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Home Weak-Spot Check: Free Home Security Walk-Through and Score

Walk your home with this checklist, tick what is already true, and get a weak-spot score with the fixes in the right order: free habits first, then cheap hardware, then cameras and sensors.

Burglary in the U.S. has fallen a long way: the FBI's national burglary rate dropped from 743.6 per 100,000 people in 2004 to 250.7 in 2023, with an estimated 442,889 burglaries at residences in 2023. It still happens, and most of the fixes that matter cost nothing. This walk-through is built on the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) home security checklist.

Your home is only half of it

A secure house helps, but awareness and knowing what to do if something goes wrong matter just as much. The Patriot's Self Defense course covers the personal side: awareness, avoiding trouble and responding under stress.

See the Patriot's Self Defense course

Where the weak spots usually are

The NCPC checklist starts with doors: solid doors, a keyed lock plus a deadbolt into the frame, a wide-angle viewer, and spare keys with a trusted neighbor rather than under the mat. Then sliders (a dowel or pin so the door cannot be shoved aside or lifted), window locks, the garage-to-house door, and lighting with no dark hiding spots.

Fix in this order

Habits come first because they are free and they close the most common gaps. Hardware is next. Gear like a video doorbell, cameras and entry sensors adds a record and an alert, but it does not replace a locked door.

Gear that fits the weak spots

Cameras without a monthly fee

Battery or wired cameras for the front door, back door and driveway.

See eufy cameras and doorbellsPLACEHOLDER: EUFY

Wired or PoE cameras

For people who want local recording and full coverage.

See Reolink camerasPLACEHOLDER: REOLINK

Sensors and monitored alarm (optional)

Entry sensors and optional professional monitoring.

See SimpliSafePLACEHOLDER: SIMPLISAFE

Printable home security kit

Our printable checklist, home inventory sheet and away-from-home plan.

Get the printable kit on EtsyPLACEHOLDER: ETSY_HOME_SECURITY_KIT

Camera privacy and the law

Point cameras at your own property. Do not aim into neighbors' windows, yards or any place people expect privacy, and never put cameras in bathrooms or bedrooms. Check your HOA, lease or landlord rules before mounting.
Audio is the legal trap. Recording conversations is covered by federal and state wiretap laws. Some states require the consent of everyone in the conversation (for example California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington). The safest default is to turn audio recording off on outdoor cameras and doorbells, or post a clear notice. See the Reporters Committee's state-by-state Recording Guide and check your own state's law.
Tell guests, sitters and cleaners about indoor cameras. Secure camera accounts with a strong password and two-factor sign-in.
If you see a crime in progress, call 911. Do not confront an intruder. Your local police department's non-emergency line can often arrange a free home security survey.

Disclaimer: this checklist is general information, not a professional security assessment or legal advice. Laws on recording vary by state and change; check your state's law or ask a lawyer. No product or course can promise you will not be a victim of crime.

Sources

FBI, UCR Summary of Crime in the Nation, 2023 (burglary rate and residential burglary estimates), via the FBI Crime Data Explorer: cde.ucr.cjis.gov
Bureau of Justice Statistics, Victimization During Household Burglary (2010): bjs.ojp.gov
National Crime Prevention Council, Home & Neighborhood Safety: ncpc.org
NCPC Home Security Checklist (PDF): ncpc.org
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Reporter's Recording Guide (state consent laws): rcfp.org

FAQ

What are the most common home security weak spots?

Unlocked or weak doors, sliding doors without a dowel or pin, unlocked windows, the garage-to-house door, spare keys left outside, and dark hiding spots by entries. These come from the NCPC home security checklist.

Are home burglaries going up?

No. FBI data show the U.S. burglary rate fell from 743.6 per 100,000 people in 2004 to 250.7 in 2023, with about 442,889 residential burglaries estimated for 2023.

Is it legal to record audio on my doorbell camera?

It depends on your state. Some states require everyone in a conversation to consent to recording. The safest default is to switch audio recording off or post a clear notice, and check your state's law.

Do I need cameras to be secure?

No. Locks, habits and lighting come first and are mostly free. Cameras and sensors add a record and alerts on top.