Statistical research from The Washington Post shows burglaries often happen between the hours of 10 AM to 3 PM. This time is usually during the working day. Burglars watch houses for up to two weeks before breaking in. Burglars find out your schedule to plan for a break-in. Using this guide to home security, prevent and detract burglars from breaking into your home.
Procrastination Syndrome
Why do you need home security? So many Americans ask this question. They believe that home break-ins will not happen to them. You aren’t alone in thinking this. However, if you read the local paper, you will see arrest rates rising in your area. Not to mention, according to The Washington Post, likely suspects for breaking into your home are male teenagers living within a mile from you. Call your local Sheriff’s office and ask how many teen males take on break-ins and succeed.
Burglars try to find the easiest houses to break into. They do not want to go to jail. Often, they look at ones without alarms.
Set Up Security
Home security does not simply involve alarm systems. We will discuss alarms in houses in a minute. Now, however, get out your tools and get ready to prepare your house for ideal home security.
- Scan your house like a thief. Take off your rose-colored glasses. Put on expert x-ray lenses and walk around your home. Put deadbolts on doors that do not already have them. Doors leading to garages should have a deadbolt. You can choose to make these the kind that turn for easy escape, if you want. However, realize that burglars can easily bust out windows and turn the knob.
- Update the hardware on strike plates. Visit your local hardware store and buy screws that measure over three inches. Take out the old screws on the strike plates and put the new ones into the door. Do this for the doorframe. You want longer screws in these sections to prevent making it easy for burglars to kick open the door by knocking out the one-inch screws.
- Secure yard items and tools. Some people leave clutter around the outside of their home. What they don’t realize is they are leaving tools for a burglar to enter their home. Leaving a ladder outside would tempt a burglar to use it to gain access to your home.
- Lock doors. Days when you could leave doors unlocked at night or during the day no longer exist. Burglars can enter through unlocked doors and windows anytime. Congratulations, you made their job easier.
- Pin up windows. Did you know the local hardware store sells window pins? They are easy to install. An added benefit is that these keep burglars from prying open your windows.
- Put bars on windows and doors. In New Orleans, about half of the homes have bars. It is not for making a fashion statement. One of the top ways a burglar will enter your home is through glass. They are easy to bust and open the door or window afterwards. By putting bars on your windows and doors, you prevent them from entering your home in less than sixty seconds, if at all.
- Keep shrubbery trimmed. While it might be tempting to let the bushes outside grow up, it gives burglars a place to hide. Make sure to trim them often. You can buy an electric trimmer from the local hardware or garden store. These make trimming bushes and shrubs go quicker for the time-challenged.
- Organize a neighborhood watch. One of the recent crime-trodden neighborhoods in Georgia contacted the local Sheriff’s department to complain about break-ins. Everyone was nervous about leaving their homes during the day. As a result, they organized a neighborhood watch and got several nearby neighborhoods involved. Those who stayed home during the day kept watch. Police would travel through the neighborhood daily to keep check and show presence. You can do the same for your neighborhood. The local Sheriff’s office will provide you with stickers to place on windows and doors. They may even attend meetings you have with fellow neighbors.
Home Alarms
According to The Washington Post, homes without alarms received three times more break-ins compared with homes with systems. Having an alarm will make house members feel at ease. Its constant protection is a security blanket for younger members of the family.
Having an alarm installed offers different packages for your home. Packages include windows, doors and motion detectors. Buying a full system will provide the best protection. Any time a burglar tries to break in your home, the alarm triggers. It depends on the settings you have the alarm set for which sound the alarm will make.
Having the alarm set where people walk throughout the home makes the alarm go off, but not full-blown. During this time, you usually have about thirty seconds to turn off the alarm before it sounds. If the alarm sounds instantly, it can grab the attention of the whole neighborhood. It also alerts the police.
A monitoring service will call you in the first few seconds the alarm sounds. If you do not answer with a pre-determined password, they call the police. Officers arrive at your home within a few minutes to check. They will not simply pass by. They get out of the car and walk around the home, looking for forced entry.
Having an alarm also provides you with signs. Placing these around the home helps deter burglars. Put them on windows, doors, in the front yard and the backyard. In a Washington Post article, about 22% of forced entry happens through the back door. Making signage visible will reduce your chance of a break-in when you have an alarm.
On Vacation
Going on vacation is certain; at least we hope you take a break every once in awhile. Planning smartly will help you worry less about your home while you are gone.
- Make sure to stop mail and newspapers from coming to your home during your vacation.
- Enlist your neighbors’ help. Let them know that you will be gone and to watch your home.
- Place lights on timers. Hook up a lamp to a timer in the living room or bedroom to go off and on at a certain time each day. This will make it look like someone is in the home.
- Put outside motion lights in place. Having motion lights will deter thieves from entering your home better compared to lights that you manually switch on. Burglars do not like surprise. If your neighbor is watching, they can call the police if they see any activity at your home.
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Apartment SecurityHaving an apartment security system is valuable for smaller spaces also. Thieves sometimes break into apartments more than stand-alone houses. Apartments make for easier targets even when you have people living nearby. Rules listed above for houses apply for apartment use also. You can install alarms or use battery managed ones for some protection. Surveying for apartments provide an excellent price level and installation package. Securing doors and windows can act the same as for homes. Make sure to secure your apartment home just as much as you would with a regular house.
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