Tips: Prevent Burglaries During Busy Summer Season

  • May 11, 2007

Nearly every 15 seconds a burglary is committed in the United States, and the busiest burglar season is summer. So before you pack that suitcase, board the family pet and say goodbye to everyday chores, make sure you’ve planned ways to keep your home and valuables safe. To help with that planning, the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) offers these tips.

The first thing you should remember is to discourage the thief. Since burglars prefer to break in to houses that look unoccupied, lower your home’s appeal by making it look like you’re there. Use timers on lights, radios and televisions and leave drapes and shades open. Before you leave, ask neighbors to put trash cans out on trash day. It’s also a good idea to either leave a car parked in the driveway, or ask a neighbor to park there. Make arrangements to take care of your mail or newspapers; arrange for delivery to stop, or ask a friend to help. And don’t overlook the lawn. Mow your yard before you leave, and if you’re going to be gone long, make sure it is taken care of during your vacation.

The second step, deny easy access, involves some basic, but often overlooked, ways to prevent your home from becoming a target. According to industry research, burglars spend no more than 60 seconds breaking into a home, so anything you do to increase this time may cause intruders to change their mind. The most basic protection is to lock all doors and windows, and secure the garage door. It is estimated that a third of all burglars enter through the front door, and most entries of residences occur during the day. So don’t invite the thief into your home. In fact, consider installing deadbolt locks for added security. It is also a good idea to trim your trees and hedges; this gives burglars fewer hiding places. And don’t forget to replace burned-out yard lights, and consider upgrading with built-in motion detectors. Anything that makes a thief think twice before selecting your home as a target will add protection.

The third step, manage the risk, involves taking the time to enlist your neighbors, friends or local police in keeping an eye on your property. In addition to letting your neighbors know you are going on vacation, ask them to watch your house. Tell them how long you will be gone and give them the names or descriptions of anyone that may need access to your house. You should always leave a house key and a number where you can be reached with a trusted individual. For extended vacations, consider a house sitter and telling your local police when you will be away.

The final layer of protection involves being able to detect an intruder. NBFAA recommends investing in a home security system since homes without them are about three times more likely to be broken into than homes with security systems. (Actual statistic ranges from 2.2 times to 3.1 times, depending on the value of the home.) Most importantly, NBFAA reminds consumers to activate their systems, especially when on vacation. Crime statistics show that most security systems are turned off in those homes that are burglarized. Finally, make sure that anyone with access to the home knows how to properly operate the system.

Featured

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.