combined with other products we highlight below.
Doorbot runs about $199.00 and can be connected to multiple smartphones and/or tablets. Whether it’s for convenience or protection, a one-off cost like that could be a seriously wise investment. This is probably the best way to secure your home.
ILA Door Wedge
This door wedge alarm is targeted primarily at travelers for portable hotel room protection, but it could easily be used as a second line of defense in and around the home. As the name suggests, you simply wedge this device underneath a door, making it much harder for a thief to gain entry.
If the door does get forced, it will trigger an ear-splitting alarm, deterring the criminal further and giving you time to escape or summon help. Within the home, a wedge might work wonders between internal doors which lead to valuables, should your external access points be breached.
For just a few bucks, you can have some good added security for those on a budget. Just remember to take the wedge out if you happen to call room service or wander downstairs in the middle of a sleepless night!
Rapid Deploy Smokescreen Security
The alarm on the door wedge will help to confuse a burglar for a certain period of time, but a smokescreen kit could lead to complete disorientation. There is a wide choice of these systems on the market but products from Concept have been independently tested and received especially positive reviews.
The device can be set up in a matter of minutes, and can then be armed or disarmed remotely via a key fob. When an intruder calls, dense but completely harmless smoke is released, giving you time to sound the alarm.
At prices in the region of $1500.00, this is a relatively expensive solution, but might be just the thing for someone looking for an effective visual deterrent.
The Electronic Barking Dog
If you believe in man’s best friend as an effective burglar deterrent, this could be the product you need. Using motion detector technology, the sensor detects when someone approaches your property and immediately imitates a huge, intimidating, toothy-sounding canine.
The cleverest part? The barking intensifies as the intruder gets closer to your home, increasing the illusion that a real, and very angry dog is waiting to relieve them of some limbs.
Best of all, this electronic dog requires no training, no walking and it won’t leave any nasty surprises on your carpet while you’re out at work.
Wireless Home Security Systems
If you want something a little more comprehensive than gadgets that just protect one area of your home, then an all-round, wireless security system is a great option for you. Prices vary, but some are very competitive—for example, Simplisafe offers inexpensive equipment, plus a no-contract 24/7 monitoring plan for about 50 cents per day. You can also arm and disarm the equipment remotely so if you go away from home for any length of time, there’s no need to panic – simply check the app on your smartphone or tablet for peace of mind. It’s like all these other gadgets wrapped into one.
Which are your favorite home security gadgets? Have you used a system in the past that has proved effective in keeping the burglars at bay?
