Did you know that roughly 2.5 million burglaries occur each year? If you’ve ever had your home broken into, then you know how scary it can be. All of a sudden, a place that you once considered safe now feels potentially dangerous.
Odds are, that your thoughts are now turning to home security. Specifically, how to prevent break-ins from happening in the future. If you want some tips on how to do this, then you’re in the right place.
In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the best advice we know to strengthen your home’s security. That way, you can get the peace of mind that you deserve while in your home. Let’s get started!
Make Sure You Install Two Locks on Each Door
Many people, may think that one lock is more than enough to keep them safe. However, the reality is that even the most high-quality lock can be broken into.
If the person is concerned with noise, then the average time it takes to pick a lock is between five and twenty minutes. If they aren’t concerned with noise, then a drill can get through the lock a lot quicker than that.
As such, we recommend two locks. Ideally, the second one should be a latch or something that the burglar doesn’t have access to on the outside. Remember that the second lock isn’t necessary to keep the burglar out.
Instead, it’s to buy you or a neighbor time to call the police. Odds are that you or someone else will be woken up by the commotion of a thief trying to get through two locks. This, in turn, can buy you valuable time to call the police.
Invest in an Alarm System
A quality alarm system is undoubtedly pretty costly. But, at the end of the day, it’s helpful to view it as an investment. Studies show that alarm systems do prevent burglaries. After all, who wants to enter a home to steal something when an alarm system is blaring?
The answer is very few people. Even the presence of an alarm system can often be enough to deter potential criminals. If you keep a sign outside of your house that states you have an alarm system, then this is usually all that it takes to convince would-be burglars that your home isn’t worth it.
Just make sure that you arm your alarm system every night. There’s nothing worse than having your house burglarized even after you spent a lot of money on a security system.
Consider Cameras If You Suspect Someone
If you believe that someone is repeatedly trespassing, or breaking into your home, then you might want to install camera systems. This can be great evidence if you’re trying to catch the burglar in the act.
Just keep in mind that they aren’t always super helpful. For example, if the individual is masked, and their vehicle is in sight, then there’s not much that they can do.
But, if they’re able to capture the burglar’s body type, face, clothing, or vehicle, then they can provide valuable evidence for capturing them. As such, cameras are best for people who want to pursue legal action when their home is invaded.
Install Smart Lights
Darkness is a friend to all burglaries. It prevents others from seeing their entry and makes them feel safe. As such, lights do the exact opposite. It makes the criminal feel like a spotlight and attention is on them.
There’s also a much higher chance that you or a neighbor will see them when lights activate. As such, consider installing smart lights around the exterior parts of your property. These are special lights that turn on when they detect movement.
If you aren’t expecting them, then they can be surprising — especially if you’re trespassing on someone’s property. As such, they’re often all that it takes to scare away potential burglars.
Get to Know Your Neighbors
Neighbors are often one of the most under-used forms of break-in protection. A good neighbor will alert you or the police if they notice something suspicious occur around your house.
This might be someone prowling around the property, or a car that looks like it shouldn’t be there. However, this is only true if you know your neighbors. As such, if you haven’t already, then introduce yourself.
Consider bringing over a baked good, or something similar. You also shouldn’t be afraid to discuss potential concerns with them.
If someone has been breaking into cars or houses in the area, then give them your phone number and ask them to call you if they see anything suspicious. You can do the same for them.
This method is ideal because it not only gives you an extra set of eyes, but it strengthens the bond of your community.
Get Rid of the Spare Key
Do you keep a spare key under the mat? Or in a secret rock nearby? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to rethink this strategy. The reality is that this is one of the first things that burglars try when breaking in.
And, if they find the key, then you’re making it as easy as possible for them to enter your home. As such, we recommend hiding the key far away from the property in the event of an emergency.
Or, consider giving the key to a neighbor that you trust. That way, you or your family have access to it if you lose one.
Ditch the ‘Beware of Dog’ Sign
Speaking of things to get rid of, you should also consider throwing out that old sign telling any passerby to beware of your dog. The logic behind this type of sign feels good. After all, who would want to break into a home with a loud, potentially violent, animal?
However, in reality, this security measure tends to do more harm than good. Why? Well, for one thing, it telegraphs the fact that you likely won’t have home security or alarm system in place.
And, these are measures that can prevent break-ins from occurring. Next, it also tells the individual that there are potentially go access points for entering.
Dog doors and cat doors provide an ideal point of entry — one that can be easily bypassed without the help of locksmith equipment. Finally, there’s the fact that your dog likely isn’t a great security presence.
This isn’t true for all breeds. But, the reality is that most dogs are scared around strangers. And, while we would love to believe that our pooch would die for us, we definitely shouldn’t rely on it.
Trim Any Overgrown Trees and Hedges
Overgrown trees and hedges are also a criminal’s best friend. They often restrict vision from the street or your neighbor’s houses. And, while this is great for privacy, it’s also great for break-ins.
Burglars can easily hide behind them while they break-in. This makes it hard for your neighbors to see any suspicious activity if they’re watching. As such, make sure that you regularly trim them.
Invest in Good Insurance
At the end of the day, there’s only so much prep that you can do to prevent potential break-ins. The sad reality is that even the most advanced security system likely can’t keep out someone who wants to get in (unless you’re investing millions into it).
So, what’s the solution? We recommend the ‘hope for the best, prepare for the worst’ route. If the unthinkable does happen you want to make sure that you have a backup to replace what was stolen.
And, the best backup possible in a personal insurance policy. However, it’s important to remember that not all insurance policies are created equally. As such, you should look for one that comes tailor-made to what you need protecting.
That way, you don’t pay for insurance that ultimately doesn’t come through when you need it most. If you need a good recommendation, then we think that you can’t go wrong with LoPriore Insurance Agency.
Enjoy Learning How to Prevent Break-ins? Keep Reading
We hope this article helped you learn how to prevent break-ins. At the end of the day, there are things that you can do to deter criminals from targeting your home. However, home security also requires a bit of acceptance.
You will need to face the fact that there are simply some things that you can’t control. And, whether or not someone breaks into your house is one of them.
However, if you follow the advice in this article, then you have the best chance of preventing it when it occurs. Did you enjoy this article? If the answer is yes, then you’re in the right place. Keep exploring to find more topics that you’re sure to love.
