Most people feel pretty safe at home. Unfortunately, that often leads them to be careless, lowering their guard to the point where they become prime targets for opportunistic criminals on the lookout for easy loot. The majority of these burglars would by far prefer to avoid a confrontation with you or your family members. But if one occurs, your loved ones could be in real danger. Use these simple tips to make burglars give your home the go-by.
1. Be Cautious When Arriving Home
Getting out of your car to open garage doors could give some of the more confrontational types of intruders a chance to either steal your car, or target you. The best garage door openers will open and close doors, locking them down before you exit your car. However, do be careful of what you do with your remote. Keeping it on your keychain, or using a system that’s activated using your phone is probably the best bet.
2. Have a Noisy Big Dog
If you’re an animal lover, this tip is for you! If you aren’t, give it a miss. You should never get a pet just for security. Dogs need love and attention as much as they need food. They don’t have to be vicious to be a deterrent – they just have to be loud, and preferably, big. In surveys, convicted burglars all agreed that big, noisy dogs are among the best deterrents out there. They don’t like the noise alerting people that something’s going on, and they don’t like the idea of confronting those jaws.
3. Make it Difficult – and Noisy, to Get In
More than 30 percent of burglaries occur when people leave windows and doors unlocked or open. But if one swift kick is all it takes to gain access through a locked door, burglars will be happy to use the opportunity. Use security gates and burglar bars that will take time to get through and that will require burglars to be noisy. Check out the sturdiness of doors and window frames while you’re at it. Make a habit of locking doors when you enter or leave the house, and get your family on board with this extremely simple, but surprisingly often overlooked, security measure.
4. Don’t Give Them Privacy
Walls and shrubberies help us to feel private when we’re out in our gardens, but they’re also a favorite with burglars. With little chance of being seen from the street, they’re ready to start scoping out ways to get in, and if it takes a little time to gain entry, they aren’t too worried about being spotted by curious passersby or neighbors. If you still want to maintain yard privacy, use gates and fencing that are hard to climb and ensure that you can see what’s going on in your yard from inside the house at night.
5. Have a Noisy Alarm or Panic Button
A noisy alarm suddenly going off is enough to put most burglars to flight. If you use a system that’s supplied by a security company, consider not displaying their branding, as it may give experienced thieves clues on how to get around it. However, the main thing is that it should be really loud, enough to make burglars realize that attention will be centered on your home and that leaving is the best course of action to follow.
A Little Caution Goes a Long Way
For the most part, keeping intruders out of your home is a matter of ordinary common sense – there’s no need to live as you’re besieged or to be hyper-aware. A few simple precautions that make breaking into your home look difficult should be enough to keep your residence safe. Looking for something a little more advanced? Check out smart home security systems for that extra bit of tech.
