According to the 2017 FBI Crime Statistics report, there were 7,694,086 property crimes last year. This includes burglary, motor vehicle theft, and theft of personal property.
Surprisingly, most of these crimes took place during daytime hours, with access gained through a door or window.
The good news for homeowners is that there are more products than ever before that are designed to protect your home and its valuable contents.
Read on for a list of top nine smart home security devices that you can use to keep intruders out and give you peace of mind.
1. SkyBell HD
A video doorbell is a great home security device that lets you see and talk to anyone at your doorstep.
With the SkyBell HD, you get 1080p videos and color night vision so that even in the middle of the night, you can see who is at your front door.
Best of all, it records a few seconds of footage when a sensor detects someone approaching. That way, you can review the footage in the case of an attempted break-in.
The SkyBell connects to various smart home devices and has free cloud storage for video recordings.
it’s easy to install and delivers excellent sharp image and video quality for an unbeatable price.
2. The Smart Lock Pro + Connect
This smart lock designed by August has a ton of great features such as wi-fi connectivity and DoorSense technology. That means that you can check if your door is closed and locked remotely.
You can control the lock remotely using all smart home platforms such as Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. Installation is simple. And though pricey, blows the competition out of the water.
3. SimpliSafe Home Security System
If you want something between a DIY home security system and professional security home monitoring such as Lifeshield, this is it.
It’s simple to install and use. It protects your home from burglars as well as natural disasters such as flooding and fire.
You can monitor your home on the go with a monthly plan if you choose. Or you can skip the plan if you prefer.
If you decide to build your own home security setup, check out these five hacks for a home security system that won’t cost a fortune.
4. Amazon Cloud Cam
The Amazon Cloud Cam is the best in a long line of indoor home security cameras. It delivers a sharp 1080p HD live feed as well as 24 hours of video storage for free!
If there is any motion, you’ll get an instant notification. There are a couple of cons, however. There is no local microSD card storage.
Also, you can’t keep video past the 24 hours. So if you are away for a week and miss an attempted break-and-entry, you can’t get that footage after the fact.
But, the Amazon Cloud is a cost-effective, reliable option that trumps many of the other home security devices on the market.
5. Smart Lights and Light Switches
People often overlook lights as home security devices but they can go a long way in making your home look lively even if no one is home.
Smart lights let you turn lights on and off from your smartphone or another device. Install the Kasa app so that you can program specific actions in your home such as turning off all the lights on the second floor when you are watching TV in the basement.
Just make sure you also buy smart light switches to go with your smart lights. Otherwise, if someone flicks the light switch down, the smart bulbs can’t work until the light switch is flipped back up.
Smart Locks
Now, let’s look at smart locks for your home. Did you know that most burglars head to the front door to see if it is unlocked before they try breaking in?
Smart locks are some of the best smart home devices that can protect your home against intruders.
Smart locks will lock if they have been unlocked for a set period of time. Plus many have activity logs so you can go back in time to review who has come into your home and when it happened.
Other great features like voice activation and geofencing are beneficial as well. Geofencing lets you set a perimeter around your house. When you leave the perimeter, the door will lock.
Here are a few of the best smart locks you can consider for your home.
6. August Smart Lock HomeKit
The August Smart Lock HomeKit comes with voice activation, geofencing, and an IFTTT channel so that you can trigger other smart devices at home.
You’ll love the sleek design and how simple it is to install. The downside is that this smart lock is expensive.
7. Schlage Sense
The Schlage Sense is a Bluetooth-enabled deadbolt lock that allows your phone to lock and unlock your doors.
The accompanying app is user-friendly and simple. The lock itself is a breeze to install.
The Schlage allows you to use your voice to give commands. And it has a tamper alarm built-in in the event that an intruder tries to get around it.
You can even program access codes for different people and set certain access schedules so that only the right people can get in at the right times.
The only downside again is the price point.
8. Nest X Yale Lock
Nest is well-known for it’s sleek and stylish smart devices. The Yale lock is no different. It’s quiet and the installation is easy.
Of course, it works with Nest Secure if you want the whole package. The cons are that you can’t connect it with IFTTT. Also, there isn’t a voice activation option.
9. Chamberlain MyQ Garage
When discussing home security, make sure not to overlook the garage. Especially as 71% of Americans use the garage as the main point of entry into their home.
The Chamberlain MyQ Garage is a smart garage-door controller that installs quickly and compatible with most garage doors.
With this add-on, you can control the garage door from the app on your device. Plus, you’ll get alerts if you leave the door open. And you can close the door from the app.
Bottom Line on Home Security Devices
We hope you found this list of nine home security devices helpful. Remember, the best way to prevent burglary and intruders in your home is to have several security measures in place.
Check out these 10 home security tips you need to know about.