Criminals are always looking for a quick opportunity to grab and go, avoiding homeowners along the way. Do not give a crook a chance to make you a victim. Burglaries can occur in any neighborhood in any city but there are some things anyone can do to reduce the likelihood of a thief visiting them. By putting yourself in a burglar’s shoes, you will see weaknesses in your home safety plan and addressing those weaknesses, you can make it more difficult for a crook to enter your residence and render you a victim.
Thinking like a Thief May Boost Safety
One example: go outside and walk the property around your home. Do it during daylight and again at night. Take a friend with you, someone who is not as familiar with your home, and discuss how you would break in. A friend will see things differently like betting Malaysia or casino Vegas and add insight. Attempt to get inside from the outside, how difficult is it to push open a window or kick in a door? If you can get inside easily, so can a thief. Here are some things to think about as you consider strengthening your home security.
- Notice what you see through the windows. Are expensive electronics or other valuables easily visible from the street? Televisions, computers, laptops, I-pods and other electronic devices and jewelry are favorite items for thieves to steal. Don’t advertise your items.
- Look for areas where a burglar could hide such as dark places or behind overgrown foliage near doors or windows? Be sure to cut back plants near entryways and illuminate dark areas around your home by installing motion sensor lights.
- Any exterior door should have a deadbolt lock and the frame strong enough to hold the deadbolt securely. Strike plate reinforcements are available and easy to install to prevent door kick entry. No lock will keep a burglar out if it is not used, always keep doors and windows locked!
- Sliding glass doors and windows can be easy to lift and remove from the frame. Security locks can be installed that act much like a deadbolt. Security shutters can be installed but may prevent use of the window as a fire escape. Be sure you can push them out from the inside in case of emergency.
- Automatic garage door openers have pre-installed security codes that must be changed by the owners to be safe. Always lock your vehicle, even parked in the driveway of your home, to keep thieves from stealing items including the garage door opener.
- Don’t advertise when you are out of town. Newspapers lying in the driveway, garbage cans not out on collection day or an empty can sitting by the road is telling thieves your home is unoccupied. Don’t forget to arrange for snow removal or a lawn service to make sure your home looks the same as it does when you are home.
- Using timers to make the TV, radio and lights go on and off randomly can assist in keeping thieves at bay. Pay attention to your habits; if you open curtains every morning when you are home it will be obvious when you are not.
- Keep valuables in a safe that is secured to the home or in a bank safety deposit box.
- Alarms are wonderful deterrents and only effective if utilized. Advertise your home is protected by an alarm system by placing stickers on doors and windows and a sign in the yard.
By incorporating these and other safety suggestions anyone can help protect their home from burglary. Whether you own or rent your residence, insurance is an important element in your plan to ensure replacement of stolen items should a thief hit your home. Doing research ahead of time and taking steps to protect valuables and increase chances of recovery are smart and know what to do if you walk in and find you’ve become a victim of burglary.
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Where Are Burglars Most likely to Enter One’s Home?
Crime experts have determined that various parts of a home are more likely to be used by a burglar and why this is the case. Consider the following percentages found at Alarm System Reviews:
- 35% of burglars enter through the front door by kicking it in or forcing it open.
- 23% of thieves enter through first floor windows; more surprising is that the windows were left unlocked.
- 22% of break-ins were through the backdoor. This is thought to be because the thief has more privacy due to shrubbery, fences, etc. to jimmy the lock and enter a bit more quietly.
- 4% of thieves will enter through the basement; the reason this number is low is because so many people do not have basements, especially in states like Florida or other coastal regions.
- 9% of break-ins are through the garage. Sadly, many tools will use the homeowner’ own tools to break into the home. Don’t overlook including the garage when adding a home security system!
- 6% of home burglaries occur through unlocked entrances and or storage areas.
Keeping Thieves Out
Once home owners are aware of potential entrance points, it is easier to make adjustments to prevent becoming a target. There are many ways to make one home uninviting to burglaries. One such way is with a home security system. And while this may be an additional monthly expense, it doesn’t have to be.
According to statements found on Local Price, home monitoring systems range in price from as low as $13 in Atlanta, $26 in Phoenix or $30 in Washington, D.C. Home security systems go a long way toward keeping one’s valuable possessions and loved ones safe from harm. By having a home security system installed individual’s can not only protects one’s home from without but also within in cases of carbon monoxide, flooding, fire and easy 911 calling.
Additional steps to keep one’s home uninviting to a burglar are:
Keep yards neat; shrubbery and hedges should be trimmed so that they do not provide hiding places
Install motion detectors with lights that will alert residents of any outdoor activity
Always activate the home monitory system whether one is home or away
Burglar proofing one’s home is not a difficult task nor is one that will be wasted time. Don’t make it easy for a thief to enter through the areas listed here, whether one is homeowner or using rental property, taking steps to prevent crime is an important part of protecting what matters most.