1) Don’t Open Your Door to Danger
When a stranger knocks on your door, find out who they are before opening your door to a potential intruder. Ask for identification and spot their service vehicle before opening your door. Door chains and locked screen doors can serve as a secondary barrier to those trying to enter your home. Install a peephole, a deadbolt with at least a 1-inch throw, and remove all windows within arm’s reach of the locking mechanism.
2) Get to Know Your Neighbors
As you build relationships with your neighbors, ask them to watch for suspicious activity at your house while you are away. Communities that interact with each other help prevent crime and generate a sense of vigilance.
3) Do a Personal Security Test
The best way to identify weak points in your home security is to perform a personal security test. You know your house better than anybody, so you will know how to get in without a key. Lock yourself out of your home and try to find a way in. Often times you will find an open window giving you access to the inside. If you are unable to reenter your house without breaking a window or door, then you are eliminating any easy break-ins. This test will help you identify what doors and windows need locking/fortifying.
4) Eliminate Hiding Places
Shrubs, bushes, and trees are nice decorations for your home, but they are also a perfect hiding place for burglars trying to break-in into your home. Eliminate these hiding spots as much as you can. Remove or trim back all your vegetation so that there is nowhere to hide for intruders. Ensure your doorway has a direct line of sight to the street and or public places.
5) Store Your Belongings
If you have a lot of fun toys, be sure to put them away when you are finished with them. Don’t flaunt what valuables you have to everyone in the neighborhood. Store your vehicles, equipment, and expensive toys inside your garage or house before you call it a day.
6) Look Like You’re Home When You’re Away
If burglars know you are away, they are more likely to target your house. Overflowing mail boxes and untrimmed grass are dead giveaways that nobody is home. Talk to your post office and newspaper provider before you leave town to hold your deliveries until you get home. If you plan on being gone for a long period of time, hire someone or ask a neighbor if they can care for your lawn. If your car is visible, have a friend move it every so often to appear like it is being used. And finally if it is winter time, find someone to shovel your walks and driveway when it snows.
7) Install an Alarm System
When you are away on vacation, even the most loyal neighbor can’t watch your house 24/7. If the alarm signs outside of your house doesn’t prevent a break-in, the loud alarm might. In the case of a break-in, home security systems will alert the authorities and send emergency response to your residence. Alarm Systems give peace of mind to their owners.
8) Keep Your Keys Safe
Don’t hide spare keys around the exterior of your house. An observant bystander might be able to locate the key with little effort. Be careful who you lend your key to. Service men or untrusted individuals can duplicate the key and use it for an easy break-in. If it’s absolutely necessary to have a spare key accessible, have a trusted friend or family member store one in their house.
9) Get a Dog or Just a Sign
Dogs are a huge deterrent to burglars looking for an easy target. If you do not have a dog, sometimes just a “Beware of Dog” sign will scare of a potential burglar.
10) Work with the Police to Keep Your House Protected
It’s better to stop crime before it happens. Your local police department can help keep you safe. If you are leaving town, call your police department and request that your neighborhood be patrolled while you are out. Some police departments offer free security evaluations for your home. This program helps you identify how you can improve your home security.
