ADT® Authorized Dealer Serving San Francisco & Surrounding Areas

Family members walking hand-in-hand in front of a lovely home with a white fence
March 30, 2026

What Does Target Hardening Mean For Home Security?

You’ve seen target hardening mentioned as a way to stop break-ins, but you may be thinking about how it’s applicable to your own San Francisco home. Explore this crime-prevention method and discover how the home security innovators at ADT can help you improve your defense. 

Understanding Target Hardening

A popular theory in criminology dating back to the 1970s, target hardening simply states that criminal activity will abate when chances to commit crime are limited. In other words, if a target feels like too high of a risk, potential thieves will just move on. Target hardening involves making your home less attractive to prowlers through the use of observable, layered home security implements.

Making Your San Francisco Home Less Of A Target

Criminals, like other people, will follow the road that looks the easiest. Your job is to give them pause about approaching your property. But what should you do? Abide by these guidelines:

Make Your Security Impossible To Ignore

Home security yard signs and video cameras let would-be burglars know you have protection. Surveillance is among the most reliable deterrents, as no thief wants to be caught in the act. ADT has cutting-edge outdoor and doorbell cameras with night vision, HD imaging, and AI-powered smart detection.

Don’t Leave Any Dark Corners

A well-lit house is much less inviting to criminals. Brighten up dark corners around your home, and add accent lights near tree lines, hedges, and fencing, and other places where intruders might hide. You can even have interior lights illuminate automatically if a surveillance device detects suspicious activity outside.

Opt For Comprehensive Protection

You need a layered approach, which means backing up your surveillance and signage with entry-point sensors, motion sensors, and a loud alarm. ADT can help secure every access point, including the largest one, your garage.

Don’t Overlook The Basics

Ensure that all window locks work, and always use a deadbolt latch on the main entry. Look into reinforcing the door frames, and use a metal bar in the floor track of your sliding door to stop intruders if the lock is compromised.

Maintain A Clear View From Windows

Hedges, large bushes, and trees are useful cover for strangers who wish to stay out of view. Ensure that you can see clearly to all parts of your property by pruning greenery next to windows. A neat, properly maintained landscape signals to potential thieves that they should stay away.

Why Protect Your San Francisco Home With ADT?

Shielding American families for more than 150 years, ADT is the most trusted name in home security. Known for 24-hour service and fast response times from experienced professionals, ADT boasts the most monitoring centers of any security provider. You’ll enjoy the peace of mind and the state-of-the-art components like Google Nest video cameras. 

Better Protect Your San Francisco Home With Secure24 Alarm Systems

Ready to make your home less of a target? Choose a fully integrated ADT security system from Secure24 Alarm Systems. As your trusted ADT dealer, we offer top-of-the-line equipment from the top name in home security. See how we can boost your security by dialing (415) 966-3602 or completing our form today.

Start the Home Security Cost Quiz to Get Instant ADT Package Options