Above anything else, your home should be safe and secure, but what if it’s not? Well, if it isn’t, you are a target for burglars and other criminals, meaning that you and your home are in danger. When it comes to protecting yourself and your home, you can never be too careful or plan too much. No one wants to think about being the victim of a crime, but you need to if you want to prevent it. Below are some tips, tricks, and things that you can do to deter criminals, and make it a lot harder for them to get into your home.
Be Friendly With Neighbours
From the moment you move into a new property, you should make it your mission to make friends with as many neighbors as you can. This is because, in tight-knit communities, neighbors look out for each other, and will spot if there is anyone dodgy hanging around your home and will call you or the police. This results in a much lower crime rate.
Form A Neighborhood Watch
Once you’ve made friends with your neighbors, you could invite them all around for a coffee and ask if they want to form a neighbourhood watch. This is a particularly good idea if your street is often a victim of crime. If you’re all in agreeance, you can contact your local police department for tips on how to spot crime, and what to do if there is an emergency. They will also sometimes provide stickers for your home and street, stating that you have a neighborhood watch, to deter criminals.
Install A Fence
If you don’t already have a fence, installing one can be a great way to keep unwanted people off your property. Ornamental fencing is usually the better option compared to solid fences, as they’re more difficult to climb, and don’t provide a hiding space as solid fences do. Just make sure that they’re properly secured to the ground so that they can’t be lifted. Also be sure to lock them as you get home and leave your house so that they can’t just be opened by anyone.
Trim Trees And Bushes
Trees and bushes are a burglars dream, as they provide a great place to hide and scope out a house, and can be climbed to get access to open windows. Make sure you keep your bushes and trees trimmed back as much as you can so that burglars can’t use them to their advantage. If you want bushes, plant something with thorns, like a rosebush, so that it’s a little more difficult to use it as shelter.
Use Your Garage For Storage
Never leave expensive cars, bikes, grills, and gardening tools out in the open, especially if you have an empty garage to store them in. It might seem like a bit of a hassle to take everything out of your garage every time you need it, but at least it’s safer in there (and won’t rust in the rain). Just remember to lock it every time you go in and out, or it’s completely pointless.
Add Security Lighting
Burglars tend to scope out homes before they break into them, and this is generally done at night when it’s easier to hide. Having some security lighting installed by a company like ABC Home & Commercial Electrical Services, especially at entrances and dark corners of your garden makes it more difficult to hide, so most burglars won’t bother trying. Using professionals is always sensible, as it avoids you electrocuting yourself or falling off a wobbly ladder.
Keep Valuables Out Of Cars
If you don’t have a garage to store your car in, never keep valuables, such as sat navs, wallets, or cell phones in your car, especially on view, as this is often too tempting for burglars to resist. Trust me, even if you live in a safe neighborhood and keep your car locked, there is still a chance that someone will break your window and get off with your stuff. Also, make sure that you never leave spare house keys in your car.
Never Hide Keys
I know that a lot of people hide keys outside their homes, but if you want to make sure that your home is a secure as it can be, then you never should. Burglars know that people tend to leave spare keys under mates, under plant pots, in fake rocks, and above door frames, and will check these places if they want to get into your home. If you’re worried about locking yourself out one day, leaving a spare key with a family member or a trusted neighbor is much safer.
Don’t Label Keys
While we’re talking about keys, I should also mention that you should never label your house keys with your name, address, or even your phone number. In a perfect world, a labeled set of keys would be returned to their owner, but this isn’t a perfect world, and you’re more likely to get broken into if you leave any information on a set of house keys.
Invest In A Safe
If you have anything small but valuable in your homes, such as jewelry or cell phones, it makes sense to keep them locked away whenever you aren’t using them. Consider investing in a small gun safe that can easily be hidden and you can store valuables in. This means that, if someone does manage to get into your home, they won’t just be able to pack as much of your stuff into their pockets as they can and run.
Close Your Curtains
As I mentioned earlier, burglars tend to scope out homes before breaking into them, so that they know that there is something inside worth taking. Because of this, you should make sure that you keep your curtains closed whenever you’re not home and at night. You should also put privacy film on the windows of your garage so that burglars can’t look in there either.
Lock All Doors And Windows
Every time you leave an exterior door or window unlocked, even if you’re home, you’re inviting burglars in for a mooch around. Burglars tend to either be desperate or professionals and won’t think twice about walking into your house, even if you’re there. Because of this, you should make sure that your doors and windows are locked at all times, and that they’re as secure as they can be.
Buy Home Security
A home security system is a great way to keep burglars off your property or warn you if they’re trying to get in. There are so many different features available, so you can choose whatever fits your needs and your budget. Even if you can’t afford home security, sometimes a sticker or a dummy camera or alarm is enough to warn burglars off.
Get A Furry Friend
A dog can be a perfect addition to your family, but they are also great for protecting your home. Even if your new dog isn’t particularly large or aggressive, if it is loud, it’s bark is usually perfect for scaring away potential burglars. Once again, if you can’t afford a dog or don’t have the time to care for one, a “Beware of the dog” sticker can sometimes make criminals think twice before trying your property.
Your home is supposed to be a safe sanctuary, but that isn’t always the case. Although you will never be able to completely eliminate burglary or home invasion, there is a lot that you can do to ensure that you’re not living in fear. Try out a few of these tips and tricks to make your home as safe and secure as you can.
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