Home

Top Ways to Secure Your Home Against Burglary A Guide For Homeowners

Your home is your castle. And as such, you want to protect your family and all the valuables that are inside it. 

Over the last five years, with the help of artificial intelligence and smart home technology, more people have been investing in security systems that can link to their smartphones and other devices. And while this is effective for many, there are some more basic steps you can take to protect your home against burglary that won’t be so pricey!

Here are some key ways you can protect your home against intruders. 

Install a New Front Door

The front door is the first thing that most burglars will assess when aiming to break into your home. So, replacement entry doors may be warranted if your front door is older, rotting, creaking or getting tougher to open and close.

Indeed, installing a front door that is double or triple-glazed and made of heavy materials is going to be a great deterrent against burglaries. 

Install a Security System

A security system with sensors on doors and windows and possibly cameras can deter burglars and alert you and the authorities if someone breaks into your home. Interestingly, there is a more basic security system that many homes have without knowing, but you will need to give them walks every day!

Indeed, having a dog in your home can deter burglaries by over 70%, and if you can’t afford a dog, having a motion sensor alarm on the external windows and doors that replicates the sound of a large dog barking can work just as well!

Use Strong Locks

Going back to the front door for a moment, you will need to make sure all your doors and windows have strong, durable locks. Deadbolts are particularly effective on doors and can be accompanied by chain locks and latch locks for extra security. But these can only be placed on doors, so you will need to opt for a different option for the windows.

Keep Your Home Well-Lit

Burglars prefer to operate in the dark, so keeping the exterior of your home well-lit can deter them. Consider installing motion-sensor lights or simply having your external light on intermittently. Also, having an AI system that can turn on the internal smart bulbs in your home (even when you aren’t there) can create the illusion that there is someone home, thus reducing the chances of a break-in.

Trim the Bushes

Burglars often use overgrown shrubs to conceal their activities. Trimming them back can reduce the places they can hide and can help cameras to get a better image of them should they attempt to break in. That way, there is a higher chance of them being caught by the police.

Become Friends with Your Neighbors

This is an effective option if you don’t have the excess income to spend on external lights or alarms. Building relationships with your neighbors can be a great way to increase home security. They can keep an eye on your home when you’re not there and alert you to any suspicious activity.

What Do Burglars Look For?

But, with that in mind, what are some of the things that burglars may be looking for when deciding which home to burgle? Is it all about homes that don’t have security systems? Research has found that this is a feature, but it is far from the main one. 

So, here are some things to consider for more long-term protection of your home.

Visible Valuables

Valuables in a home can include any items that are worth a lot of money or have sentimental value. Some examples of valuables might include jewelry, cash, electronics (such as computers, TVs, or phones), art or antiques, and collectibles. It’s important to note that what one person considers to be valuable may not be the same as what another person considers to be valuable. It’s generally a good idea to keep any items that you consider to be valuable hidden in your home.

And, of course, don’t place them next to the window!

An Empty Home

As mentioned before, a burglar is less likely to break into a home when there is someone present. In fact, in 2020, the year when remote working became more common the world over, break-ins were reduced. 

So, if you can’t always have someone home, it is worth investing in options that can make it look as though there is someone at home, such as smart lights.

Location

OK, so if you live in a neighborhood that is dimly lit, there is very little you can do about it. 

But you can aim to increase the lighting around your own home. Homes that are lit are less appealing to break into, as there is a higher chance that such homes will also have cameras, thus increasing the chance of those who break in being caught by the police. 

If you have genuine concerns about the number of break-ins near where you live, it may be time to move.

Show More

Related Articles

Back to top button