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Burglary can be a traumatic experience. Not only the victims lose some of their belongings, but they can also develop feelings of helplessness and insecurity. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, in about 28% of the burglaries, a household member is present, which is even more frightening and traumatizing.
Up to 7% of these victims experience some type of violent crime, which can trigger serious psychological problems. As with many other things, prevention is the key. Breaking into a home is way simpler than people tend to think, so make sure to take care of the safety and well-being of your loved ones and yourself properly. This checklist is devised to help you assess where you are at regarding home safety. So, read on!
When assessing your home safety, start with the basic things like windows, doors, and appropriate yard signs. Window locks and deadbolt door locks are a must if you want to secure your home properly.
Also, make sure to always keep your valuables out of sight! Cash, electronics, jewellery, and other expensive items shouldn’t be visible from the street. Home burglars are known to “window shop,” so make sure to keep your precious goods in a reliable home safe or a safety deposit box. One more important tip: make sure to change the locks or rekey your home if you’ve moved house recently.
Although many people don’t give enough thought to securing the windows properly, they are the most fragile points of entry in many homes. Especially those on the first floor – surprising 23% of burglars break into your home through a first-floor open window. When you are not home, make sure to lock all of the windows. You may think that intruders can’t reach higher levels, but unfortunately, that’s not true. They are known to use ladders to access higher stories of home and break-in.
Remove anything that provides a hiding spot for potential thieves. Trim the trees and bushes or consider removing them completely. Although window locks usually come standard on all windows, sometimes they are not secure enough, so consider installing secondary locks to keep the thieves out.
You may be surprised by this fact, but burglars use the front door to break into your home more than any other way! This is why all of your doors should be made of strong material like metal, fibreglass, or windowless solid wood. Don’t forget about the backdoor or other kind of secondary entrance! Often enough, some of the doors get weathered over the years and are not replaced in time. And thieves love back entrances since they want to avoid unwanted attention from your neighbours.
Frail doors are especially vulnerable since they can easily get kicked in. And if they lack a deadbolt lock, they are the perfect point of entry for thieves. Restrain from hiding the spare key as seasoned burglars know where to find them. Also, trim the bushes regularly since intruders may use overgrown vegetation as a place to hide. Solid-core doors with upgraded locks are the safest bet when it comes to home security. Equip your door with a heavy strike plate, and keep your entryway visible to burglar-proof your home.
Take care of every possible entry to the house like garage doors, basements, skylights, and others. These are the things that slip many people’s minds, and they can strengthen your home security considerably. It’s best if you get weatherproof padlocks for your garden gates. Stand-alone alarms in a garage or a shed can be highly useful since they will alert you to any intruders.
A home security yard sign and motion-activated outdoor lights can make a big difference. They can increase the safety of your home and deter potential thieves. Security outdoor lights detect motion and automatically turn on and illuminate a large area that wards off unwanted visitors. Install them in front of your house and above your garage.
Placing a home security sign (even if it’s fake) and making it loud and clear that you are protected makes the burglars more apt to stay away. Environmental design plays an essential role in crime prevention. Installing a wide-angle peephole in your door is recommendable since it will allow you to see who’s on the other side.
For a more advanced safety of your home, consider getting a home security system. HD security cameras, door, and window sensors are standard features that can maximize the security of your home and reduce the risk of potential thefts. Exterior cameras and other visible measures have the potential of scaring off burglars-to-be. Put them at the front porch of your house by the door or in another visible place. Usually, you get access to live feed on a secure website or via a smartphone app.
Door and window sensors notify you when either of them is opened with loud and clear alarms. Of course, the alarm will only set off if the security system is armed. With some security systems, you even get to see who’s at your home through connected security cameras.
Regulating your home even when you are away is a helpful feature when you leave the house and forget to lock the doors. Remote locking is possible via a smartphone app, no matter where you are. You just need to have internet access, and you are good to go. There are other awesome smart home features like remote garage door control and remote lights. With the latter, you can create the illusion that someone is home by turning lights on and off.
Advanced home security features also include HD cloud storage as well as smoke and fire monitoring. If you have cloud storage enabled from your HD cameras and burglars happen to break into your home, you can access video files online and send them to your local police department. These smart features strengthen your home security tremendously.
Burglaries take place worldwide, and they happen about every 13 seconds in the U.S. The good thing is, although people with bad intentions exist, you can significantly reduce your chances of becoming a victim to breaking-in. Focus on the things you can do, and make securing your home a top priority to avoid any unpleasant situations.
Further Read: greatsmartgadgets.com
