If you re the average homeowner, you probably think your home is pretty safe. Yet the number one method of entry for a burglar is through an open or unlocked door or window. The sad truth is that many burglars don t even need to break in to your home at all, because you ve left it open for them.
Today, there are several television shows built upon this premise. Ex burglars walk around a couple s home, determining how they would get inside. The couple then watches via camera as the burglars break into the home in mere seconds, sometimes not even leaving a trace. Watching such shows may make you think about how good your home security really is. How is it possible for a burglar to break into a home you though was secure?
There are a few ways you can catch such weaknesses and correct them now, before they become an issue. To test your home security, put yourself in the mind of a thief, and take a walk around your home. Another way to think about it is to pretend that you have locked yourself out of your home, and look for ways to get back in. These are the same ways that a criminal would use to gain access to your home.
Your first step is to examine all doors and windows, because this is the most likely entry point for a burglar. Do they close securely? Are they locked? Walk all the way around your home, trying to open any window that you can reach. Even if you have locks, they do no good if you never use them. If you have kids, make sure they know to keep their bedroom windows locked. Install deadbolts on your doors if you don t already have them; these are known to be much more secure than the locks on the door handle itself. Install alarms on any accessible doors and windows. Do you have a hide a key feature near your front or back door? Thieves know that these are common, and will know right where to look for them. Your hide a key gives burglars a chance to rob your home without even having to break in.
Once you ve walked around your home, get your step ladder out of your unlocked shed, and try again. Criminals tend to be opportunistic, and will use whatever they see to gain access to your home. Don t leave ladders, crowbars, or other tools sitting around, either in your yard or in a shed that is not secure. It may seem silly locking the shed in your own backyard, but this simple step can keep burglars from breaking into your home and stealing anything they want.
There are other factors than doors and windows that may make your home a more attractive target for burglaries. Do you have shrubs hiding the windows? Do you like to leave the garage door open to let in air or for easy access while you re working in the yard? Are there any dark corners that seem like obvious hiding places for a burglar coming to your home at night? Cut the shrubs to avoid providing a hiding place for criminals, remember to keep your garage door closed, and install outdoor lighting to illuminate dark corners.
Burglars looking for a home to break into will be considering the security of your home. By making your home as secure as possible, you can prevent entry by amateur thieves, and slow down a professional.
If the professional burglar does decide to break into your home the hard way, make sure you have methods in place to get them out. Install a whole house alarm system or individual alarms on the doors and windows. In case you are home when they break in, keep pepper spray, stun guns, personal alarms, or other safety devices throughout the home in convenient locations. Consider forming a neighborhood watch group so that your neighbors will report any suspicious activity near your home.
If you don t have methods in place to stop burglars in their tracks, anyone who breaks into your home will be virtually unstoppable, yet a surprisingly small percentage of homeowners ever think about what they could do to prevent such crimes. Before it s too late, inspect your home and correct any security flaws. Unfortunately, many homeowners make it all too easy for a burglar to break in by doing almost nothing to prevent this possibility.
Author Resource:
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