Protect Your Home!
Updated: Feb 22, 2022
Protect Your Home! You have spent a lot of time and money to purchase your house. It is the most valuable asset you own, and it's worth protecting. It is important that you take the necessary steps to ensure your property is secure and protected from crime. Tips to Prevent Break-Ins And Theft Feeling safe at home and protecting your loved ones is a top priority. Implementing these safety measures can help provide you peace of mind.
Secure your doors and windows - Locking your doors and windows is the first and easiest line of defense against home intruders. Burglars like to look for easy targets, and an unlocked for or window is just that. Keeping them locked even when you are home is a good habit to get into, and of course, double-check that all doors and windows are secured before leaving the house.
Upgrade your door locks - Locking your doors and windows only goes so far if you do not have high-quality locks. Ensure exterior doors are equipped with deadbolts to make it more difficult for intruders to break in. Confirm your door frames and hinges are strong enough to ensure an attempted break-in.
Buy a home security system - Installing a home security system is one of the most effective ways to prevent intruders from entering your home or to alert you if they do. Data shows that a home without a security system is actually 3X more likely to be broken into.
Keep valuables hidden - Many burglars will often scope out potential targets ahead of time, ensuring they can get their hands on valuables. Avoid keeping expensive items where intruders can easily see them while they pass. For example, ensure expensive tools or bikes are correctly stored and not left in plain sight, close your garage door, don't leave costly electronics, purses, jewelry, cash, or other big-ticket items in front of open windows.
Install outdoor lighting - Burglars don't want to be on display while breaking into a home. Outdoor lights can help deter them from doing so. Instead of leaving your outdoor lights on at all times, consider investing in a motion sensor system that will detect movement. The sudden light may catch an intruder off-guard and potentially scare them off.
Lock your garage - Many homeowners forget about securing their garage correctly, but it can be one of the easiest ways for intruders to gain access to your home. Ensure regular doors and windows to your garage are locked. Consider keeping your garage door opener in your house instead of in your car, where someone could steal it. Finally, keep the interior door from your garage to your home locked.
Be smart about your hidden key - Intruders are very familiar with the typical key-hiding places such as under the doormat or flowerpot. If this is where you are storing your key, it might be best to rethink the location. A concealed combination lockbox or an unexpected location far from your door is a better alternative to consider.
Make it look like someone is home - Burglars don't want to enter your home when you are there. They would prefer to find an empty house so they can be in and out as quickly as possible, so making it look like someone is home at all times is beneficial. Leaving an interior light or TV on during the workday is an easy option. If you are away for a long time, have a neighbor or family member collect mail and check in on your home.
Consider buying a safe - On the off chance an intruder gains entry into your home, it is best to give them as little to steal as possible. Purchasing a safe or lockbox is a great way to store cash, jewelry, valuable documents, and other precious items to prevent them from getting stolen.
Deter theft from your front porch - Online shopping has increased with the pandemic, which has led to the increase in Porch Pirates looking for an unattended package to walk away with. Consider investing in a porch lockbox or mailbox sensor to notify you when it has opened. Requiring a signature upon delivery can also help prevent packages from being left unattended.
Implementing tips on this list will help discourage and prevent burglars and keep your family and belongings safe! Putting safety measures in place can be overwhelming, so it is okay to start small. Pick a couple of things off the list to implement first, and over time, you can move on to other security items. Each improvement along the way will help ensure your home and loved ones are that much more secure.
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