SECURITY AUDIT WITH YOUR OWN EYES: How to Tell If Your Home Is an Easy Target
We lock our doors, install cameras, or hide our valuables. But do we really know how secure our home is? What seems safe to us might appear inviting to an experienced intruder. That’s why it’s worth looking at your home from a different perspective—through the eyes of someone who wants to get inside. A simple security audit can reveal surprising vulnerabilities, even in households that feel “perfectly secure.”
Where the Real Risk Lies
Most break-ins don’t involve explosions, advanced technology, or master thieves. Instead, they take advantage of forgotten windows, unlocked cellar doors, visible spare keys, or routine behavior that gives away our absence. Security doesn’t start with technology, but with understanding our habits and the space we live in. An audit doesn’t have to be complex. It’s about observation, evaluation, and asking the right questions. How easy is it to find out when you’re not at home? Are your entrances truly secure? Can one easily access shared spaces or the garden? Real security begins where illusions end.
1. Look From the Outside In
Stand in front of your house or building as if you were a stranger—or a burglar. What would catch your attention? Are there security stickers on the door? Motion sensors? Signs of presence? Or rather, a calendar on the wall showing you’re on vacation, a stack of mail in the mailbox, and no lights on? Check your windows, especially ground floor ones. Do they have locks, are they visible from the street, or are they hidden behind bushes? A good intruder chooses the easiest route. Don’t give them one.
2. Walk Through the Interior Like a Stranger
Walk through your own apartment or house and imagine that you’ve just broken in. Where would you go first? Where are valuables, laptops, wallets, spare keys? Are documents or personal information lying around? Don’t forget shared spaces—like apartment building cellars or attics. If the basement door is propped open or the keys to storage areas are hanging on a hook in the hallway, your internal security is no stronger than its weakest point.
3. Don’t Underestimate Shared and Outdoor Areas
In apartment buildings, access to hallways, garages, or elevators is often overlooked. Yet it’s these spaces where an intruder can blend in. If you live in a family home, don’t forget the garden, terrace, or garage. Unlocked side doors, ladders leaning against the wall, or garbage bins that can be climbed on all represent access points. A common issue is unmarked or shared intercoms. If no one controls who enters the building, any security in your apartment becomes ineffective. Think of the building as a whole—not just your front door.
4. Check Your Habits and Daily Routines
Many break-ins happen during the day—when people are at work, not at night. If you always leave and return at the same time, turn on the same lights, or leave shoes outside the door, you’re broadcasting your schedule. Even what you share online can reveal patterns. A photo from the airport, “weekend getaway,” or location-tagged selfie can become an invitation. That’s why your personal behavior is a key component of home security.
5. Understand the Three Layers of Protection
Physical security is based on three main levels: perimeter (outer boundary), shell (physical envelope of the building), and interior (inside the space). A proper system protects all three. Perimeter protection includes fences, cameras, lighting, or intercoms. Shell protection focuses on doors, locks, and windows. Internal protection involves safes, motion sensors, or access control. If any layer is weak, the entire system becomes fragile. A strong door means little if it’s always left ajar.
Conclusion: Trust Your Eyes, Not Just Technology
A real security audit is based on common sense. Cameras and alarms are useful—but only if someone reacts to them. Locked doors help—but only if no one has a spare key under the flowerpot. Security is not just about how much you spend, but about how you think. Look at your home as a system of habits, physical protection, and awareness. Because the most secure home isn’t the one with the most gadgets—but the one that’s well thought-out.
Bonus: Your 7-Day Personal Security Journal
Try this week-long challenge and write down what you observe each day:
Day 1 – Stand outside your home and assess the building’s visibility and access points. Where would you break in if you had to?
Day 2 – Walk through your home and list the first 3 valuables visible at a glance. Where are they placed?
Day 3
– Examine shared areas or garden. Can a stranger enter without notice? Who else has a key?Day 4 – Track your daily routine. What patterns would someone notice? Do you post about your location online?
Day 5 – Inspect all doors and windows. Are they truly secured? When were the locks last updated?
Day 6 – Evaluate your digital habits: passwords, smart locks, Wi-Fi settings. Are your systems protected?
Day 7 – Think about what would happen if you lost your keys or your phone. Do you have backups or a contingency plan?
