Home security has become a growing concern for UK households, and in 2026, many homeowners are taking a closer look at something that's often overlooked: their door locks. While alarms, cameras and lighting tend to dominate conversations around home security, experts are increasingly pointing to door locks as one of the most important - and vulnerable - parts of a property's defenses. As burglary methods evolve and older hardware struggles to keep up, upgrading door locks is quickly becoming a priority rather than an afterthought.
According to former burglar turned security consultant Michael Fraser, who spent years breaking into homes before turning his life around, these seemingly innocent habits are exactly what professionals look for. "Most people have no idea they're broadcasting an empty house," he told me during a recent interview. "They think they're being careful, but they're actually creating a roadmap." After speaking with several security experts and reformed burglars, I discovered that the things we do without thinking often create the perfect opportunity for break-ins.
I wanted to help her sleep soundly in her new "big girl" bed. But once she did, I didn't expect my own sleep to continue to be disrupted as well. I woke up at every creak of the house, wondering if it was my daughter roaming around, exploring her newfound freedom. I knew it was incredibly unlikely, but I feared that she would unlock the door and walk outside in the middle of the night.
Smart calendars can be a boon for busy families that have room for them, but Cozyla's latest concept is pushing that to the limit if you're short on space. The 55-inch Cozyla Calendar Plus Max announced at CES is a Wi-Fi-enabled 4K touchscreen display on a wheeled stand, which Cozyla says is the "largest smart interactive hub in its category."
In 2024, they launched Sauron - named after the sinister, all-seeing eye from "The Lord of the Rings" - to build what they envisioned as a military-grade home security system for tech elites. The concept resonated in Bay Area circles, where crime had become a constant topic during and after the pandemic, despite San Francisco Police Department statistics showing property crime and homicide rates declining last year.
If you're a fan of Amazon's ecosystem, whether that's asking your Alexa speaker to tell you about the weather or compulsively checking the video feed from your Ring doorbell, then it makes sense to expand and build onto the system. It's always easier to keep to one ecosystem as much as you can with smart home gear, letting you stick to a single app and single subscription if you decide to invest in one.
It's a great time to tighten up your home security, because the internet is awash with tempting Cyber Monday security camera deals. Aside from potentially dissuading porch pirates and would-be burglars, security cameras are a good way to check in on your kids and pets, and add motion lighting to outside areas. Many of our favorite indoor security cameras, outdoor security cameras, and video doorbells are on sale.
He wears diamond earrings the size of Skittles and a trimmed, barbershop beard. Custom Air Jordans. He's forty-seven, a few inches shy of six feet, and his body is slim and taut. He's not much bigger than he was at nineteen, when he was sent to Rikers Island for a double homicide, and when he got there some of the inmates used to slap him on the back when he walked by.
More than 666m worth of parcels were stolen from people's doorsteps in the year to June, new research can reveal. Leicestershire was the top hotspot for doorstep thefts, with 799 incidents reported during the year, followed by Hertfordshire (767) and Kent (750), according to a freedom of information request submitted by parcel locker company Quadient to 27 police forces across the UK.
Police on Friday were investigating a burglary at a home reported to belong to the Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander that happened while the NBA's reigning MVP was playing a game the night before. The Thunder referred questions to police in Nichols Hills, an enclave north of downtown Oklahoma City. Police would not confirm who lived in the house or say what might have been taken from it.
Something simple you can do to your home to feel a bit safer is install a home security system. One or more outdoor cameras can bring you peace of mind, allowing you to monitor your home and keep it safe from unwanted intruders. Heck, even just having a visible camera attached to your house can be enough to deter someone from stepping onto your property.
The most notable feature revealed at the event was "Familiar Faces," which uses AI to identify friends and family. Users can enroll the faces of their loved ones into the device, enabling Ring to alert them when it recognizes a visitor. The AI will also alert the user when an unfamiliar person is detected, helping them to make an informed decisions quickly.
The NYC Home Pros who have joined Brownstoner recently offer a wide variety of services, including architecture, lighting, and home security. Photo by Susan De Vries by Cate Corcoran The NYC Home Pros who have joined Brownstoner recently include architects, interior designers, and real estate agents. Whether your living room needs painting, you're preparing for a full gut renovation, or you're putting your house on the market, there's a Home Pro who can help.