Unfortunately, almost every home is susceptible to burglary. There is no way to guarantee ultimate protection, even if you live in a safe neighborhood, but there are ways in which you can decrease the risks of having your home broken into. Burglars know an opportunity when they see it; they won’t waste their time trying to break into a well-secured home when they have an easy target right in front of them. Although burglary can happen in broad daylight, many people make the mistake of assuming that it only happens during nighttime, which is when they take the most protective measures. In fact, daytime is when thieves are presented with the best opportunities where the adults are usually either at work or running errands and the kids are at school. That’s why you must ensure that your house is secure at all times. When it comes to your family and your valuable possessions, there is no such thing as being too careful.
This is why we are here to tell you 7 tricks that will help you protect your property against burglary.
1. Identify Weak Points
The most effective way to protect your home from the outside is by viewing it from a fresh pair of eyes. Pay attention to the smallest details; if you are locked out of your home, how would you get in? Naturally, you’ll be searching for loopholes or weak points. If you notice that there are easy entryways, such as windows that can be easily broken, you should get them replaced with more fortified versions immediately. If you still feel unsure, you can ask your local police department if they can carry out a thorough home assessment to aid you in the process. You should also check if any electronics, expensive items, antique pieces, or valuable art can be easily seen through the windows. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have to redecorate your entire home; moving a few items a couple of inches to the right or left is surely a small price to pay for the benefit of a safer home.
2. Eliminate Hiding Spots
You don’t want to give the burglar any opportunity to hide when trying to break into your home. If you have any potential hiding places, such as large trees, or saturated bushes on your front porch, make sure to get rid of them. Most of the time, burglars will need to hide for a few minutes until they make sure that the coast is clear before they approach your front door. If they find that everything is in plain sight, they are less likely to try to break into your home.
3. Install Snap-Safe Locks
The average locks are no barrier for burglars. In the Sheffield area, most burglars can easily break into your home by snapping the locks, which is why the expert locksmiths at G&M Locksmiths suggest that you install snap-safe locks. Typically, burglars access a home by snapping the cylinder in the lock. Snap-safe locks are designed specifically to prevent them from doing so; when the burglar tries to snap the cylinder, the lock will snap in half, preventing the burglar from removing the rest of it.
4. Build a Fence
If you don’t have a fence or have one that can be easily trespassed, get one with ornamental metal fencing or chain-link. To prevent lifting, make sure that they are securely hitched into the concrete. While solid fences provide more privacy and are good for noise-reduction, they can be a hiding spot and are easy to climb. Although they don’t look very appealing, you can invest in barbed wire fencing or add sharp pointed tops to other fences. This is enough to turn any burglar away.
5. Use the Garage
Having your belongings out on the front porch or outside the house is like basically handing them out to burglars on a silver platter. Make sure to keep grills, bikes, bicycles, and cars safely in your garage. It can be a hassle to take the grill, along with other items out every time you need them, however, having them outside makes them susceptible to getting stolen right away, especially if they’ve got wheels. It’s almost as easy as taking candy from a baby; all the burglar needs to do is just grab it and quietly walk away with it. You should also make sure to keep the blinds or curtains on your garage or curtain windows drawn shut. If the burglar can’t peek, he won’t take any chances.
6. Install Motion Sensor Lighting
Installing motion sensor lighting around the house can be a great asset, especially when trying to protect yourself and your home from thieves. Motion sensor lighting will detect and beam a spotlight on the burglar before they even come near the front door. Make sure to install them near dark spots and entryways. If you live in an apartment, make sure that there is sufficient lighting in all the walkways. If not, then you should talk to your landlord immediately.
7. Invest in a Smart Security System
Invest in a smart security system to ensure that your home is protected. Although they are expensive, they come with many incredible features. Smart security systems offer video streaming and can be connected to your home network and operated through an app. You can customize the rules on the system. For instance, you can have the system automatically unlock the doors if a fire alarm goes off or turn the lights on and start recording if they detect motion. Some systems even come with cloud storage, allowing you to easily access recorded videos. You can also use the app to delete and add components and rules, arm or disarm the system, and receive notifications in case of suspicious activity.
Burglary is very common in most areas around the world. This is why everyone must take protective measures to keep their property, family, and belongings safe. Luckily, there are a variety of things that you can do to protect your property against burglary, from applying simple tips to installing specialized technology.