Top Three Ways to Protect Your House from Burglary
In today’s uncertain times, all homeowners need to take precautionary actions to reduce blind spots and ensure their homes are less appealing to potential burglars.
Let us have a look at some of the protective steps you must take to decrease the chances of your house getting targeted by an intruder.
Lock Windows and Doors
Starting with the very basics, you must ensure that your windows and doors are locked when you aren’t at home. This is also the primary tip that always comes up when researching and looking for ways to keep one’s house safe from burglars.
You might be surprised to know the number of people who simply forget to take this simple step. Most burglary incidents are linked with providing a potential burglar with the opportunity to do so. This aspect also indicates the importance of changing the locks of the house whenever you move to a new house, as you never know who has the keys – it could also be a vengeful housekeeper or nanny who wasn’t paid enough.
More importantly, you should have a consistent routine of checking your windows and doors before calling it a day. But – also have a daytime routine. Make it a habit off looking out of the door or window before opening the door.
This way, you can ensure that nothing is off or unusual before opening up the main door to your home. Another important aspect to keep in mind is that some burglars work in groups. This aspect indicates that one criminal might ring your doorbell. Meanwhile, another criminal might try to gain access to your house through the window or back door.
As a rule of thumb, never open the door to an unknown situation. Also, keep all windows and doors locked when not in use. Many homeowners return home from the grocery store with an armful of groceries and they never really backtrack whether or not they locked their doors.
You never know when you might find yourself in a situation where you turn back after unloading your groceries and find yourself staring a stranger in the eyes. It is for situations like these that you need to have a plan B – also known as the contingency plan. In other words, apart from keeping the doors and windows locked at all times, you will want to learn self-defense or get a self-defense weapon to save your life and your property.
If you get injured in the tumult, you might want to get in touch with the Forbes Law Offices and get the best lawyer on board who will ensure that you are duly compensated for your injuries, medical bills, and even lost wages. However, before doing anything else, it is your job to keep your windows and doors locked so that no one can enter your property in the first place.
Install A Home Security System
Locking your windows and doors isn’t enough, which is why you will want to install a proper home security system as an added layer of security. Home security systems are exclusively made to give you extra eyes and ears when you are home but also when you aren’t at home.
In addition, having a visible camera at the front of your house or a signage that tells everyone about the presence of cameras, will make the potential burglar think twice whether or not they would like to proceed with breaking into your house.
The home security system will provide you with the ability to see what is happening in the different areas of your house when you are outside or inside your house at all times. The latest home security systems are linked with your tech devices, which means that you can monitor your house at all times – even when you are away and vacationing.
Inspect Potential Vulnerabilities
Another tip to keep potential burglars away from your property is to assess potential vulnerabilities. The thing is that homeownership comes with loads of responsibilities, including the responsibility of looking after your house and ensuring that you know all the nooks and blind spots of your house.
You will want to start with the inside premised and assess how far from your property you can see out. You will also want to assess how far into your property others can see in. Proceed to assess the potentially weakest doors and windows of your property.
If you live in an elevated apartment or you have a second-floor window, you might believe that you are safe. However, it is in your best interest to assess whether or not someone can clip up the window from the ground. Speaking of windows, you will want to assess whether you have any nearby trees that could make it easier for potential thieves to access the windows or the roof of your house.
You see – there are countless ways to access your house, and as a homeowner, you will want to know about all the potential gateways to your house. While assessing potential vulnerabilities, you will also want to assess whether or not you can clearly see any approaching person when they come to your door – without you having to open the door.
Now, if you open the door, you may want to gauge whether or not you can prevent their entry to your house with door-securing mechanisms.
The point is that you will want to identify and address any potential weaknesses that you find through lighting, prickly landscaping, furniture layout, or some other means. It is important to mention here that you are the most vulnerable when you sleep, which is why you will want to have a nighttime check-off list in your mind.
Make sure your garage is closed, the sliders are closed, and all windows are closed with the blinds drawn. Also, make sure that the front door is locked and the front lights are on. Speaking of front lights, you might want to install sensor lights that automatically turn on when someone is trespassing through your property.