Statistically, there are about 8,000 home burglaries happening every day across North America, a third of these occurred while someone was home.
As scary as this may seem, there are a few simple things you can do to improve your home security.
1. Lock Up
It’s simple science that things will follow the path of least resistance. This goes for criminals too, they’ll seek out residences that have unlocked windows and doors and they can just stroll right in and help themselves. Check all outside doors and windows to see if they’re locked.
The same goes for when someone comes to your door, don’t just open the door to see who it is. In 18% of home invasions, the owner voluntarily lets the offender into their home. Another 12% of offenders pushed their way inside when the owner opened the door. Install peepholes, chains, and even make a “Granny Boot” which is simply a wooden wedge attached to a broom handle. Place the wedge on the floor a few inches behind the door, if it’s pushed open, it gets stuck on the wedge and cannot open further.
2. Check Your Outdoor Decor
Thieves prefer homes that are dark, easy to escape from, and have plenty of hiding places. So forego the nice shrubbery underneath your windows, keep the trees trimmed and install timed or automatic lights. Use standard lights instead of floodlights, our eyes adjust to the brightness and so the surroundings would be darker, which is a perfect hiding opportunity for thieves as well.
3. Get a Home Security System
Get a home security system, whether it’s one from a home monitoring company or a self-installed wireless system, they’ll help deter home robberies. A study questioned convicted robbers and discovered that 90% of them would avoid homes that had a security system.
4. Look Occupied
Whether you’re gone for the weekend or a holiday, you need to make your home look like it’s occupied. Suspending your mail and newspaper delivery isn’t enough. Today’s technology allows you to install a Smart Home system where you can control your home environment from your smartphone. Even having cheap timers with your television, lamps, and radio set at intermittent times aids in keeping your home safer.
5. Don’t Announce Anything
Don’t announce all your activities on Social Media. 78% of potential thieves check Social Media for which houses to rob. Even casually chatting in a public place about your upcoming vacation can be overheard by the wrong people.
Following these five easy-to-do points will go a long way to keeping you and your loved ones safe in your home. Contact us to learn more about our home security systems and how they can make you feel safer.