The Majority of home burglaries are done by amateurs. A burglar breaks into a home every 15 seconds and steals about $1700 worth of stuff. Although not as in depth as our guide to designing your own complete home security plan, each item on this list can give you a fast and easy way to secure your home and family against both theft and invasion.
1. One of the best ways to detect weaknesses in your home security Plan is to attempt to “burglarize” yourself. Not only will this show you new security vulnerabilities, it may also help prevent your kids from sneaking out of the house.
2. Lock up your home, even if you are only going out for a brief period. Many crimes are just crimes of opportunity that wouldn’t have happened if the passerby hadn’t noticed an unlocked door or window. Chain Locks aren’t recommended as security for your front door. You are much safer investing in a peephole which allows you a wide view of the other side of your door.
3. Keep your screen doors locked when you main door is open during the day.
4. Do not ignore a knock on the door, since it could be a burglar checking to see if anyone is home.
5. You should have some type of noise or action in your home while you are gone. You can use timers for radios, lights and more. This gives the impression that someone is around or not far away.
6. Think twice before turning your keys over to a professional house cleaner or other service person. Check their references with the Better Business Bureau to find out about their company’s reputation.
7. To prevent your tools from being stolen, consider painting the handles. Thieves prefer to steal items that are new and avoid things that are easy to identify.
8. Consider getting a dog or a barking dog alarm to scare of potential burglars.
9. A motion sensor light or camera with motion sensor capabilities is a good idea since it only alerts you when there is movement.
10. Most importantly, if you have a home security system or alarm in place….don’t forget to turn it on!
Remember these tips are just part of creating a complete home security plan for you and your family. You need to add fire prevention, escape routes, drills and more if you want to maximize safety.