Gina Field, operational security expert and founder of Nepean Regional Security, recently joined 4BC’s Jason on Drive to discuss home security in the wake of a confronting home invasion in Rochdale, Queensland. The incident involved a gang of thieves who entered a family home in the early hours of the morning, threatening the homeowner at knifepoint and fracturing her finger during a scuffle — despite the property having $4,000 worth of security cameras, lighting, and signage installed just weeks prior.
Gina highlighted that criminals are fundamentally opportunistic, gravitating toward properties that offer easy access and low risk of detection. Contributing factors include unlocked doors and gates, poor lighting, concealed entry points, and corner block positioning with minimal foot traffic. She noted that a significant proportion of Australian households still leave their front doors unlocked — a straightforward vulnerability that can be addressed at no cost. Simple measures such as motion sensor lighting, padlocked side gates, and securing electrical boxes — which intruders can use to disable alarms and cameras — go a long way toward making a property a less attractive target.
One of the more practical pieces of advice Gina shared relates to car keys. Police are increasingly recommending that households with vehicles in the driveway leave keys accessible rather than taking them upstairs, reducing the likelihood that a break-in escalates into a violent confrontation. Dogs also received a strong endorsement as an underrated security measure, providing both an audible alert and a genuine deterrent to would-be intruders.
With the Easter long weekend approaching at the time of the interview, Gina also addressed how to secure a home while away. Her core advice: make the property look lived in. This means using timed interior lighting, arranging for bins to be put out and mail to be collected, having a trusted neighbour mow the lawn, and — critically — avoiding social media posts that broadcast an absence from home.
Gina’s appearance served as a timely reminder that effective home security is less about expensive technology and more about eliminating easy opportunities. A layered approach combining basic physical deterrents, good habits, and community awareness remains the most reliable foundation for keeping households safe.
