How to Keep Your Home Burglar-Free
In every 60 seconds, burglars are expected to attack at least four homes. Most of these burglaries happen when no one is at home and in broad daylight. In 2013, around $4.5 billion burglary-related property losses were reported. Nearly 75% of this value came from residential properties. Alarming, isn’t it?
Knowing that burglars can strike at any time, it’s easy to feel unsecured about leaving your home. However, although burglaries are prevalent, there are still a number of ways for you to keep your home protected. Here are some of them:
● Increase your home’s visibility.
Burglars lurk in the dark. The best way you can prevent them from hiding in your lawn is by trimming overgrown bushes and trees. It’s not necessary for you to cut everything down. You only need to make sure that they are low enough to make it hard for anyone to hide behind them. If you want to keep plants near your home, you can try planting thorny plants instead.
Aside from regularly trimming your plants, you may also want to invest in motion-activated outdoor lights. These lightings automatically turn on once movements are detected. You can install them in the back area of your home, gate and doorways. Motion-activated lights are considered as better options than regular lights because they can make it easy for you and your neighbors to know if someone is spying around.
● Fortify your locks.
Traditional locks may no longer be enough to protect you and your property. For better security, you can add deadbolt locks on your door. These locks are designed to only open once the right key is used to rotate the lock cylinder inside. Thus, they are more resistant against lock picking.
Aside from deadbolt locks, smart locks are also considered as reliable and efficient in keeping intruders out. There are a lot of advanced smart locks today that rely on biometrics, specifically fingerprints, in granting user access. Some locks are integrated with a camera and speaker so you can see who’s trying to access your door. They can even allow you to check if you’ve locked the door on your way out even without the extra trip back home. Very convenient, right?
Doors aren’t the only ways inside your home. It’s also important that you secure your windows, too. To make them harder to break, you can add a few invisible security films, particularly on windows near your door lock. Installing a stopper can also help make sure they won’t open completely.
● Invest in a good home security system.
Houses that are clearly armed with home surveillance systems are less likely to become targets. Burglars would rather move on to their next target than risk themselves being seen or getting caught robbing a home. Because of this, a security system is considered to be one of the best burglar deterrents you can have for your home.
However, you should take note that not all home security systems are the same. There are a variety of systems and you need to find one that can fit your needs and preferences. If you’re not sure about what to get, reading in-depth reviews and comparisons, such as those written by Top Security Review, can give you a clearer idea about the right fit for your home. Because installing a security system can help prevent burglaries or minimize the associated loss, you’d want to have the best system to protect your home.
● Be more aware.
Practicing responsible home ownership can help keep your home safe. This includes locking your doors and windows, repairing broken locks, and being more careful with the people you let inside your home. As much as possible, you should try to be more aware of what your home needs. Regularly checking for loose hinges on your door, unused ladders or tools in your yard or weakened parts of your gate can also help.
If you’ll be leaving for a vacation or if you bought a new appliance, it’s better if you don’t post it on social media sites. Burglars are capable of using the internet and may see your post as an invitation. Aside from this, knowing your neighbors can also help increase your security. As a matter of fact, joining neighborhood watch programs can let you take on a more proactive role in protecting the place you live in. With more people watching over your neighborhood, burglars are more likely to get intimidated and find new weaker targets.
Security is something that should not be dealt with lightly. As a matter of fact, in order to best protect your home, you need to be more careful with your actions, remain vigilant and take immediate action. If now’s not the time, then when?