Home is where most of your valuables are. Don’t just assume your home and your family will be the lucky ones. Even that “luck” – getting ignored by the bad guys – usually turns out to be the residue of design. You should harden it against burglars, and there are ways to get that done.
Use your lights
The easiest way for a burglar to track when you’re home and when you’re not is to notice that your lights are out. Don’t make it easy to time your comings and goings. Keep a few lights on inside and set your outdoor lights on a timer to take away the dark from any unwanted visitors.
Be discreet with social media
It doesn’t matter how much you make it look like someone is home if you tell the entire Internet you’re gone. This should be common sense, but it’s common not to think of this when you’re at the keyboard. Keep your trips to yourself, at least till after you’re home.
Leave the TV on and lower the doorbell volume
A burglar who can’t hear your doorbell over the blare of ESPN from your living room TV just might think you’re home. At least he’ll be confused enough to prefer someone else’s house. Make it sound busy inside.
Don’t hide spare keys outside
If you hide your house keys in one of the flower pots around the front door or, worse still, under the doormat, you’re assuming something. You’re assuming your would-be burglar is a complete moron. This isn’t likely. Sorry for the inconvenience, but it’s best just to be more mindful of your keys and don’t even stash a spare at all. If you must, keep spares with a neighbor.
Alarms and Hardware
There are all sorts of other inexpensive but smart things you can do to protect your home, but now let’s get more serious. You need a high-quality alarm. You’ll also want to know how to work the alarm so that it isn’t going off every half hour, leading neighbors to ignore its blaring when someone really is breaking in. Bolt doors and bar windows, whether with actual bars or roller shutters. Take a step beyond simply leaving lights on and install motion sensor lights.
Now you’re free to enjoy your trip, being more reassured that what’s inside will still be there when you return.
