Cheap and Efficient
Ways to Increase Your Home’s Security
In a perfect world we wouldn’t have to worry about locking
the doors before leaving the house. However, as many of us know unfortunately
that world doesn’t exist. In fact, according the FBI in 2010 alone there were
an estimated 2.1 million burglaries. Of all these burglaries, 60.5 percent
involved forcible entry, 33.2 percent were unlawful entries (without force) and
the reminder (6.3 percent) were forcible entry attempts.
In today’s world safety should be your top priority. A thief
not only has the ability to steal your household possessions but can also have
a major impact on your family’s sense of safety and well-being. Ideally, a home
security system is one of the most effective ways to protect your home and the
things within it. However, more often than not these systems are pricey and
probably outside of your budget.
So how does one protect their home without breaking the
bank? Lucky for you we’ve already done the research and found several
inexpensive and effective ways to increase your home’s security.
Preventing Burglaries
This graphic from the Washington Post reveals some
surprising statics about where thieves gain entry and how most burglaries work.
Although, the statics are from 2005 there are some notable trends about
everyday house robberies and things you can do to prevent them:
1.) Don’t Advertise You’re Away
The biggest mistake people make is unknowingly advertise
their unoccupied home. There’s a reason
why most burglaries occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This is simply due to
the fact that burglars look for homes that appear unoccupied. Unfortunately,
for the majority of people their homes are left empty during these hours
because of work. If your neighborhood has a reputation for break-ins this may
be an area of concern. However, if you make your house look occupied while
you’re away, most burglars will simply pass it by.
According to webmd here are some of the best ways to do
that.
·
Use automatic light timers throughout the house
and have them turn on and off in a way that simulates your normal patterns.
Look for light timers that have battery backup so the timer doesn't stop if
there is a power failure. Using timers that have more than one on-off cycle can
create the illusion of movement from room to room.
·
The same kind of timers you use on lights can
also be used to turn radios or TVs on and off.
·
If you can, have your calls forwarded while
you're away. Burglars sometimes call to see if anyone's home before a break-in.
·
Arrange to have your lawn cut or snow removed
from your walks if you're going to be gone for a long period.
·
Always park your car in the garage with the
garage door closed when you are there. That way someone watching for patterns
won't know your car isn't there when you're gone.
·
In the interest of home security, never leave
notes on the door. They just say to a burglar, "Come on in."
2.) Make It Hard to Get In
If they’ve picked your house, make it hard to get in. The
typical house burglar is a male teenager
in your neighborhood and 60 seconds is the most burglars want to spend breaking
into your home. With that being said, you only need enough security to
deter the common teenager and the harder you make it for them to get in, the
less likely you are to come back to a burglarized home. So don’t forget to lock all the doors and
windows before leaving the house, and never hide a key outside where it can be
easily found.
3.) Hide Your Valuables
Worst case scenario your house gets broken into, now what? Burglars spend an average of 8 to 12
minutes in your home. Their mission
is to get in and out as fast as possible with as much valuables they can find.
With that being said, don’t put your high dollar items in obvious places. According to the Washington Post the most
popular places burglars search is in dresser drawers, freezers and bedroom
closets. At the same time, these are also the most popular places people
hide their valuables. ABC News suggests you get a hollowed-out book or fake
wall outlet; these can be cheap but effective alternatives to help you hide your
valuables from intruders.
4.) Know Your Neighborhood
Introduce yourself to your neighbors and look out for one
another. The best form of security can come from your local community. Watchful
neighbors or friends can provide you and your family with a peace of mind while
you’re away. Furthermore, have you considered creating a neighborhood watch
program? Contact your local law enforcement agency for more information on how
to organize and create a program for your neighborhood.
Burglary is one of the easiest crimes to prevent and at the
same time it’s also one of the most common. You can easily prevent this from
happening to your home by applying some of the principles above. We’ve listed a
few inexpensive and effective ways to make your home more secure. However, we
want to hear from you! How do you ensure your home and family stays safe?
