Whether you are a homeowner or currently renting an apartment, you want to feel safe and secure in your home. Safety is a basic human need and we all deserve to sleep easily at night knowing that we are protected in our own personal space. There are many ways to secure your home, ranging from simple common sense practices to investing in state-of-the-art home security systems. In this article, we’ll share three ways to secure your home to help bring peace of mind to you and your family.
Lock Your Doors and Windows
This tip may sound like common sense, but statistics show that a burglary is committed in the United States every fifteen seconds. In many cases, the crime could have been prevented had the homeowner practiced a few basic safety habits, such as locking doors and windows.
According to the FBI, the timeframe of most burglaries occurs between eight and ten minutes, with some even happening in just 90 seconds. Most times, burglars just want to be in and out as quickly as possible. Either they spotted something of value in the window and they’re breaking in to take that item, or they noticed an open door and they are sneaking in to grab a few valuable items before dashing away. In either case, keeping doors and windows locked even when you’re home can be a big deterrent to would-be burglars looking to score.
Keep Valuables Out of Sight
As mentioned above, it’s a good idea to keep your valuable items out of sight. This doesn’t mean that you can’t display prized items or decorate to fit your taste, but rather refrain from spotlighting items for any passerby to see. Helpful suggestions for inside the home could be keeping curtains and blinds drawn. Also, avoid leaving jewelry, purses, or electronics in plain sight or in front of open windows. For outside prevention, don’t leave bikes, tools, or desirable items on the porch or unattended in the yard.
Make It Look Like You Are Home
Remember, most burglars would rather prey on easy targets. They’re looking for opportunities to exploit when they come across unsuspecting people. To avoid becoming a victim, make them believe that you are home so that they keep moving. This could mean leaving the light on when you’ll be out late or using smart lights that periodically turn on and off to create the impression that people are active within the house.
If you’re going to be away for a few days, ask a friend or family member to collect the mail and mow the lawn since these could be telltale signs that the house is empty. Another suggestion would be to install motion-sensing lights for the walkway and/or security cameras around the house. Having a security camera near your front door could serve as both a deterrent and a way to get justice should any thieves be bold enough to steal packages from your porch.
Follow these three simple tips to secure your home and bring peace of mind to your family and in your life.
