Lock your doors, close all the windows, and always look through the peephole to determine who’s there before opening the door. These are all things we know to do in order to keep our homes secure. The reality is, however, that most homes are easily accessible if the wrong person decides he wants to get in. Below, we discuss five ways you can ensure your home is as safe and secure as it can be.
Fortify The Front Door
The front door is usually the main entryway to most homes. As such, it’s important that it be as strong as possible. It should be made of a solid wood or steel, and it should contain a deadbolt with a heavy-duty strike plate. If you are unsure of your door’s ability to withstand a burglar, consider buying a reinforcement kit to strengthen it.
Make It Look Like You’re Home – Even When You’re Not
A home that’s occupied is less likely to be burglarized. You can trick would-be thieves into thinking you’re home by using timers to turn on lights and playing TVs or radios to create noise. You can even purchase a light that simulates the constant flickering of a TV for around $20.
Announce Your Home’s Protection
The last thing a burglar wants to do is deal with a dog that might maul him before he has a chance to get the job done. Even if you don’t have a dog, you can make it appear that you do by placing a “Beware of Dog” sign in the windows of your home. You might even want to place a dog dish next to your sliding glass door for good measure. Another helpful tactic is displaying signs that announce the presence of a security system. If you don’t actually have a security system, you can always put signs in the windows saying you do or install fake security cameras at the entrances to your home to try and deter thieves.
Use Lighting Inside And Out
A well-lit home is a safer home. Use enough outdoor lighting to make it difficult for burglars to hide in the shadows. Alternately, use light timers inside to turn lights on and off at varying times. The key to making it appear as if your home is always occupied is to use the timers every day – even when you’re home.
Hide Your Valuables Creatively
According to security experts, most thieves will grab the first valuables they see and get out. The most common places they look is in bedside tables, dresser drawers, and in medicine cabinets. If a burglar does break into your home, don’t give him any help. Be creative when hiding your valuables and find other not-so-common places to stash them. Lastly, you can try to hurry a thief along his way by placing an old, non-working laptop near your home’s entryway. The hope is that he’ll grab that and leave without bothering anything else in your home.
No one likes to think their home is unsafe, but the reality is, if a burglar wants to get in, most properties are easy pickings. Use the tips above to fortify your own home and make it more safe and secure.
Justin
