By: Molly Ginty
Think it can’t happen to you? More than 1.7 million burglaries
strike U.S. homes every year, with the bad guys stealing an average of
$1,600 in electronics, jewelry, and other possessions you hold dear.
Yes, security systems are important in thwarting
thieves, but they don’t cover everything. You still need to be aware of
your home’s weak spots that criminals case out from afar.
Check out these danger zones where a few simple changes will safeguard your home and everything in it—including you!
Your home’s exterior appearance
An unmowed lawn in summertime. A walkway covered in pristine snow. A
driveway devoid of vehicles. Letters overflowing from the mailbox.
“The first thing burglars hunt for is a house that looks vulnerable from the street,” says Paul Cromwell, a professor of public affairs at the University of South Florida, who interviewed scores of burglars for his book “Breaking and Entering.” “If your home appears to be empty, they’ll consider it a target.”
Have a trusted friend or neighbor collect your mail and maintain your
home’s exterior while you’re away. Keep mum about your vacation on
social media until your safe return (no emoji-laden “Finally,
leaving for two weeks in Hawaii!!!” posts on Facebook, please). When
you purchase expensive items or receive them as gifts, avoid leaving the
evidence—such as the box for your laptop or 90-inch LED-screen TV—out
in the open in your garbage area (where documents of interest to
identity thieves should be shredded before being tossed).
Trim shrubbery so it looks neat and hovers below your windows so it
can’t serve as a burglar’s hiding place or makeshift stepladder. Make
sure the exterior is free of tools, which should be locked safely away.
Doors
Ideally, your doors should be constructed of solid-core metal, devoid
of those lovely glass panes that can be easily broken—and equipped with
sturdy double locks.
“Standard locks can be opened with a credit card,” says Cromwell.
“You need a deadbolt lock that extends at least an inch and a half into
the door frame, because you’d practically have to kick down the door to
get in.”
Make sure garage doors—and any entryways from the garage to the
house—remain tightly locked. (And hide the cord that extends from the
garage opener’s overhead cable, as burglars can yank it down to open the
garage door.)
Pay extra attention to securing doors that are below ground level.
“Thieves just love walk-out basements,” says Scott Decker, a professor of criminology at Arizona State University in Phoenix and the co-author of “Burglars on the Job.”
“They’re out of sight, muffle the sounds of break-ins, and often offer
convenient spots where criminals can stash items, making off with them
all at once.”
Windows
Hang drapes or blinds in your windows to deter thieves from seeing
what kind of loot lies inside. Near entryways, consider glass coated
with a film that makes it difficult to break.
“Get storm windows,” advises Decker. “Shattering two panes of glass
not only makes it more difficult to get in, but creates more noise that
will prompt neighbors to call the police.”
Get deadbolt locks for your windows to complement the ones on your
doors. And note that security grates or bars on windows can be a mixed
blessing. Though they may deter thieves, they can pose a safety hazard
if a fire or other emergency is blocking other exits in your home—and
you can’t find the grate key in your scramble to escape. Plus, they’re
unattractive to buyers, who may wonder if the neighborhood is really that bad.
Lights
Install motion-detecting lights all around your house, and make sure
you can adjust the sensitivity so they won’t flip on (and freak you out)
when a tree branch rustles in the wind. With compact fluorescent bulbs,
these lights won’t use too much extra energy. And note that while a
security lighting system is important, there’s actually less risk to
your home at night.
“Nearly 70% of burglaries are committed during the daytime, when
thieves know people aren’t around,” says Cromwell. “Lights can help, but
you need to make sure you complete the full spectrum of safety measures
in order to ward off thieves.”
Alarms
If you do have an alarm system, you should post the alarm company’s logo on your lawn and/or entrance.
“Generic alarm signs from hardware stores do nothing to deter
experienced thieves,” says Cromwell. Make sure you keep the system on at
all times—a precaution many homeowners neglect to take. Also note that a
dog can serve as a secondary (but not a substitute) alarm.
“My 15-pound, white bichon frisé may look harmless,” jokes Cromwell.
“But his bark is so loud that it can raise an alarm by attracting the
attention of my neighbors down the street.”
Read more : http://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/prevent-home-burglary-without-alarm/
