Home Security
Protect what matters most
Your home should be your sanctuary. Learn how to protect your family and belongings with our comprehensive guide to home security in Ireland.
Practical guides
House alarms in Ireland
The kinds of alarm, when the Gardaí respond, how to check an installer’s PSA licence, and what to ask before you choose one.
Read the guideLock up, light up: the dark evenings
Free steps from Garda advice: locking up, where to keep keys, lights and timers, and what to do before you go away.
Read the guideSecuring your doors and windows
The free steps first, then what the Gardaí suggest: the standard to ask for, a PSA-licensed locksmith, the letterbox, door chains and window locks.
Read the guideHome cameras and video doorbells
Where you may point one, from the Data Protection Commission, then who can see the footage, passwords and updates, and what to check before you buy.
Read the guidePrint and share
Free sheets to print, keep and give to family or neighbours. Not for sale.
- Lock up, light up: every evening and before you go awayThe Gardaí’s own advice. Tick each line as you lock up.
- Home security walk-roundWalk round your home in daylight with this sheet and a pen. Tick what is fine, and write down anything that needs fixing.
- While we’re away: a handover sheet for a neighbour or house-sitterFill it in before you go and leave it with the person keeping an eye on your home, with the key. Take it back when you’re home.
- Home inventory for your valuablesList what you own that is worth recording: make, model and serial number, with a photo and your Eircode marked on it. Keep it somewhere safe, with your insurance policy.
- Our fire escape planDraw your home, plan two ways out of every room, and agree who helps whom. Then walk it through with everyone who lives here.
- Bedtime fire checkA few minutes, every night. Go through it before you go up, until it is a habit.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm test logPush and hold the test button until it sounds, then tick a box.
78.8%
of residential burglaries happen between 4pm and 8am
23.9%
got in through an unsecured door (last three winters)
Source: An Garda Síochána, Operation Thor winter phase, 1 October 2026
Common Threats
Understanding how criminals operate helps you protect against them.
Opportunistic Burglary
Unlocked doors, open windows and valuables on show make a house an easy target.
Lock every door and window, even when you are at home. Keep valuables out of sight.
Forced Entry
Weak doors, single-lock systems, and poor-quality windows are easily defeated by determined criminals.
Upgrade to multi-point locks, reinforce door frames, install security film on windows.
Social Engineering
Criminals pose as utility workers, delivery drivers, or officials to gain access to your home.
Always verify ID, never let strangers in, use door chains and peepholes.
Package Theft
Parcels left on doorsteps are easy targets, especially during peak shopping seasons.
Use parcel lockers, require signatures, install doorbell cameras.
Layers of Security
Effective home security uses multiple layers. Each layer adds protection and deters criminals.
Perimeter Security
- Motion-activated exterior lighting
- Visible security cameras
- Secure fencing and gates
- Thorny bushes under windows
- Gravel driveways (noise alert)
Entry Point Protection
- Multi-point locking doors
- Doors and windows tested to PAS 24 or I.S. EN 1627
- Window locks on all windows
- Reinforced door frames
- Security film on glass
Detection Systems
- Monitored alarm system
- Motion sensors (PIR)
- Door/window contacts
- Glass break detectors
- CCTV with recording
Smart Security
- Smart locks with remote access
- Video doorbells
- Smart lighting schedules
- Remote monitoring apps
- Integration with voice assistants
Quick Security Tips
Simple actions that make a big difference.
Never hide spare keys outside - use a key safe or give to trusted neighbour
Use timer switches on lights and radios when away
Cancel newspaper/milk deliveries during holidays
Ask neighbours to collect post and park in your driveway
Don't announce holidays on social media
Keep hedges trimmed so criminals can't hide
Mark valuables with your Eircode
Take photos of valuables for insurance
Join or start a Neighbourhood Watch
Photograph your bike, note its serial number, and ask your local Garda station about property marking
Not sure how to join or start a Neighbourhood Watch? Our guide to Text Alert, Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert sets out who to ring, the form a group has to file, and what it costs.
Products by Type
What to look for in each kind of home security product
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most important home security measure?
Lock every door and window, every time, even when you are at home. Gardaí say an unsecured door was the way in for 23.9% of residential burglaries over the last three winters. If you are replacing a door or window, Gardaí suggest one tested to PAS 24:2016 or, for higher security, I.S. EN 1627:2011.
Is a house alarm worth having?
Gardaí advise using a house alarm, and the CCPC lists an alarm among the things that can earn a discount on home insurance, with more off if it is monitored. Ask your insurer what it needs before you buy.
Do I need professional installation?
If you pay someone to install or maintain an alarm or CCTV, they must hold a licence from the Private Security Authority (PSA). Hiring an unlicensed installer is against the law for the householder too. Check the installer on the PSA register, and get at least three quotes, as the Gardaí suggest.
What's the difference between monitored and unmonitored alarms?
An unmonitored alarm only sounds at the house. A monitored alarm also sends a signal to a monitoring centre, which can contact you, your keyholders or the Gardaí. To be sure of a Garda response, the alarm needs a Garda Unique Reference Number (URN): it must meet approved standards, be fitted by an approved installer and be monitored by an approved monitoring company. An auto-dialler that rings your own phone must not be set to call the Gardaí.
How can I secure my home on a budget?
Start with the things that cost nothing. Lock all doors and windows. Keep keys away from windows and the letterbox. Don't keep large amounts of cash or jewellery in the house. In the evening, turn on some lights, and use timer switches or motion detectors when you are out. Your local Garda Crime Prevention Officer can also advise you.
Sources
- An Garda Síochána: Operation Thor winter phase, 1 October 2026
- An Garda Síochána: Securing your home
- An Garda Síochána: Intruder alarms leaflet (HS4, 2020)
- Private Security Authority: Unlicensed electronic security (PSA 19)
- Private Security Authority: PSA Registered Contractors (search the register)
- CCPC: Home insurance
- An Garda Síochána: Bike theft and property marking
Checked October 2026.
Ready to Secure Your Home?
Find trusted, verified alarm installers in your area. Compare quotes and get professional installation.