The 7 Costly Home Security Mistakes I Made
(So You Don’t Have To)
TRUE STORY
Let me tell you about the most embarrassing (and expensive) lesson I learned about home security. Last summer, I came home from a week-long vacation feeling pretty smug about my "secure" house.
Boy, was I wrong.
While I was sipping mojitos in Miami, someone had walked right through my back door – the one I'd forgotten to lock because "it's hidden behind the fence anyway." They didn't take much, maybe $400 worth of stuff, but the feeling of violation lasted for months.
I realized I was making the same security mistakes that cost Americans $3.4 billion every year.
Let me tell you about the most embarrassing (and expensive) lesson I learned about home security. Last summer, I came home from a week-long vacation feeling pretty smug about my "secure" house.
Boy, was I wrong.
While I was sipping mojitos in Miami, someone had walked right through my back door – the one I'd forgotten to lock because "it's hidden behind the fence anyway." They didn't take much, maybe $400 worth of stuff, but the feeling of violation lasted for months.
I realized I was making the same security mistakes that cost Americans $3.4 billion every year.
I became obsessed with understanding where I went wrong. After talking to cops, experts, even a (reformed) burglar, I realized: most break-ins succeed because of seven simple mistakes that any homeowner can fix in a weekend for less than $200.
Since then, I've helped dozens of neighbors upgrade their security, and not one has had a break-in. Here are the seven mistakes I made – and how you can avoid them.
What $3.4 Billion in Losses Really Means (And How It Hits Home)
Real stories from my neighborhood:
- The Johnsons next door: Lost $2,300 in electronics (mistake #1)
- Sarah, three houses down: $1,800 in jewelry gone (mistake #4)
- Elderly couple on the corner: $3,200 damage plus stolen meds (mistake #6)
The $400 in stolen items was just the beginning. I spent $150 on a locksmith, $300 on new security, lost time with police and insurance, and my policy rose by $180/year. That "small" break-in actually cost me over $1,000.
Now multiply that by 2.5 million U.S. homes burglarized every year, and you see just how big this problem is.
1 Mistake: Trusting My $30 Front Door Lock
Most burglars aren't master thieves—they're opportunists. When they really want in, a standard deadbolt is just a gentle suggestion to stay out.
- Lock bumping: 90% of locks opened with a $5 key in seconds.
- Key copying: Anyone you trust with keys might have made a copy.
- Social engineering: Some burglars trick locksmiths into giving them entry.
My fix: Ring Video Doorbell Pro + August Smart Lock.
- Remote access, key/no key tracking, delivery notifications
- Insurance discount: $126/year
- Scared off a would-be burglar within days (caught on 2-way audio!)
2 Mistake: Ignoring My Back Yard
The weak spot for most homes: a neglected garden, old motion lights, outdated sliding door locks. That’s where most burglars go!
What worked: Wyze Cam v3 (color night vision), mounted high and angled at entry points. Eliminated hiding spots and sleep disruptions.
3 Mistake: Forgetting My Windows
Rather than maxing out security at one point, moderate protection at all entries is smarter and cheaper.
- Deadbolts, floodlights, and window sensors at key points
- Cheap trick: gravel around windows = noisy, effective deterrent
Total invested for perimeter security: $341
4 Mistake: Broadcasting My Vacation
Social media = "Hey thieves, the house is empty!" A cop friend showed me how easy it is to find info and patterns online without hacking anything.
What I do now:
- Smart bulbs on natural schedules (not obvious automation)
- Ring 2-way audio to simulate presence
- Thermostat follows normal routines, even while I’m gone
5 Mistake: Ignoring Package Theft
How I stopped it:
- Real-time talk with drivers via video doorbell
- Lockbox for packages ($127, bolted down—blocked 6 thefts!)
- Neighborhood chat: we grab each other's deliveries
6 Mistake: No Internal Monitoring
Solution: Cameras only in strategic spots (hall, living, basement), privacy switch + notifications for the family. Bonus: see if the dog’s okay!
$178 for indoor cams = peace of mind
$178 for indoor cams = peace of mind
7 Mistake: I Set and Forgot!
My maintenance plan:
- First Saturday: check sensors, batteries, cameras
- Seasonal: clean lenses, check for damage, swap batteries
- Quarterly family drill to test alarms—quick but effective
Before & After: My Real-Life Home Security Transformation
Before
- 1 deadbolt lock ($89)
- Broken motion light
- Back yard totally exposed
- No package protection
- No internal monitoring
- Overshared on social media
- No maintenance routine
Effectiveness: zero (yes, I got robbed)
After
- Smart doorbell + smart lock ($348)
- Outdoor camera coverage ($231)
- Perimeter protection up to $341
- Lockbox for parcels ($127)
- Indoor monitoring ($178)
- Automated lights ($66)
- 30 min/month maintenance
Insurance discount: $126/year
Break-even: under 2 years
The Bottom Line: Your Family's Safety Is Worth More Than $200
Home security isn't about spending a fortune – it's about thinking smarter than the bad guys, and filling in the simple gaps.
Your peace of mind is worth more than any gadget.
Your peace of mind is worth more than any gadget.
Start with the biggest gaps:
If you do one thing, install a video doorbell.
Two? Add smart locks.
Three? Outdoor cameras.
Every step makes your house a harder target!
Don’t wait for a break-in.
Learn from my mistakes – protect your family before you really need to.
Learn from my mistakes – protect your family before you really need to.