Summer is just around the corner. And while many of us will use that time for vacation, home invaders will be working harder than ever—it's the busiest season for break-ins, according to the Burglary Prevention Council. The best way to ward off thieves: common sense (and maybe a decent alarm system). But in lieu of those, here are a few clever (and sometimes silly) products for keeping your home safe.
STI Rex Plus Electronic Watchdog, $84
You may not own a German shepherd, but that doesn't mean you can't trick burglars into thinking you do. According to National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, 34 percent of burglars come in through the front door. When this system detects movement, it responds by blasting a realistic dog bark. The closer an intruder gets, the more frequent the barking. Unlike a real dog, this one can see through doors, walls and even bricks. If the same old bark gets tiresome, choose from four different sounds: a barking dog, a barking dog with a siren, sounds of the rainforest, or a soothing arrival alert. The best part? It never needs to be fed or taken outside.
Solar Motion Act Wedge Light, Maxsa, $50
In the battle against burglars, bright lights are your friend. Keep break-ins at bay by adding a few motion-censored lights to your home's ground-floor periphery. The recent FBI Uniform Crime Report found that 81 percent of residential burglaries occur through the first floor. This solar-powered light detects motion within a 100 degree range, from up to 22 feet away. When activated, it stays on for 4 minutes. The wedge shape allows for the mini solar panel to charge in the sun all day, and the light can either be mounted on a wall or seated on a flat surface.
Opto-Electronic Design Fake TV, $29.95
An obviously empty house is a tempting target. This flashing box purports to "accurately simulate the light output of a real LCD HDTV television, encouraging burglars to pick an easier target." How it works: A series of red, green, blue and white LED lights flash in semi-random patterns, tricking would-be burglars into thinking a TV is on in the house. The low-wattage LEDs use a fiftieth of the electricity of a power-hungry flat screen, and they can be programmed to flick on automatically at dusk.
Security System Yard Sign/Decals, $30
When it comes to being burglarized, it's what's on the outside that counts. A recent Temple University study found that homes without alarms were 2.7 to 3.5 times more likely to be burglarized, and that the most effective deterrent was an alarm monitoring company's yard sign—even if it is fake. Of course, this tactic won't work when criminals get wise that you and your neighbors have signs, but no security system to back them. That's why we also recommend trimming shrubs and bushes in your yard. A well-groomed yard leaves fewer intruder hiding spots, according to the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association.
PepperBlaster II, $49.95
The fear of injuring yourself with key-chain pepper spray is a common one—think: Gust of wind sends spray backwards into your own eyes. The PepperBlaster, designed by Swiss engineers, allows you to stop a threat at a distance.
A pull of the trigger sends transparent goo at a speed of 90 mph up to 13 feet. That's enough force to wrap around glasses or even penetrate a face mask. Blowback is not an option. It hits and sticks.
For increased pepper spray thickness, the new solution includes 10 percent OC (2.4 percent capsaicinoid content) with benzyl alcohol. There are 2 blasts per blaster and the manufacturer claims the spray lasts up to 3 years before losing its potency.
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