Tips for Preventing Home Robberies
While having good locks is an important first step to protecting your home, there are other precautions one should take in hopes of avoiding a home robbery.
- Lighthing—Having a porch light by your door on at night is a great deterrent. Thieves are usually afraid of being seen. To go a step further, motion sensing lights are an excellent choice to light up your drive way or yard when something crosses the sensors path. If you will not be home to turn on the lights, consider adding a timer. The timer will turn on the lights at set times and give the appearance of someone being home.
- Cameras—Normally thought of as just being for businesses, security cameras are now more affordable for the home consumers. Video evidence is great to have for any legal actions that can follow a break in. Decoy cameras are a cheaper alternative. Even though they produce no video, they act as a deterrent and make criminals think twice.
- Yards—Keep your yard neat and tidy. Trim your plants and bushes so that they will not provide a hiding place for potential intruders.
- Fencing & Gates—While not always an inviting appearance, their function is to help keep unwanted guests out. Having high fencing and secure gates can add another layer of complexity for a burglar to have to work around.
- Window Locks—Windows are one of the most often utilized points of entry to your home. If you have low easily accessible windows, use the locks that came with the window. Furthermore invest in some screw locks, bars, or other devices that prevent the window from opening.
Most importantly of all, utilize all of the locks on your house and surrounding yard. If your gate locks, lock it up at night. Make sure all of the doors to your house are locked up before you go to bed. Secure all of your windows, pet doors, and other points of entry.