Australian households experienced a break-in in 2024-25.
Around 540 a day, averaged across the year.
Source: ABS Crime Victimisation 2024-25
Home security, Australia
Home Security in Australia: The Layered Guide
Skip the gadget-first advice. This is the whole picture for Australian homes — what the national data actually shows, what police prevention guidance really says, and how to build protection in layers, starting with the free ones.
Use this page as the map: every zone and situation below links to a deeper guide, so you can go straight to the part of home security you are dealing with today.
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Why bother
What home security is actually up against
Two numbers from the national household survey set the scale. The full breakdown — incident outcomes, repeat targeting, year-on-year movement — lives on our Australian break-in statistics page.
Households where someone tried to get in but did not complete the break-in.
Around 600 households a day had someone try.
Source: ABS Crime Victimisation 2024-25More attempts were reported than completed break-ins.
Someone testing a door is not yet someone inside. The attempt stage is exactly where visible and audible layers do their work.
Source: ABS Crime Victimisation 2024-25
The model
Four layers, in order — start free, spend last
Police prevention guidance keeps coming back to the same sequence. Work down this list in order; most homes get the biggest gains before spending a dollar. The full checklist is on the Victoria Police burglary prevention page.
| Layer | What it means | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Remove the invitation | Lock doors and windows even when home, keep keys and valuables out of sight of the door, clear hiding cover near entries. | Free — habits |
| 2. Look occupied | Timer lamps, a car sometimes in the drive, mail cleared, no social posts announcing an empty house. Our guide to making a home look occupied covers the full routine. | Free to ~$50 |
| 3. Deter at the approach | Sensor lights, visible signage, and audible deterrents that react while someone is still outside deciding. | $30–$150 per zone |
| 4. Harden and escalate | Better locks and strike plates, window locks, and — if it suits your home — an alarm or monitoring service on top. | Varies; monitoring adds $30–50/month |
A $2,000 camera kit on a house with keys visible through the door glass is decoration. Layers 1 and 2 first — always.
Zone by zone
Cover the zones burglars actually test
Each zone below has its own in-depth setup guide.
Where most testing starts. Locks, lighting and an audible layer at the door. See the barking dog alarm guide for how the sound layer works.
Tools and bikes walk away quietly from detached spaces. The garage guide and shed guide cover no-Wi-Fi setups.
Cars, trailers and the walk-in route beside the house. The driveway guide covers the approach.
No drilling, nothing wired in, everything moves out with you. Start with the apartment guide or the no-Wi-Fi home security guide.
Where we fit
Where a barking deterrent sits in the stack
K9-Alert is layer 3 — a motion-triggered barking layer for the zones you cannot watch. It is not a monitored alarm, it does not replace locks, and we would rather say that plainly than oversell it. One receiver pairs with up to 8 wireless sensors, nothing needs Wi-Fi or a subscription, and it moves out with you.
Barking starts while someone is still outside deciding — the stage where most attempts already fail.
Sheds, garages, driveways and rentals — no router, app or hub required.
$99.95 once. A monitored service runs $30–50 every month, forever. See the kits and bundles to match sensors to your zones.
Questions
Home security FAQ
What is the best home security setup in Australia?
There is no single best product — police prevention advice is consistent that layers beat gadgets. Start with locks and lighting, remove easy rewards like visible keys, add occupancy cues so the home never looks empty, then add a deterrent or alarm layer at the entry points you cannot watch. Choose each layer for your actual doors, budget and rental rules rather than a brand.
Do I need a monitored alarm or cameras for home security?
Not necessarily. Monitored systems and cameras suit some homes, but they carry monthly fees, and cameras mostly record what already happened. Many households get further by spending on deterrence first — making the property look and sound occupied — and only then deciding whether ongoing monitoring is worth it for them.
What can renters do about home security without drilling?
Quite a lot: door and window habit changes, portable door braces, timer lamps for occupancy, and wireless, screw-free deterrents that move out with you. Our renter guide covers a full no-drilling setup that does not risk the bond.
Security guides