A burglary occurs about every 15 seconds in the United States.This might seem somewhat discomfiting, and that is completely justified. The best way to avoid having to worry about this risk, is by reinforcing your home with as many layers of security as possible. By utilizing a system of deterrents, you can make your home completely unappealing to any potential burglars. Here’s our list of the most effective burglar deterrents.
Locked Doors
Make sure to keep your doors locked at all times, even when you’re home – and definitely at night. If you leave screen doors or windows open that’s fine – but make sure that you have a good lock for the screen in place that will create a sturdy barrier against intruders. All doors should be fit with deadbolts, and any sort of patio or sliding door should be fit with anti-entry security devices.
Get Strong Window and Door Locks
Since all burglars enter homes through windows or doors, ensuring that you have a first-rate and functional lock is an absolute must. Don’t be cheap when looking for the right lock – just ask your local locksmith for their recommendation for the strongest and best lock for your living situation.
Have your home security evaluated
Many local police departments offer free home security checks. If you call to ask for this service, officers will inspect your house, and suggest improvements to its security.
Get Security Cameras
Put burglars on the defensive by having visible security cameras on both the inside and outside of your home. Make sure the cameras have adequate night vision, and enough hard drive to store a long enough duration of video – usually a few days worth. If you can’t buy this high end of functional camera, fake plastic cameras can work as great deterrents – just make sure that they don’t look too fake, so fake that thieves can easily identify them as decoys.
Motion Activated Lights
These lights positioned outside your home can strategically illuminate dark areas of your home with motion sensor floodlights. This makes it highly unlikely that any sneaking burglar will attempt to continue stealing from home when they’re lit up in the middle of the night publically.
Home Alarm Systems
This is one of the top strategies for discouraging home burglary. You can get endless ranges of systems with included extras – from a basic household alarm to an industrial quality siren. Make sure to choose whatever package affords you the maximum level of protection. Ensure that your alarm company has a quick response time, and that the police get notified automatically whenever there’s an alarm event.
Door Strength
Make sure that you have thick, solid wood or metal doors for your home that would be impossible to kick in. If your doors have an inset window, install a second lock by your floor, so that if the burglar breaks the window pane, they can’t simply reach down the inside to unlock the door – and it couldn’t hurt to install protective bracing in the doorframe.