According to 2017 FBI data, a burglary occurred every 22.6 seconds in the United States. Protecting your home and property may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Although they’re helpful, you don’t necessarily need a state-of-the-art security system to keep your home safe from thieves.
Here are eight common-sense ways you can protect your property from burglars and thieves.
1. Build A Fence
Although fences around your home are not impenetrable, they do discourage would-be thieves from coming to your home. If the burglar has to bring attention to themselves by scaling a fence, they might decide to move on to a different house. To help even further, consider installing a fence that has sharp, pointy tips on top, to shrubbery that can't be climbed.
2. Install Motion Detector Lighting
Motion detector lighting is particularly helpful when installed around all of the entrances to your home. Not only is it practical for you, when you get home in the dark or have guests over, but what could be more discouraging to a thief sneaking up to your house than a bright light that shines on them? If you live in an apartment, ask your landlord to install lighting in any areas that need it, such as dark corners.
3. Utilize Your Garage Space
If you have a garage, be sure to put it to good use. Your valuables should be stored there, as opposed to keeping them stored in a more vulnerable spot. For example, if you drive a Jaguar, it should logically belong in the garage. Use your garage to store other items that are easy for a thief to walk away with, such as your barbecue grill and bicycles. To take this a step further, if you have windows on your garage, use curtains or blinds to cover them. You don’t want to advertise what your garage is holding!
4. Change The Locks When You Move In
How can you be certain that the last person who lived in your home didn’t make copies of your housekey and pass them out to their family or friends? Do you really want to risk a stranger effortlessly walking into your locked home? Locksmith services are relatively affordable, and taking care of this crucial detail will help you sleep better at night.
5. Don’t Hide A Spare Key Outside
Thieves are experts in deception, so don’t think you’re going to fool anyone with that fake key rock that you bought for your front porch. Would-be burglars know to look underneath your doormat or your planter for a spare. A better plan is to leave a spare key with a neighbor that you know you can trust.
6. Consider Purchasing a Home Security System
With so many different security systems on the market, it’s hard to know where to begin. First, decide which features are most important to you. Some systems have outdoor motion detectors, others have security cameras and sensors at exterior doors and windows.
Whichever system you go with, opt for one that’s simple enough for your whole family to operate, as it isn’t going to do anyone any good if no one ever turns it on. That’s what the burglar is counting on. The little security sticker on your window isn’t likely to scare them away.
7. Add Privacy Film To Glass Exterior Doors
Although glass doors look beautiful, as they allow sunlight to shine into your home, they also give prying eyes a view of what items they might want to steal from your home. Glass doors also let a thief know if you’re home or not. Lining them with privacy film warps the view, so that it’s hard for others to see inside of your home. This is particularly helpful if you’re living alone, or if you have children who are old enough to stay at home by themselves.
8. Keep All Doors and Windows Locked At All Times
Whether you’re home or not, it’s very important to lock windows and doors at all times. If a burglar sees an open window, this is basically an open invitation for them to come inside your home. Every exterior door should have a deadbolt lock, and all window locks should be checked to make sure none of them are weak. Additionally, sliding doors should have a vertical bolt as well as a wood or metal rod inserted into the track. Don’t forget to lock the door that’s attached to the garage, as it’s one of the most commonly-entered points in the home.
Final Thought
Burglars don’t take the day off. All it takes is one time that you forget to lock the door and they could take the opportunity to get inside. Being proactive and planning ahead of time, with measures such as security systems and new locks, are the best way to ensure that your home and its belongings stay safe and sound.