Millions of homeowners suffer a break-in each year. If you do not want to be one of them, you will need to secure your property against thieves, burglars and everyday opportunists. Here are just five ways to protect your home from those who would profit from your losses.
1. Invest in A Home Alarm
First things first: Get your home hooked up to a security system. Not only will this sound an alarm that prevents thieves from even braving the front door, but it will also ensure that the authorities are always notified in the event of a break-in. Get Brinks Home Security or another similar system to learn more.
2. Throw Away the Fake Rock
Fake rocks do not fool anyone anymore. If you would like to have a key outside your home in case of emergencies, enlist a trusted neighbor. They can either hold onto it for you or hide it somewhere on their property so you can just look under their welcome mat if you ever lock yourself out.
3. Don’t Showboat
If you just ordered a new plasma screen TV, do not leave the box lying on your front curb. If you have one-of-a-kind artwork hanging in your living room, make sure it is not visible through the front window. You do not want to attract thieves to your property because they think they will get something good.
4. Let There Be Light
Floodlights are a great way to deter thieves. Shadows are their friends, allowing them to creep up to houses and gain entry sight unseen, but a motion-activated flood night will illuminate them every step of the way. If you do not spot them from your window once the light goes on, your neighbors probably will.
5. Lock Your Doors and Windows
This may sound obvious, but a staggering percentage of home robberies involve no forced entry at all, meaning that the thieves gained access through opened windows and unlocked doors. Do a sweep of your property every night to make sure things are shut up tight. You do not want a cracked window to cost you thousands in lost valuables.
These are just a few ways to prevent break-ins. The most important thing is to keep varying your strategies, what works now may not work in a year. As technology grows more sophisticated, so do thieves, so make sure you are always on top of the latest in home security.
