7 Ways to Keep Your Home Safe From Intruders
According to recent reports, approximately 2,000,000 burglaries are reported each year in the United States with the highest percentage occurring during the summer months.
With all of the traveling and activities that come with the summer, break ins can and will happen. To insure that this does not happen, we have compiled a list of 7 easy things you can do to make your home a safe haven.
1. Get to Know Your Neighbors
While on vacation, have your neighbors pick up your newspapers and mail. In doing this, it makes it look like you are still around to collect it. Also have them keep an eye on your house while you are away so that they can alert you (and the police) if there is any suspicious activity.
2. Keep Valuables out of Plain Sight
Any time you are away from you home, make sure that no valuables are laying around your yard (like bikes or skateboards) or in plain sight. If a potential intruder sees these valuables laying around, they are more drawn to see what else you have that they would want. Also, make sure to not leave empty boxes from pricey and newly purchased items laying around the recycling bin in the front yard, which can also draw in intruders.
3. Take Advantage of Home Security Lighting
If you plan on being away from home for an extended period of time, consider installing timers for interior and exterior lighting so that it gives off the illusion that there is activity inside the house. Most burglaries occur when no one is home, so it is important to make it look like there is an occupant.
4. Don’t forget About the Home Alarm System
Home alarm systems increase the potential of a burglar being caught. Burglars are less likely to break in to a home that looks as if it has a sophisticated security system. So whether or not you actually have an alarm system, put a home security sign in your front yard or on your doors.
5. Upgrade to a Heavy Duty Strike Plate
Most break ins occur by kicking in the door with the weakest point being the lock strike plate. Upgrading to a heavy duty strike plate reinforces the lock, making it much harder to kick down the door.
6. Do NOT Broadcast that You Will Be Away
With the age of constant communication and broadcasting your every move, your statuses and tweets about your vacation can actually make you vulnerable to break ins. Think twice about updating your friends on how much fun you are having in the Bahamas and wait until you get back.
7. Lock Windows and Doors!
According to the FBI, around 34% of thieves get into homes by simply walking in through the front door. Although it seems like a simple task, a lot of people forget to do it! Not only should you remember to lock your doors, but also don’t forget to close and lock windows. Locked doors can be proven pointless if you have a wide open window.
We will continue to provide insight on ways to prevent home invasions.
If you have any other tricks or tactics you use to keep away intruders, comment below!