Lock all doors and windows at all times
An open window or door can is almost an invitation for burglars or robbers to enter your home, therefore keeping them closed and locked tightly is of the utmost importance, regardless of whether you or your family members are home or not. Never underestimate sturdy and strong locks, and always update them whenever required.
Thieves are adept at spotting weak locks that may be easily pried or forced open- ensure that your exterior doors have deadbolt locks to ensure even more security. Sliding doors should have vertical bolts on the top and/or bottom of the doors, and a rod within the sliding door tracks to prevent the doors from being lifted off the track or forced open.
Remember to never leave your home without locking all of your doors, no matter how short you may be out. Even if the weather outside is horrible, don’t forget to lock up, because although you may think the elements will protect you, burglars may think otherwise and see an opportunity.
Talk to trusted neighbours to keep watch over your home
Talk to your neighbours, and develop a great rapport with them (unless you already have done so). You may ask them if they could use your outdoor rubbish bins, collect your mail, newspapers and the like, and even pick up any delivered packages for you if you and your family head off for a trip. Allowing your mail and newspapers to stack up, along with empty rubbish bins is a clear sign to people (and definitely burglars) that the occupants of the home have been away for quite some time.
You could even ask your neighbour to trim the lawn and keep the yard tidy if they’re willing, which creates the illusion that someone is home. If you’re living in regions which could experience snowfall, you could even ask your neighbours to create tyre tracks in your driveway, and footprints leading to your doors and garages- perpetuating the aforementioned illusion.
If you're on good terms with your neighbours, you could even give them a spare key (rather than hiding it somewhere outside your home). It’s important to leave a key outside in the event of an emergency, but it’s also good to have someone check on your home periodically while you’re away, especially to ensure that nobody has entered your home during your absence. Also, leave your contact number in case anything happens, and don’t forget to return the favour to your neighbour if they ever need the help!
Keep valuables away from your bedroom
According to Michael Durden (a burglar for over 20 years), he mentioned that he would spend between five to seven minutes within each house. During this time, he would look in drawers and closets, the master bedroom, and even the home office space. He also mentioned that the office is where people most often kept credit cards, banking details, and important documents. Durden then went on to mention that you should always lock away credit card details and banking information, and to hide valuables such as jewelry in the attic, garage, and even the ceiling.
Install security cameras
If you watch the news often, or even videos on the internet, I’m sure you’ve seen burglars being caught on camera all of the time. Although it seems like a simple enough solution, a home security camera could work as both a deterrent, and proof of the crime, as well as to provide some key details about the burglar or burglars.
If you're looking to purchase security cameras, have a look at our home security camera- it comes connects seamlessly with your phone so that you can view live footage, and even review old footage!
Own a dog (if possible)
“Sometimes, there would be a dog, and sometimes I would go up the window and put my hand out just to see what the dog would do,” said Durden. He then added that small dogs were essentially worthless in terms of protection.
If the dog is large, and potentially aggressive, he would then have second thoughts about burglarising the home, and would then usually give up on that particular home.
References:
- How to Catch a Burglar “https://youtu.be/DtwD-c9hn58”
- PRWeb, “Home Security Store Releases Third Infographic: The Most Common Entry Points for a Break-In”
- US Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Firearms Stolen During Household Burglaries and Other Property Crimes, 2005–2010”
- The Guardian, “Former burglars say barking dogs and CCTV are best deterrents”
