The warmer months are here and that means in increase in crime. Residential break-in, robberies and theft see an uptick during the summer months. A security system is always a good thing to have, but there is more you can do. In fact, when interviewed, many former burglars will say that a security system did not deter them from targeting a specific house. A security system is great for alerting your to a robbery, and it’s imperative for fire and co2 alarms, but the reality is there are so many false alarms and it still takes minutes for any authorities to show up at the home. A burglar can be in and out of the home – with your belongings – long before the police ever show up.
So what can you do?
There are many things you can do to improve your home security. Most are easy to complete and all provide some peace of mind.
- Get a dog – When interviewed, reformed burglars have reported that they pass by homes with barking dog. The size of the dog wasn’t a consideration, either. Any dog that barks is a wonderful deterrent.
- Look your doors – This may seem obvious, but most homeowners who have been victim to a break-in forgot to lock their doors. Many families leave their doors open so children can easily come and go, this is a mistake. Teach your kids how to use a key (or install a keyless entry) and make sure they carry their keys with them and lock the doors when they leave. It’s also a good habit to lock the doors when you are home.
- Motion detectors – Having outside lights on timers or motions detectors is very helpful in deterring a home break-in at night. Most outdoor lighting can now be operated by an smart phone or tablet making it even easier to use.
- Keep Yard Tidy – Mow your lawn and trim any hedges and bushes that might be good cover for a would-be burglar.
- Don’t let mail and newspapers pile up – If you’re going to be out of town or away for a weekend have your mail held at the post office and ask the newspaper to hold your paper until you return home. You can also ask a trusted neighbor to bring in these items. Don’t forget to have them bring in flyers that have been left on your door.
- Pack in the garage – Going out of town? Pack up your car while it’s inside the garage rather than out for everyone to see.
- No social media – Don’t announce to your friends on Facebook or Twitter that you’ll be out of town. Wait until you’ve returned to share all the wonderful details of your trip. Otherwise you may come home to an empty home.
- Store ladders – When you’re finished cleaning your gutters put the ladder away. Burglars don’t bring their own ladder but will gladly leave yours if you leave it out. Don’t tempt them.
- Start a Neighborhood Crime Watch – Robbers and thieves hate neighborhood crime watches so start one up on your block. This is also a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors, another method for lowering the crime rate in your neighborhood.
- Lock gates and fences – Lock your fences, gates and garage doors. Don’t leave your garage door open unless you are in the nearby and can keep an eye on it.
