Home Security Tips to Protect your House from Burglary

When my mentor John was teaching me the ropes, one of the first security tips John taught me was ‘if you want to catch a burglar you need to think like a burglar”.  So, let’s Become Aware.  Study your home the way a thief would.  Where might I hide?  Does the property have dark areas?  What windows seem to be open most of the time?  Are there good locks on the doors?   Is there a key in an obvious place – like under a mat or flower pot?  Is it easy to tell if the home is occupied or not?   And if you’re just not sure how to protect your house or you need help with other questions, it’s ok to call in a security consultant, or simply contact your local crime prevention officer.  

Consider who has access to the keys to your home.  Unless the keys are patented, anyone with possession of your keys – even for a few seconds – can get a copy.  Consider the gardener, housecleaner, babysitter, mechanic, parking attendant, neighbor, pet sitter, (many home burglaries occur with no sign of forced entry). By using patented keys you eliminate the risk of keys being made without your knowledge. Even with patented keys -keep a log of who you give a key to. Evaluate your doors and locks.  More than half of burglars enter through the door so it stands to reason you should use the best doors and locks you can afford.  Invest in Grade 1 deadbolts with a U.L. 437 listing – heavy duty and pick/drill resistant. The majority of locks offer far less protection than most realize. Consider the difference in grade-1 (good quality) versus grade-3 (typical home center quality) locks. If a lock is operated 10 times a day in a home, the average grade 3 lock will last about 3 years.  Under the same conditions, a grade-1 lock will last over 11 years.  Consider the slightly higher cost an investment, not an expense. 

Correct property issues found. Trim the bushes, add exterior security lights, remove hidden keys, add light timers, etc. Add a monitored alarm.  While home alarms don’t stop a crime from occurring, (when they are monitored) they do notify the authorities in the event one occurs and can shorten the time a thief is comfortable searching for items to steal. Be sure the home alarm system is reliable and not prone to false alarms as the fines can be excessive and they distract authorities from handling more serious issues. 

Finally, lock your doors regardless of how “rural” your area is (homes in rural areas are just as likely to be burglarized as those in suburban areas). Be sure first floor windows are adequately protected. Consider security film in addition to good locks.   If you keep your windows open, use locks that allow them to be locked in a slightly open position. Cleaning up the property, trimming the bushes, adding lights, upgrading locks, all add to the value of your home in addition to making you safer and more secure.   

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How to Deal with a Home Burglary  

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