Many people find themselves the victims of home invasion and burglary when there were a few simple steps that could have been followed to help prevent it. This doesn’t have to be you, as there are a few steps you can take to help secure your home before an intrusion ever occurs.
1. No notes. Thinking about notifying a family member or a service person that you are out of the house? Think again. Nothing says “come on in” to a potential intruder like a note on the door.
2. Find a better hiding spot for keys. You have probably seen it in a few television shows and movies – people who keep spare keys under flower pots, beneath doormats or right on top of the doorframe. Guess where the intruders are going to look first when they need to get into your home! If you must keep spare keys somewhere then find a less conspicuous spot or, better yet, give an extra set to some trustworthy neighbors.
3. Let the light be your friend. If you are going to be out of the house for an extended period of time, there are plenty of things you can do to convey the illusion that someone is home. There are exterior lights that operate on motion that will cast a light on anyone crossing your property, and if that doesn’t work there is always television. Leave the television running during shorter trips out or on errands and would-be intruders will certainly think twice before letting themselves in.
4. No need to advertise. Consider closing the drapes or blinds in the areas containing some of your more expensive equipment. No need to tempt intrusion before it even starts. And if you are planning on going on a long trip or vacation, then arrange to have your mail kept or have a neighbor get it for you so it doesn’t pile up in one area. Intruders look for these signs and a mailbox full of unread mail is more than enough for any burglar to declare open season on your home.
5. Invest in some security. Home Security Systems let the intruder know that you mean business – not to mention they can also help give you added peace of mind. Monitored home security systems provided by ADT, for example, give you twice the security by not only constantly monitoring your home but letting intruders know, upfront, that your home is being watched. A home security option also might not be as expensive as you think, costing only about a buck per day.
However you decide to secure your home, remember that home security starts with you. Act now and don’t wait for the unfortunate event of an intrusion to open your eyes to the importance of home security.
All 5 of those tips are great. I would love to see a study done on the relationship of Foursquare or Facebook check-ins and home burglary. With more and more people letting the world know where they are on social networks, leaves robbers with knowledge of when you’re not home.
great tips thanks for sharing, think the last comment makes a great point that social networking sites are like a thief’s diary