Many homeowners leave clues unknowingly to invite burglars into their home. A criminal wants to find the easiest and quickest manner of getting into and out of your home with stolen items.
Burglars often scope out a home before deciding to break into it. They can find some things about your home very inviting to them that signifies the fact that you have money or that you are away on vacation.
Newspapers and Mail Service
Never leave any clues that you are away from home for quite a while or on vacation. Don’t let your newspapers and mail stack up while you are out of town. It is a sure sign that no one is home if you have a stack of newspapers on your lawn or the mail is overflowing out of your mailbox. Some people call the post office and newspaper to stop delivery of these items while they are gone, however, this information can still get into the wrong hands and identify the fact that you are out of town. The best idea is to have a neighbor or relative get your mail and newspapers while you are away.
Landscaping Near Windows
Thick, green shrubbery near your windows will give your house curb appeal, but it is also an invitation to crooks of all sorts. A burglar can hide behind dense shrubs to gain access to your windows when no one can see him. You may think a thorny bush would deter a criminal, but they usually wear thick clothes, so this isn’t helpful. Don’t plant large plants of any sort in front of your windows whether they are in the front, sides or rear of your home.
Be Mindful of Your Garbage
When you get a new, large flat screen television, don’t advertise it by putting the empty box out by your garbage cans. Instead, cut the box up into small pieces that will fit into your garbage or recycling can. Most burglars are looking for other items that are smaller and easier to carry with big rewards for them when selling or pawning them. When they see large electronic boxes, they determine that you may have other valuables inside your home that they want. The most common items taken are cash, drugs, guns, laptop computers and jewelry as they are easy to carry and are valuable.
Keep your Property Well Lit
It’s true that most burglaries are committed in the daylight hours; however, you should make certain that your property is well lit at night too. If a criminal thinks he has nowhere to hide in a shadow, he will more likely choose a different home for a night robbery.
Lighting in Your Home
Many people think leaving a light on inside their home 24/7 will deter burglars. In fact, that is not true. Most burglars have watched your home in advance and know if the interior lights are on all the time. A better idea is to have interior lights on a timer that you can vary easily on different cycles to create the illusion that someone is home.
Securing Sliding Glass Doors
When a crook finds a house with a sliding glass door it is generally on the rear or side of a home, so they are less visible to neighbors. The old broomstick trick with a cut down wooden broom in the track can be hacked by a burglar as he can lift it up with a coat hanger if the doorframe is slightly loose and provides an area to put the coat hanger inside. The fortress lock or charley bar are better alternatives for securing these types of doors.
Sidelights
Many people love the look of two beautiful sidelights made of glass on either side of the front door. They let light in and allow you to see outside, but they also let thieves see into your home. These types of windows are easily broken to gain access to your home. You can consider adding window film as another layer of home security so that the glass is shatterproof.
In addition, make certain to lock all of your windows and doors before you leave home and always turn on the alarm system, even if you are only leaving for a few minutes.
