How to Keep Your Home Safe from Break-Ins
This article describes several ways a homeowner can protect their property and keep their home safe from burglary. Each tip provides a thorough explanation supported by properly sourced statistical data.
Hoping It Never Happens Isn’t A Solution
Home break-ins are a worst nightmare scenario. It’s essential to feel safe in your own home, and burglary can shatter that peace instantly. Instead of thinking that could never happen to you, take preventive action.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, around 6.9 million property crimes were committed in 2019. If you think that is alarming, the arrest rate for burglary was 52.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. Don’t become a statistic. Instead, learn what you can do to prevent your home from making a criminal to-do list.
Keep reading to see how you can keep yourself, your family and your home safe from intruders.
Door and Window Locks are a Vital Preventative Measure
It sounds like a no-brainer, but many people forget to lock their doors. Statistics show that nearly 30% of burglars enter a home through an unlocked door or window. Therefore, it’s essential to make a habit of regularly checking your home for unlocked entry points. Also, if you have children, remind them to lock the doors.
It’s not just crucial to keep entry points locked during the night. Crime studies have shown that most break-ins occur during the daytime hours. Criminals know that many homes are empty during the day as people are at work and children are at school. If you don’t secure your home before leaving for work in the morning, you’re taking an enormous risk.
Motion Lights Are Best
Many homeowners believe that exterior lights left on during the night help protect them from would-be burglars. However, it may be less of a deterrent than first thought. Some criminals have used the available light to carefully stake out their next target while waiting in the shadows. For example, a thief can remain hidden but gather valuable intelligence such as different entry points, types of locks, and dog signs. In addition, a motion-sensing light doesn’t allow the criminal time to evaluate the home from a distance and can surprise anyone approaching the house.
Also, it’s a common belief that while away, leaving lights on in the house with the blinds closed is a strong deterrent. However, this can also indicate to a thief that no one is home. A Boise news station asked several convicted burglars about effective deterrents and found that some criminals would intentionally look for homes with the lights on and shades drawn. One solution to this issue is incorporating lights on a timer rather than just leaving them on continually.
Get A Security System or Make it Look Like You Have One
There are many different options for security systems. Some services have been around for over a century, such as hardwired security systems, while others, such as wireless-enabled systems, are relatively new to the market. Either way, these services offer door and window sensors, motion detectors, security cameras, police assistance, and a host of other accessories for home security. With nearly 1 in every 36 homes getting robbed, it’s a good idea to have additional security measures.
If you aren’t ready to commit to a complete security system, you can always make efforts to make it look like you have one anyway. You can purchase window stickers, yard signs, or even borrow some from a friend who has a security system. Home security companies always include signs and stickers with their security logo for placement around the house’s exterior. It might be enough to discourage a would-be thief from targeting your home.
Get a Dog or A Huge Dog Food Bowl
Another great way to discourage break-ins is bringing home a dog. Not only will the dog react to strangers, but anyone planning a robbery may abandon your home as a target after seeing a dog. An insurance company that consulted with a panel of ex-burglars found that a barking dog was an effective deterrent. However, since many thieves look for easy or susceptible targets, a loud barking dog creates unwanted attention.
If you’re not a dog person, you can always make it seem like you have a dog. For example, you could incorporate a beware of dog sign or even place an oversize dog dish on your porch. If a thief was looking for an easy job, the sight of a huge dog bowl might change their mind. Even motion sensors emit a loud recorded dog bark when tripped.
Don’t Become A Statistic
It’s easy to become complacent in the busy day-to-day of modern life. Remember, there are evil and devious individuals working on committing crimes daily. With a few precautions, you can protect your home and family. Always remember to lock your doors and windows. Don’t forget daylight break-ins are more common when homeowners are away.
Motion lighting draws attention to anyone approaching and can make casing a home at night difficult. If you are going out for the evening, don’t just turn on all the lights and close the blinds. Instead, plug your lights into timers to give a more realistic appearance that someone is home.
You may want to investigate getting a security system that will provide extra layers of protection to your home. Cameras, motion detectors, and entry sensors can dramatically increase the likelihood your home isn’t targeted. You can also place window stickers or yard signs around your house to give the impression you have a security system. This alone might be enough of a deterrent to criminals.
Lastly, get a large dog who will loyally protect your home against intruders. Loud barking is a big deterrent to thieves looking to burglarize your home silently. You can also give the impression you have a dog with beware signs, large dog bowls, and even motion detecting devices that play a loud recorded bark sound when engaged.
These are just some of your options as a homeowner to protect your property, and your family and keep your home safe. Rather than leave your safety to chance, consider taking action to make your house an unattractive target to criminals. According to the latest statistics, every minute, burglaries occur in 7 homes. Make sure your house isn’t one of them.
Light Up For The Holidays
Although to keep home safe, we do not install motion lights or security systems, at A Brilliant Solution Holiday Lighting, and we do not have dogs to give you, we are a lighting company you need when you want to light up your home or commercial property for the winter holiday season. We can put your holiday lighting on a timer for you.
So before you leave this page, if you are interested, either bookmark this page or contact us to get on our Christmas lighting schedule no matter what time of the year it is. We book fast, so we do not recommend waiting until the last minute. We are looking forward to lighting up your outdoor space this coming season, and all to follow.
