Preventing Burglaries at Home
A theft at home happens every fifteen seconds in the United States and it estimated that more than two million thefts happen every year. This statistic brings us to the alarming fact which is that it is very simple to break into homes and steal from them.
In fact, the most effective deterrent is not locks and security measures but the risk of being seen while committing burglary. However, another alarming statistic states that most burglaries happen during the day. Experienced thieves are experts at recognizing weak points of homes which they can exploit. There are quite a few blatant weak points such as open doors and windows. In order to reduce the risk of your house being broken into, you should take precautionary steps to give you your peace of mind back.
- Being Blatant
People who install alarms and home security services are often fooled into believing that they are completely safe from break ins and thefts.
The idea seems efficient, install the system, activate it and keep it switched on at all times. Only known people are given the passwords and those who do not enter the passwords set the alarm off, thereby informing the residents and the authorities of the break in.
Alarm and security systems are mostly used to give us our peace of mind, to let us know that if something does happen, help will be arriving soon. However, alarm systems can act as a deterrent as well. If you set up signs with the alarm companies name on it proclaiming that your house has been secured by them, thieves and burglars will be informed that it is a risky idea to try to break into your home. They may be ungainly but these signs go a long way in deterring thieves from trying their luck with your house and could thus, save you from a theft.
Be blatant about the fact that you have an alarm system installed. Proclaim it and do not be concerned with the signs disturbing your view. There is no point having an uninterrupted garden at the expense of your house being broken into.
- Not Being Blatant
While it’s a good idea to proclaim the presence of your home security systems, it’s not a good idea to post your travel plans on the Internet on social media. The problem lies with access. The Internet does not screen people according to their intentions and thus, your proclamations on Facebook detailing your travel itinerary and vacation plans may backfire into inspiring thieves and burglars to have a look at your unoccupied house.
This does not mean that we become suspicious of our friends. The Internet is a great place to eavesdrop and listen into conversations. Thieves could take advantage of our desire to share our lives and act upon information that we innocently release. Take care to not release all the details of your plans and check your privacy settings to ensure that only your trusted friends are privy to your posts.
The world has joined the social media bandwagon. To think that thieves and burglars didn’t do so is a naive thought.
- Using Lighting as a Line of Defense
Every burglar is aware of the fact that if they cannot be seen and cannot be detected, then they can do their work (rob your home) successfully. While a lot of burglaries do happen during day time, night is still the preferred time for burglars to act. Darkness provides them with natural cover which they can use to avoid being seen.
Lighting outdoors and indoors is a great way to prevent burglaries from happening. Burglars perform various reconnaissance missions to find out vulnerabilities which they can use. They look for vacant homes or homes where they can approach without being seen. Install timers which turn your lights on and off during specific times. This will give the impression of someone being in the house.
Ensure that the entire outdoor area surrounding the home is visible at night. Install lights at various entries and hallways. If there are any freestanding structures such as a shed or a clump of trees, ensure that they are lit as well. Installing motion sensors will help reduce the amount of energy spent on lighting thus making your home security system cost-effective as well.
Bio:
Curtis Good is a security expert. Having worked in the field of home security for over twenty years, Curtis has gained vital experience and insight which help him advise people on home security systemswhich are perfect for them and what steps that each individual can take to make their homes more secure.
