How To Make Your House Safe From Burglars

How safe is your home? Is your home a target to burglars? Believe it or not, your home might not be as secure as you think. Burglars are savvier than ever, and they can enter a home without you even noticing.

Whether you’ve just bought a new home or you’ve lived there for years, get serious about your home security. According to the FBI, the police arrested only 61% of all criminals who broke into a home in 2017. The rest got away with the crime unscathed. Do you want to protect yourself from becoming another statistic? If so, read these tips for how to make your house safe from burglars.

1. Lock Your Doors and Windows

Despite how Hollywood portrays burglars, most of them come through the easiest entry point of all: the front door. In a survey of 86 convicted burglars, over half of them broke in through an unlocked door or window. While it might seem like common sense to keep your doors and windows locked, it’s still easy to forget.

Get in the habit of keeping all points of entries closed and locked. Unlocked doors make your home an easy target for would-be intruders. If a burglar is looking for an easy point of entry, they’ll move on to a different property This goes for garage doors, back entrances, and other locations.

Aside from this, make sure your front door is actually secure. This is the main entrance and exit to your home. You need to ensure it works properly. Some doors made of lightweight material might even have a hollow core. If possible, install a much more secure hardwood or steel front door. These doors are much more difficult to break down. Finally, replace your deadbolt with a four-screw deadbolt strike plate which is the hardest to kick down. Ultimately, avoid having weak spots in your home.

2. Invest in a Security System

An alarm system is the best way to protect your home from burglars. We can’t all be in our homes 24/7, so having a way to keep your home safe when you’re away is key. A modern alarm system like Alarm Grid will alert the authorities if there’s any suspicious activity on your property.

In addition, a security system is often enough to deter would-be intruders who will move on to an easier target. Having a clear-to-see security system shows criminals you take your security seriously. This is especially true if you’ve already been the victim of an attack, or if your neighborhood is prone to crime.

3. Install Outside Lights

Can you see your yard clearly once the sun goes down? While most criminals act during the day when people are at work or school, that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down at night. Criminals are always on the lookout for hidden spots in your yard that are perfect for hiding.

If there’s plenty of light, it’s hard for criminals to get close to your property. Invest in quality lighting. The best option is a motion-sensor light that alerts you to any outside movement. These lights are effective deterrents for criminals and other suspicious activity.

4. Keep Your Home Occupied

Criminals look for unoccupied homes. Of course, it’s impossible to be in your home 24//7, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create an illusion. If your home is dark when you’re out at night, it appears unattended and prime for the taking.

Keep your home looking occupied with some smart measures. Always leave a light or TV on if you leave your home unattended for long periods of time. For a bargain alternative, a battery-powered radio will do the trick. You can even purchase a fake TV that simulates the flickering of a TV screen to fool intruders into thinking you’re home.

The same goes for outdoor maintenance. If your yard looks like a mess, this indicates to burglars that you haven’t been around for a while. Maintained homes look lived in. The yard is maintained, there’s no debris and trash outside, and it’s clear someone’s nearby. Take measures to make sure your home always looked lived in, even when nobody’s home.

5. Be Careful With Guests

You should always be careful who you let into your home. There’s nothing wrong with hiring service people to work in your home but be vigilant with who you hire. While most utility and service workers are from reputable companies and don’t have any ulterior motives, be cautious. Never leave valuables on display, and do your research before you hire someone new.

Similarly, don’t fall for common “service” scams. In these common scams, criminals pose as service workers only to act as a distraction while you get robbed. Anytime you’re letting someone into your home, you’re letting them scope out your valuables. Remember to check that people are who they say you are before inviting them into your personal space.

6. Use Warning Signs

Finally, don’t be afraid to use warning signs to ward off criminals. Once again, burglars are on the lookout for the easiest target. A “beware of dog” sign might be enough to show your home isn’t worth the hassle of messing with. Take this a step further by leaving an empty bowl near your front door to make it clear that a dog lives there. If possible, consider getting a dog which can be a powerful deterrent since they’re known to bark when strangers enter the property.

If you’re using an alarm system, be sure to display a sign in the front of your home. The same goes for any security cameras or monitoring technology. If these tools are easy to spot, criminals know not to mess with your home. You’re not an easy target, and they’ll just move onto someone else.

Creating a Safe Home Environment

Make smarter choices about your home security. If you’re not careful, your home will become a target for burglars. These tips above might take time, but they’ll ensure your home is a safe space for years to come.

Luckily, all of these above improvements are things you can do on your own. You don’t need any extensive security training or DIY improvement skills to make your home safer. At the end of the day, there’s no such thing as a crime-free neighborhood. No matter where you live, an intruder can make your home the next target. Embrace stronger security measures to gain much-needed peace of mind.

Previous post:
Tight Budget? How to Move Out Cheaply

Next post:
Greening Up an Office Space