Tips on How to Prevent Break Ins at Home
You come home from a long day at work expecting to relax a bit in front of the television before bed. Instead, you find your home in disarray and your television missing. Stunned, you realize that your personal space has been violated by someone breaking in to your home. This traumatic experience happens every single day, and it may leave you feeling vulnerable. Here are some tips on how to prevent break ins at home.
Go for a Walk
Start your prevention steps by taking a walk around the outside of your home. Check your home and property for spots that are weak and might allow an intruder access. Lock all doors and secure all windows on any cellars, basements, or garages that may give access to the main part of your house. Homeowners sometimes neglect the repair of windows, so make sure an intruder isn’t going to find a way in via a broken window or window latch.
Take an objective look at the shrubbery near your home. This is important for those that are located close to doors and windows. Neatly trimmed shrubs give intruders less places to hide from the lights on oncoming cars and the neighbors’ eyes. You may love the tall shrubs in front of your windows because they provide you with a bit of privacy, but an intruder looks at those as opportunity.
Don’t just rely on a day time walk around the property. Check things out at night. Be alert for areas that don’t get enough light and install motion sensitive lights. Entrances should be lit well. An intruder doesn’t want anyone to see him trying to get in your home. Light is your friend.
Lock and Key
Make sure your entrance doors are made of something sturdy that resists being kicked in or knocked down by an intruder. Place deadbolt locks on entrance doors, as well. Some communities or housing developments have rules in place about deadbolt locks. Check with them to make sure you can install them on your doors.
It’s an easy fix but many people overlook their windows, doors, and garage doors when it comes to keeping them locked. When the weather is pleasant, you may decide to open your windows to enjoy the fresh air. At night, when you close those windows, it’s easy to forget to lock them again. It’s not unusual for people to dash to the store on the corner and leave their front door unlocked. This is plenty of time for an intruder to access your home and make off with some of your valuables.
You may think you are clever when it comes to hiding a spare key outside of your home. As clever as you may be, thieves have made it their business to know how to find these places. Most of them have years of experience with finding creatively hidden keys. Leave a spare key with a trusted friend, neighbor or family member in case you get locked out of your house.
Oh, Those Windows!
There’s nothing quite like an ornamental entrance door with lots of pretty glass or panes to let in light. The problem is that the glass is sometimes easily broken to allow entrance. To protect against this happening to your windows that are in or near entrance doors have them reinforced with acrylic glass. This will keep someone from breaking the glass and reaching in to access locks.
Use window treatments to ensure that potential intruders aren’t getting a good look at your valuables while you’re going about your day-to-day routines. Purchase special hardware from the store to keep intruders from accessing your home through sliding doors and windows. There are pins that keep doors and windows in their tracks when someone is trying to lift them for access.
Another Set of Eyes
If you want an added level of security, check with your community to see if they offer Home Security Inspections by local law enforcement officers. They can offer you valuable information due to their experience and training.
Keep in contact with neighbors so that they are aware of when you won’t be home for extended periods. They can keep an eye out for anyone acting suspicious around your house or in the neighborhood at report it to police.
The Safety of Home
The best way to prevent break ins at home is to live in a low crime rate area. This is where a real estate agent comes in handy! Leigh Hays knows about Inman Park and surrounding areas because she is connected to the community. She can offer you valuable insight on neighborhoods and community protection programs.
Leigh Hays Atlanta Real Estate is dedicated to providing you with helpful information. She knows the importance of protecting yourself, the people you love, and your home. Give her a call at 404-402-4554 today to discuss buying or selling a home in Inman Park or surrounding areas.
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