Protecting your personal property is a major factor in modern day living. With hi-fi and wi-fi, plasma TV and Wii, each home on average has thousands of pounds worth of electrical goods. These goods can fetch a pretty penny on the 'second hand' market, and therefore are a desirable haul for suburban opportunists, for want of a better term. There was a time when the family fortunes were tied up in the family jewels, and a safety box behind an oil painting did the job of deterring a burglar. But with electrical goods that are part and parcel of everyday life, there isn't the option of hiding the goods from prying eyes, so home security has to take a new stance.

Implementing security systems can be a costly and some say a false economy. Cameras and floodlights can all be sabotaged by the most incompetent thief, and often draw attention to a residence. The presence of expensive security equipment is like a neon sign saying that there is a veritable treasure chest of goods inside that are well worth trying to steal. The better option for deterring a break-in is a more subtle method. Simply make your house a fortress the old fashioned way. The biggest deterrent is by making the place look secure whilst not giving away that there is much of any consequence inside.

I'm not talking moat, drawbridge and portcullis here, but external doors and windows have to be well made and sturdy without making the property look like Alcatraz gaol. It is important to keep these external features in line with the aesthetics of the property to avoid reducing the value of your home, and the best way to do this is by having external doors specially made for the property. Many insurance companies expect doors to have deadbolts or mortise locks for security reasons, and if you don't have these already, the insurance terms may be compromised, so investing in new doors has an immediate financial incentive.

External doors can be manufactured from hardwood for an authentic period look to suit a Victorian, Edwardian or rural property. They can also be made from a composite of materials that have properties that exceed the reliability of traditional timber. Composites are generally UV resistant and so do not fade after exposure to the sun, keeping the exterior looking maintained; and a well maintained house looks like a protected one. There are also a number of types of patio doors with double and triple glazed safety glass that can be installed at the rear of a property that will be a secure yet attractive addition to the home.

Other security measures can be a little more subtle, but deterrents are still the key. Having exotic foliage with spiny leaves under windows is not perceived by many as a security feature, but an opportunistic burglar will think twice if considering a break in, as it makes a clean escape less likely. Flower beds are also likely to keep prying eyes away from windows, as footprints are commonly used as evidence in a break-in scenario. However, none of these factors outweigh the impact of a secure and well maintained door to protect the family fortress from foraging thieves.