When thinking about home invasion, some people just don’t consider themselves to be at risk. After all, you live in a great neighborhood!
But did you know that 34% of robbers simply walk in through the front door? That’s right. Plenty of people just like you are leaving their safety and the safety of their families up to chance.
Don’t wait for burglars to find you. Instead, read our top list of ways to protect your home from burglars, and start fighting back!
1. Lock Your Doors/Windows
This may seem like a no-brainer, but many homeowners will leave their back doors unlocked. Their reasoning is that they “live in a safe neighborhood”, and the chances of anyone hopping the fence are so low that they just don’t bother with it.
Another security risk to consider is windows. When opening and closing them for weather, people hardly remember to lock them. You may think that the screen prevents people from getting to the window itself, but screens can be easily popped out.
If you aren’t used to keeping everything locked, you might feel a little paranoid at first. However, when it comes to the safety of yourself and your family, better safe than sorry.
2. Install Window Security
As mentioned above, locking all of your windows is a great first step to making sure your home is secure. However, depending on your neighborhood, more can always be done.
Security bars or even metal screens (often steel) are both realistic options for guaranteeing no one can punch through the glass. If you live in a neighborhood with a strict Homeowners Association but still want to secure your windows, installing reinforced glass is a great alternative. Some brands may or may not be bulletproof, but they all ensure that a burglar will have to try harder than simply throwing a brick.
3. Don’t Make Yourself a Target
While securing your house against a robbery is half the battle, the other half is making that your house isn’t the most attractive option on the block. If you’re home, keep your car visible and in the driveway. If you have a nice flatscreen, try to position it out of view from any windows.
No matter the price of your belongings, try to keep your blinds closed as much as possible. The last thing you want is for a burglar to be able to window shop.
Having an alarm system is also a popular deterrent, but don’t make it too obvious. A house will a lot of visible security usually contains something worth protecting. Don’t display the brand of your alarm system either.
Many thieves are figuring out how to troubleshoot popular alarm system, and openly telling the world which system you have will help them along rather than intimidate.
4. Get Outdoor Floodlights
Floodlights are extremely bright lights that “flood” a rather large area. Set them to a motion sensor so they go off every time someone approaches your house at night. They might not stop thieves in their tracks, but they will certainly give them pause before waltzing right up to your front door.
As an added bonus, floodlights will also alert you every time your kids try to sneak out. Talk about being put on the spot!
5. Install a Security System
Installing an alarm system for your entire house is a popular and effective option. When an outside door is opened without a key code, an oppressive alarm goes off, and the police are informed immediately.
Of courses, this doesn’t guarantee that you won’t get robbed. Many burglars believe that they’ll be gone by the time the police get there. However, it is quite a frightening deterrent, and some burglars will avoid houses all together that display an alarm system.
(For more information on getting a DIY security system kit and other security hardware, view here)
As mentioned before, make sure you use a generic sticker when displaying your system. As mentioned before, some burglars are coming up with ways to shut down alarms. Do everything you can to keep your thief in the dark.
6. Get a Dog
Ah, the classic guard dog. While many people assume that the best kind of dog to have when scaring off intruders is a larger breed, this is often times not the case. Apart from the territorial breeds like German shepherds, a lot of larger dogs aren’t threatened by much and won’t begin to bark until it’s too late.
Surprisingly, the most effective breeds for these kinds of situations can be much smaller.
You know, the yappers?
Statistically, two of the most aggressive dog breeds are miniature Daschunds and chihuahuas. They will bark at anything and everything that comes within thirty feet of your house. They’re a sure fire way to keep any cat burglars at bay.
7. Turn On Light/TV Remotely
Often times, burglars will stay away from houses that have light in the windows, especially if they see them being turned on or off. Luckily for you, you didn’t have to be home in order to make it look like you are. Many electric companies provide apps that allow you to control the lights in your home while you’re at work or out on the town.
Playing your television while you aren’t home is another way to make your house seem occupied. Nine times out of ten, a burglar’s worst nightmare is breaking into a house when people are home.
8. Join a Neighborhood Watch
Nosy neighbors might be a pain in the butt, but they could very well keep your house from being robbed. Most break-ins are reported by neighbors, and burglars will scout houses to find out when both you and your neighbors are away from home.
Becoming part of a Neighborhood Watch Program is an even more effective way to deter burglars. If there are signs up that declare that your street is being watched, most burglars won’t even attempt it and will move onto the next street.
Protect Your Home Today
Some of the options listed above can be rather expensive, but it doesn’t cost anything to start locking your doors and keeping an eye out for yourself and your neighbors. Start thinking of simple ways to protect your home today!
Click here for 7 more tips for keeping your home safe!
Leave us a comment below if you agree with our list, or if you’ve taken any of these steps yourself! Also, feel free to reach out to us with any questions you have about this or any of our other topics.
