Home Security Tips and Advice

Home Security - How Burglars Pick a House

According to the FBI, a burglary is committed about every twelve seconds. In order to avoid being a data point in those statistics there are things you can do to secure your home. Just try to think as the professional burglar does.

One thing that is safe to say about most professional burglars is: they avoid getting caught. In order to do that, they minimize the odds by looking for vulnerable targets.

Some amateurs will simply smash and grab, taking something from the garage or entering an unlocked home when you're away. But the professional applies a little more thought, in order to up the haul and lower the risk.

The first thing to notice is that they have to approach the house by stealth. That's why, not surprisingly, most burglaries take place during the night. Lighting your home well can help shift the odds. Look especially for those corners and windowless areas that lead to a point of entry out of sight.

To avoid being the victim there is a wide range of simple steps a homeowner can take.

Home Security Tip 1 - Secure best those areas where a burglar could enter unseen. In most homes that will be on the side, but not always. It depends on how the house is constructed and how the houses nearby are situated.

But that form of protection will offer no more than a two second delay if your window can be easily lifted out of the frame. Preventing that is simple and inexpensive.

Just drill a small hole through the metal or wood window frame into the wall frame holding it. Insert a small dowel into the hole, or better still obtain a small kit that contains a spring loaded mechanism, similar to some screen door kits. The kits screw into the frame.

Home Security Tip 2 - Depending on what they think your home holds, and who or what is nearby, some professionals will risk breaking glass to enter. A set of wrought iron bars in front of the windows may be called for. Your last, but not necessarily least, line of defense is an alarm system that senses vibration or breaks in the glass. A sturdy wooden or metal dowel can bar a sliding window from opening.

Home Security Tip 3 -  Walk around the outside and try to spot weaknesses, possible points of entry, areas where a housebreaker can gain undetected access. Look for areas where you can trim back bushes from the home that thieves can use to hide behind. Having an easily visible perimeter around the house makes it less likely a thief will want to enter.

Perform the same review at night. Consider the lights and shadows around your home. Think about any pathways that a stranger can walk down unheard and unseen. Consider the curtains and shutters that are open, allowing a well-lit view of the interior downstairs

Home Security Tip 4 - Burglars look for easy targets. Targets are much easier when there's no one home. Fooling them into thinking you're home can be as simple and inexpensive as installing a few timers around the house. A light on all the time, especially during the day, makes it obvious that no one is home. But lights, stereos and TVs that go on at random times simulate normal use. A dozen can be installed for under $100 dollars and often much less 

Burglars more often commit their crimes when no one is home, again for obvious reasons. Having someone watch the home while you're away, ideally from the inside, will motivate the professional to seek a different victim.

There are many home security systems that cost about a dollar a day. That's pretty low 'insurance' against what could be a very expensive loss. Having one will also sometimes lower your actual homeowner's insurance premiums. Many can be installed without professional assistance. Several have low-cost battery backups so they still function during a power outage (natural or burglar-induced).

Go a step beyond the minimum. Many security systems will alert when a door or window is opened while alarmed. But a cheap glass cutter could make the whole system useless. Consider a type that has a vibration sensor or cut detector. Look into an upgrade that offers motion detection.

No system is foolproof. But making the effort to implement some simple, low cost solutions can improve your odds tremendously.

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