In a world filled with risk and peril, the one place where we feel safe is our home. Our home is our sanctuary and our castle. It's the one place where we control who comes and goes, and who gets close to us and our loved ones.
However, most people have a tendency to take the safety of their home for granted. They tend to feel a false sense of security and therefore neglect basic precautions and safety measures. It isn't until their home has been burglarized that they begin to take security seriously. By then it's too late, valuables and family heirlooms have been stolen and the family is left feeling violated and vulnerable.
According to national crime statistics, a burglary occurs every fifteen seconds. Residential burglaries occur mostly during the day, when people are at work, but can also happen at night under cover of darkness. Preferred items include; cash, jewelry, electronics, guns, laptops, cell phones or any expensive items than can be sold easily and converted into cash.
Although an experienced and determined burglar could be nearly impossible to stop, precautions can be taken to make your home an unattractive target, and difficult to break into. The following tips will help to reduce your risk by making your home uninviting to potential burglars.
Be wary of strangers
A veteran burglar will "case" a home or neighborhood to seek out opportunities. He may masquerade as a delivery person, painter, solicitor, etc. He won't resemble a stereotypical burglar wearing dark clothes and a black ski mask. He might look like a normal handyman or even a salesman.
What to do
There is no need to be overly suspicious and paranoid. However, when a stranger knocks at your door, you should always be a little guarded. Install a peephole in your door, and always ask for ID.
If you need a handyman, gardener, or a carpet cleaner, never hire anyone who knocks on your door unsolicited. While they may be legitimate, it's not worth the risk. Use the phone book or personal references to hire contractors.
Promptly remove any flyers or door hangers. A flyer advertising a fake business will be left behind by thieves to see how long it takes for the homeowner to remove it. This helps them to determine how often and when someone is entering and exiting the house.
The best home security system is a barking dog or a nosy neighbor. Burglars don't want any attention and they will steer clear of loud animals and areas with curious neighbors.
Make your home unattractive...to burglars
A typical burglar seeks three things; an unoccupied house, an easy entry point and a quick escape. Homes with large shrubs or trees to provide cover are an obvious target. A property with dark areas to hide, and houses that are unlit inside are appealing to burglars too. Burglars will also peer through windows to look for anything worth stealing and they'll check for unlocked doors or flimsy door latches.
What to do
Remove or trim bushes, trees and shrubs near doors and windows. Make sure all possible entry points have a clear and unobstructed view from the street.
Ample exterior lighting is crucial. The front and rear of the house should be adequately illuminated, especially if there is a dark alley behind the house. The use of wall lights, flood lights, pathway lighting and step lights will make your home uninviting to potential burglars.
Interior lighting is just as important as the exterior. Interior lights should be set on timers to look and feel as if someone is home. Kitchen, living room and bedroom lights will make your house appear occupied. Also, the flickering lights of a television or the sound of a radio can act as a powerful deterrent.
A burglar won't hesitate to break a window if necessary. Most people won't investigate a strange noise unless they hear it a second time. They will usually stop what they're doing to see if they hear it again, and then continue on with what they were doing. An experienced burglar knows this so he won't mind breaking a window to gain entry. So, install double pane windows, it usually takes more than one try to break through the glass, a risk most burglars won't take.
Consider installing a home security or alarm system. If an alarm is cost prohibitive a less expensive solution is to install a fake surveillance camera. A fake camera looks identical to a real camera, works as a deterrent and is a fraction of the cost of a complete surveillance or alarm system.
Never leave your windows open for fresh air to circulate while you are away. Even an open upstairs window will leave your house vulnerable. If you have an alarm system, make sure to arm the second story windows as well. Many people only arm the first story windows assuming that a burglar won't be able to access the second story. This is a big mistake, burglars know that the second story windows are likely to be unarmed and perhaps even open.
Don't leave any tools out in the yard like shovels, rakes, etc, These can be used to break a window to gain entry. Also, don't leave a ladder in the backyard unless it's secured with a chain and lock. A burglar will use it to access the second story windows.
Never leave a note on your door to a friend or the delivery man explaining why you aren't home and when you'll be back.
Never leave a spare key above the door jamb, under the door mat, or in a secret compartment disguised as a yard ornament. Burglars know about these hiding places too. Instead, leave a spare key with a neighbor or trusted friend.
All exterior doors should be constructed with metal or solid wood, not hollow core, and install dead bolt locks. Use a broom handle or metal rod to prevent sliders and windows from being forced open.
Expensive items like laptops, widescreen televisions and gaming systems should never be visible through a window. If they are, then blinds or curtains should be closed. Why advertise your expensive belongings? If a burglar can't see anything of value through the window he may move on to the next house. Also, an alarm system control pad should never be visible from outside. If you forget to set it, a burglar will be able to see it through a window and know that it's unarmed.
Open curtains or blinds slightly while you are gone. Nothing tells a burglar that a house is unoccupied like closed blinds. Open them just enough to make it appear as if you're home, but not so much that someone can look in and see all the expensive items you own.
A hot day, with the windows closed and the air conditioning turned off is a sure sign that no one is home. Consider setting your air conditioner to turn on occasionally even when you aren't home. A potential thief will think that someone is home and the house will be at a comfortable temperature when you return.
A small picket fence or shrubs surrounding the perimeter of your front yard can be a big deterrent. An easy getaway is essential for a burglar, so anything that impedes his escape may deter him from targeting your home.
Additional tips to keep your home safe
So, now you know what precautions to take to make your home secure and to discourage potential burglars. However, some burglars are persistent and despite your efforts, they could still find a way into your home. What can you do now? The following is a list of precautions that aren't preventative, but they could make a stressful experience a little easier to bear.
Consider installing a surveillance system in addition to your alarm. Many surveillance systems can be monitored via remote access. Use the internet to see a live feed of the interior or exterior of your home. This serves two functions; it allows you to monitor your home while you're away and it records anything that happens, making it easier for police to identify possible suspects.
Burglars are pressed for time. They will try to get in and out as quickly as possible. They will search in the most obvious places including your sock drawer. However, they rarely search children's rooms. If you have valuables and don't own a safe, then you should consider this as a potential hiding place.
All expensive valuables should be marked with either an invisible ink pen or with some type of engraving device. This will make it easier for law enforcement to identify your belongings if the thief is eventually caught. Also, make sure you have some type of homeowners or renters insurance and keep an up-to date inventory of valuable items and documentation to prove their value. This will save time and headache when you make a claim to your insurance company.
Thieves aren't just looking for electronics to sell, they are looking for information that can be used to steal your identity. Any documents that contain personal information like social security numbers, driver license number, etc should be kept in a secure location like a safe or locked cabinet.
A burglar is usually someone who doesn't want a confrontation, which is why he works when no one is home. The worst thing you can possibly do is to come home while he is still there. When you leave your house unattended for a length of time, leave a ten dollar bill somewhere on the floor inside your home where you can see it through a window. When you return home and the money isn't there, it's a sure sign that someone has been inside and could still be there. Leave immediately and call the police.
Burglar proofing your home doesn't have to involve major renovations and expense. Simple strategies like making your house appear occupied, eliminating hiding places and remembering to lock all doors and windows can decrease risks dramatically, at minimal cost. Remember, burglars are looking for quick and easy access, so putting an obstacle in their way is likely to deter them. Don't take the safety of your home for granted, take some basic precautions to keep your home and family safe.
