Tips to Help Deter Burglars and Prevent Theft in Your Home

Spring is here and summer isn’t far off, both being popular times for moving and going on vacation. Whether you’re relocating to a new home, or leaving town for a getaway, there are many simple ways you can improve the security of your home to deter burglars and prevent theft. A first line of defence that is often overlooked are locks. Many move into a new home and continue using the locks and keys provided by the previous owners without second guessing the security issue this potentially poses. Locks should also be added to windows and skylights if not installed already. Some people might also not realize that some lock types are easier to break in to. Researching the best types of locks, or consulting a locksmith on which they recommend can help save you from your home being broken into and give you more peace of mind each time you leave your home whether for a short or extended period of time. Going hand-in-hand with locks are the exterior doors of your home. Though you could have the best locks on a door, you should also have a suitable door at all entrances to your home. This means a solid door that isn’t too easy to break, with a break-resistant plastic or reinforced glass panel if there is a window in the door, and a mail slot size and position that doesn’t pose a security issue. If possible, opt for an outside mailbox rather than a mail slot in a door. While not a direct access point from outside, the door between a garage and living space should be as solid as your exterior doors. This is due to garages being common access points for burglars as many people don’t lock their garage doors, to help act as a barrier from toxic fumes from the garage entering the living space of the home, and it helps act as a fire and smoke barrier that can prevent fire spreading even if for a short time which can be a difference maker in the event of a fire. Inside your home you should consider an alarm system and/or video surveillance cameras, of which there are many affordable options on the market and are no longer luxuries only for homes of great value with priceless possessions inside. An alarm system in conjunction with video surveillance cameras offers an even more robust technological barrier few burglars would be foolish enough to try and get through. Continuing on security tips for inside your home, it’s always a smart habit to keep expensive items out of view from windows, and kept in safe and unpredictable spots. Should a burglar enter your home, they will often try and grab electronics and jewelry as they are usually the most expensive items in a home. Making these items difficult to take, or by storing inside a safe or unpredictable spot (or off-site in a safety deposit box) will reduce the chances of a burglar taking them as it will take up too much of their time. These tips to help deter burglars and prevent theft in your home may seem like common sense to some but are often overlooked and the reason burglars target some of the houses they do. We hope these tips help you protect your home so you feel safe and secure whether you’re at home or away.