How to Protect Your Home from Intruders
Jan 10, 2022
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A burglary happens every 30 seconds in the US. That’s 3,000 burglaries per day and over 1 million burglaries each year.
To protect you, your family, and your property, home security needs to be one of your top priorities.
Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can do to keep intruders out:
- Clean up the outside of your house
It’s best to stop potential intruders before they ever reach your house.
To do this, keep your landscaping well maintained with bushes trimmed so that burglars have fewer places to hide.
You can also deter them by keeping outdoor lights on. Intruders don’t want to feel like they’re on display when breaking in. They want to go unnoticed. So sometimes a bright light can be enough to scare them off.
You might even get a sensor light that’s motion-activated. That way, if someone does approach, they’ll automatically be illuminated.
Be sure to not leave anything valuable outside either. Think expensive bikes, tools, or even boxes and packaging of valuable items or gifts from Christmas. These give burglars clues as to things inside the house that are worth stealing to them.
Even outdoor HVAC systems can be a target for theft. So if you can, cover them with a protective metal cage, that makes it harder to remove them.
Keep anything that could be used to break in out of sight as well. That includes ladders, stools, or heavy tools that could break windows. Don’t leave a spare key under the doormat or a flower pot either as these are obvious places that burglars know to check. If anything, put the spare key in a small lockbox somewhere far away from the front door.
Finally, put up signs or stickers that say you have a security system installed or a watchdog even if you don’t. These will help deter intruders.
- Secure openings to your house
Next, you want to secure all the openings to your house. That means keeping doors, windows, and the garage locked as much as possible. Double-check them as you’re leaving the house. Many leave their garage unlocked, for example, but this creates an easy way to get into your house.
For an added layer of security, install deadbolts on exterior doors and put a dowel in the track of sliding doors. Properly inspect door frames and hinges to make sure they are strong and sturdy, too.
You might also upgrade to automated locks with a smart security system, which we’ll cover in the next step. These let you lock your doors and windows automatically when you’re gone.
Also consider changing the locks when moving into a home that had previous tenants. That way, you minimize the risk of duplicate keys getting into the wrong hands.
- Invest in a smart home security system
Smart home technology has been around since the 1980s. But it only really took off in the 2010s. Since then, we’ve seen the rise of home automation systems with devices like Amazon’s Alexa.
But home automation does more than let you command music with your voice. It can also power security cameras and motion detectors that check for suspicious movement while you’re gone. Or it can use doorbell cameras to tell you who is at the door.
Plus, security cameras keep a permanent record of the movements around your house. And some home security companies will even offer a 24/7 monitoring service to alert law enforcement for you when something comes up.
Studies show that homes without a home security system in place are 3 times more likely to get broken into. And a home security system doesn’t have to be expensive. You can find affordable options, including DIY setups for just a few hundred dollars.
- Make it look like someone is at home
Again, most burglars like to steal when nobody is at home. So when you’re gone, keep some lights on inside your house or leave your TV on. That way, they’ll think someone is home even if there isn’t.
You can even invest in smart lights that turn on and off at random times to simulate real people turning the lights on and off.
When you’re away for longer periods of time, have someone collect your mail for you so burglars don’t suspect you’re away. And wait till you’re back home to post any pictures of your vacation on social media. Savvy burglars will try to trace their victims’ whereabouts online.
- Befriend your neighbors
Befriending your neighbors is almost always a good idea. But it can be extra helpful for preventing burglaries. Of course, you need to be able to trust your neighbors.
They can help lookout for suspicious activity near your home and you can do the same for them. Together, you’ll have more eyes on the neighborhood. It’s a win-win.
- Get a safe or lockbox for valuables
Finally, in the event that an intruder does make it into your house, make sure to protect your most valuable items. Think cash, jewelry, and important documents. You can keep them in a safe or a lockbox so they’re harder to steal.
Ideally, you want the safe to be both fire- and waterproof with two sets of locks on it. That way, it’s extra hard to get into and protects the contents from serious damage.
Final Advice
Protecting your home from intruders is important for your peace of mind. You can never completely eliminate the risk of a burglary, but you can significantly reduce the chances of one happening.
Start implementing some of the above tips today and you’ll be able to sleep better at night knowing that your house is secure.