Every homeowner wants to keep their possessions safe from burglars. The majority of burglaries are crimes of opportunity, and you can easily avoid them by improving your home’s security features.
The first step to making your home more secure is by identifying any potential weaknesses. The best way of doing this is by assessing your home’s security from a criminal’s perspective. Can the existing security features deter me from breaking in?
In this article, we look at five essential security tactics that every homeowner needs to reduce the risk of burglary.
Install Hardened Exterior & Safe Room Doors
Every door that leads into your house, including the front and garage doors, must be hardened to prevent or delay any forceful entry. Ideally, the door should be clad by metal or solid wood, with a peephole and see-through window that are not easy to reach.
Make sure that all hinges and locks are in good condition. When the hinges and latches are weak, it makes your home susceptible to forceful break-ins.
The next thing you can do to reinforce your door is installing hardened screws and a deadbolt. If a burglar has a hard time breaking through your exterior doors, they are likely to give up, or better yet, you could catch them in the act.
Install an Alarm System
Before buying a new property, examine if it has a reliable alarm system. Studies indicate that homes with a conspicuous security system are less likely to suffer burglary than those without an alarm system.
Alternatively, you can take a look at this piece on different home security alarm systems compared by Porch.com and find the perfect fit for your home setting. Go for the models with that are easy to use and have a fast response time.
A standard home alarm system should include surveillance cameras, a remote control, 24/7 monitoring capabilities, and both wireless and hardwired security features. You could even go a step further and invest in a system with mobile alerts.
Copyright: Unsplash I License: CCO Public Domain
Get a Dog
A dog is an inexpensive but very effective tactic of deterring criminals. The mere barking of a dog is enough to scare away burglars. Also, criminals are likely to avoid homes with signs that indicate the presence of a dog.
When choosing a dog, go for the more aggressive breeds such as Rottweiler and German shepherd. A burglar would rather flee than attempt a fight with a hostile dog.
Copyright: Unsplash I License: CCO Public Domain
Make the House Look Occupied
A burglar will have second thoughts when planning to attack a home that looks occupied. After all, a well-maintained home shows that you are either in it or you could arrive at any time.
On the contrary, a deteriorated home is an open invitation for any burglars lurking in the neighborhood. Ensure that you regularly renovate your home by painting and fixing weakened doors and windows.
Additionally, you should also avoid practices that show burglars you are not at home. Always check your mail. Avoid leaving the porch light on, especially at daytime. Make sure that your garbage can is clean before leaving your premises.
Light Up your Exterior
Burglars don’t want to be seen. If you install adequate lighting around your house, you already have an advantage over them.
The lights should be in strategic positions so that you can easily spot an intruder from a distance. Ensure that the lights are on once it becomes dark. Luckily, modern lighting systems have automated timers.
Another way of boosting your security is by using motion-sensing floodlights in shadowed areas. These will automatically come on if they notice activity near them. A sudden bright light is likely to scare off any intruder.
Conclusion
There are many ways of keeping your home safe from burglars. The tips mentioned above are a good starting point, and you could always go a step further to reinforce the safety of your home. Keep in mind that the security of your home starts with fixing any potential vulnerabilities in your current security setup. With a secure home, you are not only safe from burglars, but it also increases the value of your home.
