Keep burglars at bay with this home security tech
Thousands of us are preparing to head for the hills for the last few weeks of summer, squeezing in a few precious days of R&R before the long slog towards Christmas.
But leaving a home full of laptops and expensive jewellery can be a persistant niggle – and replacing them in the event of a break-in is far worse.
Thankfully, there are a host of gadgets out there that can help make burglars think twice about choosing your home, and one or two that will be sure to dumbfound them if they manage to get in.
From barking alarms to machines that spew clouds of smoke, these technological home defenders will not only increase the chances of your TV being there when you get back from the Maldives – they’re also pretty cool in their own right.
The Barking Dog Alarm emits a realistic woof
Barking Dog Alarm
A growling canine is one of the most effective deterrents to potential burglars, and with this dog barking device you can have the security benefits of a dog without having to actually feed and walk one. Using radar technology, the Barking Dog Alarm detects when intruders are in the vicinity and triggers a woof so realistic it sends even the most hardened burglars running. Makers say the sound is of “a vicious, barking German Shepherd”. Just the thing if you’re going away for a couple of weeks.
£39.99, clifford-james.co.uk
LIFX’s lightbulbs can be controlled from your smartphone
LIFX light bulb
Everyone knows that the first rule for scaring off burglars is to make it look like someone’s at home. Do this and more with LIFX’s energy efficient smart lightbulbs, which can be controlled via your smartphone so you can remotely turn your lights on and off. Control the lights in every room of your house and choose from 16 million colours to get the party started for your return. It won initial funding from Kickstarter where it attracted $1.3m.
From £79.95 per lightbulb, lifx.co
LED lights mimic the colours transmitted by real TVs
FakeTV
Another way to fool passing burglars into thinking you’re home in front of the box is to buy a Fake TV. No, not a decoy TV they can run off with while your real TV is hidden under the stairs. It’s essentially an LED light box that emulates the colours emitted from TVs, from a typical 27” bedroom set-up to a 40” living room entertainment system.
From £24.95, faketv.co.uk
A cloud of thick smoke will stop burglars from finding your TV
Stealth Defence Combat 360
You can’t steal a TV if you can’t see. This home defence system releases a cloud of thick smoke when an infra-red beam is crossed or a panic button activated. It will eventually completely dissipate.
From £2,300, stealthdefence.com
Keep an eye on what’s happening at home from anywhere in the world
BT Smart Home Cam
Put your mind at ease when you’re away by checking your home hasn’t been burgled. This device connects to your smartphone through your wi-fi connection, allowing you to take a look at what’s going on in your living room no matter where you are in the world. It is built with motion sensors and night vision, and can automatically send alerts to your phone when it suspects ill deeds are afoot.
£99.99, BT.com