Are you protecting yourself sufficiently in case of a burglary? Security alarms and home safes are great precautions to take, but they might not be en...
Are you protecting yourself sufficiently in case of a burglary? Security alarms and home safes are great precautions to take,
but they might not be enough. Here are a few tips your burglar does not want you to know.
Keep your blinds closed, especially when you are not home. Sure, it's nice to open the windows and let the daylight in, but many burglars check out a neighborhood before they target it. One thing that they do is to look in windows to see who has nice enough things to make their efforts worthwhile. If you have expensive belongings that you do not want stolen -- a laptop, jewelry, electronics -- keep the blinds shut unless you are home, and close them well before dark (when it becomes easier for someone to see inside)!
A barking dog inside the house is the most effective deterrent. More effective than even the top of the line alarm is a dog that barks as soon as someone knocks on the door... or starts snooping around the outside of your house. A barking dog is something that no burglar wants to run into. At best it makes it difficult for them to get in and out without anyone noticing, and at worst it may actually put their safety in jeopardy. So don't train your dog not to bark when someone knocks on the door – the dog’s instincts are in the right place!
Whether you will be out of town or gone for just the evening, make your house look occupied. Setting interior lights and porch lights on timers is an excellent way to make your home look occupied when you are not there. Even better, give a neighbor you trust a key and have them do it for you, so that the lights aren't going on at exactly the same time every night. Burglars often scout out a neighborhood first; a dark house is a dead giveaway that no one is home!
Another great way to make it seem like someone is home is to leave the TV on or the radio blaring (on a timer, of course). Make sure before you leave that the volume is set at a level that is audible outside the house (but that won't be annoying to neighbors), or that the flicker and glow of the TV is visible through the window. You can also purchase a device designed to imitate the flicker of a real TV, which some people prefer over leaving a real TV on.
Make sure your security alarm keypad cannot be seen from outside. Many houses today have a lot of glass and windows in the entryway. Windows next to or in the doors may give a burglar a glimpse of your alarm keypad, allowing them to see whether or not you remembered to set it when you left the house! If you are having an alarm installed, make sure you have the control pad placed out of sight. If it has already been installed, seriously consider hanging curtains to block a criminal's view.
Your security system should also include sensors on the windows, including second story windows. Do not assume that a burglar is going to use the door! Windows are often an easier way for someone to get in. Second story windows should also be protected, especially those in the master bedroom. Think about it: Your jewelry and many of your other valuables are often kept in your bedroom. What burglar wouldn't jump at the chance to get directly in and out of a master bedroom?
Bolt your safe down! Home safes are a great idea for protecting your valuables, because a burglar won't have time to try to pick the lock or break open the safe. However, that will not stop the thief from just taking it with them! Your best bet is to buy a safe that can be bolted down, so that the burglar will have no choice but to leave it behind.
There are two types of precautions that you need to take to protect your home from a burglary. Things like keeping your dog inside, keeping the lights on and a radio or TV going when you aren't home, and other things that make your home seem occupied are the most effective because they deter a thief from even targeting your home in the first place. Security systems and home safes are great secondary or backup measures, because when used properly, they limit the damage and loss you will suffer if your home is targeted. Take these precautions to protect yourself -- your burglar will wish you hadn't!
