Presence simulation - what you should know about it

Burglars usually avoid entering buildings where someone is present. Because the probability of being discovered is high. A professionally implemented presence simulation makes outsiders believe that the residents are at home, even if they are on vacation, for example.
 

What is a presence simulation?

The simulation of the presence of the residents serves primarily as protection against a burglary. Through intelligent automation, the regular usage behavior of the residents is imitated by activating externally perceivable systems and devices in the apartment at certain intervals. This gives a potential burglar the impression that the object is inhabited. By the way, burglars are always in season. The widespread opinion that they are mainly active during the vacation season and at night is a misconception.

What are the advantages of a presence simulation?

Burglars are on the lookout for easy prey: Break open doors, take valuable things with you and off you go, the motto is. If house inhabitants are present, the thing for the burglars becomes complicated and dangerous, finally the criminals do not know whether they were not already discovered and the police were informed. 

What functions should a presence simulation have?

What is important is an impulse control that imitates the habits of the residents deceptively realistically. Blinds can thus be lowered automatically via a corresponding control module. The exact time should be selected however randomly, because nobody lets down at the same time each day the shutters. So far so good. That leaves the good old doorbell. Because burglars like to ring the doorbell when they want to find out whether someone is at home. But if you digitize the whole process, there's no problem. An automatic video doorbell will show you who is at the door even when you are on vacation - even voice communication with the visitor is possible.

What should be considered during presence simulation?

The simulation should be realistic if the bluff is to work. Because your home should look like someone's home down to the smallest detail. Therefore, all procedures and schedules should be simulated in normal everyday life. The better your smart home devices are networked, the easier it is to reduce the risk of a break-in. Of course, in addition to the presence simulation, the proven rules should also be observed: For example, mailboxes should be emptied regularly, the telephone should be answered or forwarded and the driveway and terrace should be cleared of leaves and foliage. Gardening work should not be neglected either, it can be done by automated garden helpers. It is important to switch on the light and to set the automatic in such a way that it corresponds to the habits of the inhabitants. The smart lighting systems Philips Hue and the Tradfri system from Ikea, for example, have individually programmable switch-on and switch-off times based on a random principle.

What must be simulated in order to feign presence?

- Shutters or blinds should be opened and closed
- Lamps in the apartment are switched on and off
- Sounds from the radio or TV turned on at times are audible
- Lawn sprinklers are switched on and off

Install video cameras in the rooms so that you can check if everything is okay at home even from your vacation destination. It is also important to have an alarm system with a direct line to the police, as you can only intervene in events to a limited extent from your vacation resort.