Theft happens. While no one ever thinks a burglary could ever happen to them, some statistics prove otherwise.
According to the FBI, a burglary happened every 25.7 seconds in 2018. In 2019, the revised study showed there was an average rate of 341 burglaries per 100,000 people.
You might think of burglars as being well prepared and even skilled, but actually most people who break into homes are just opportunists. They want the easiest possible break-in and they target properties that seem like they won’t present any obstacles, and if the doors and windows are open, these types of homes are easily burgled. They also don’t want to risk being identified and arrested later down the line.
Here are the top seven deterrents to stop burglars from entering your home.
According to a survey of former burglars, security cameras are the number one security feature that would make them think twice about entering a property. Cameras make burglars aware that the owners are security conscious, and the house likely has home security devices working together to alert owners and law enforcement about an intrusion. Even if owners are not alerted right away, the footage could be used to prosecute the burglar later. Ensure your cameras are at least nine or 10 feet from the ground so they can’t be tampered with.
Smart locks and door/window sensors are a huge turnoff for burglars and intruders. These devices can be easily controlled remotely using a smartphone and often include immediate notifications.
If you are prone to losing your keys, smart locks also enable you to use your mobile phone as your key. Some smart locks even allow you to set automations that enable automatic locking or unlocking of your doors as you come and go.
Similarly, door/window sensors will alert users to any activity at the most common entry points for burglars. In addition to triggering an alarm, these sensors allow the homeowner to act immediately and contact the authorities.
Burglars hate lights. Improving your security by installing smart lights is almost guaranteed to protect you against burglaries. Once installed, you can set your smart lights to turn on at certain times of day to ensure energy efficiency and maximum burglary deterrent.
You can also automate your smart lights to turn on and off as it relates to sunrise and sunset times so you’ll have minimal disruptions whether you are making dinner, doing an online tutoring session, or just hanging around the living room.
There is a reason why seemingly every home you drive by has a yard sign proudly displaying the logo of a security company. Similarly to cameras, stickers and yard signs send a message to potential burglars that the property owners have a security system and should not be targeted. Stickers should bear the name of your security company, and yard signs should be placed in either the front or back yard depending on where your home has entrances.
Secure gates are another feature that deter burglars. Always ensure gates are closed and locked, including driveway and side gates. Sturdy heavy gates work best. The rest of the perimeter can add to security too. The front boundary of your property should be kept low so intruders have nowhere to hide, while side and rear boundaries should be high, ideally up to six feet. You could use trellising, fences, or bushes for this.
The sound of a large guard dog will almost certainly deter opportunist burglars looking for an easy break-in. The loud noise will alert occupants and neighbors that something is wrong before a burglar even crosses a boundary. A second obvious advantage is that most burglars won’t be foolish enough to step foot on a property with a dog guarding it, and they will just move on to another home. If you don’t have a dog, you can take advantage of a smart home integration that can simulate the sound of dogs barking to ward off trouble.
Leaving a ladder, garden chairs, and tables outside your home makes the job easier for burglars. Remember that any item around your home that a thief can climb on can provide easy access to your property. Even windbreaks and fence plants can encourage intruders to attempt an entry into your home.
If you stay on the second floor, for example, the ladder is a handy tool for burglars to climb to second-floor windows. Without this ladder, it’d have been almost impossible to get to the second floor. You don’t want burglars to break windows or destroy security cameras with axes, rakes, and spades — which you left outside — do you?
Your property and family will be safe if you implement one, two, or all of these tips. Knowing what burglars are looking for in a house can help you prepare and make small changes to stop them from successfully gaining access to your property.
If you’re the type of person who wants reliable protection from burglars and home intruders, you should consider investing in a home security system. It’ll cost you a few hundred dollars, but it’s one of the best things you can do. Modern systems allow users to monitor the status of their system from their phone for additional peace of mind. Gone are the days when homeowners were solely dependent on a professional monitoring center calling them in the event of an alarm.
All in all, take proactive measures to curb burglary. It’s recommended to use visible security cameras, install smart locks, and hang descriptive yard signs to let burglars know they’re not welcome.
About the Author
Burkhard Berger is the founder of awesomex™. You can follow him on his journey from 0 to 100,000 monthly visitors. His articles include some of the best growth hacking strategies and digital scaling tactics that he has learned from his own successes and failures.
