Burglary Prevention Tips - Great Ideas!

Every year there are between 2.5 to 3 million burglaries committed.  The vast majority of these home burglaries are easily preventable - given just a little advanced thought and planning.  The chances of your home being burglarized can be greatly reduced if the following tips are followed.

Please remember that the four greatest weapons you have to prevent theft is light, time, noise, and a good security system!

Light

Burglars hate light - people can see them, and if they can be seen, they can be convicted and serve time in jail.  Try these tips:

  Your property should be well lighted, and exterior lights should not be where a potential burglar can simply unscrew the light bulbs.

  Excellent use can be made of 'motion-sensitive' lights, that are available at your local hardware store for a very reasonable cost.

  You should also have lights inside your house - even when absent, during normal hours that lights would be on.  Inexpensive timers can be set to allow lights to go on and off at specified times.  Having all the lights inside your house completely dark at 8pm is just an invitation.

  Make sure that there are no potential hiding places near your house - shrubbery and trees should be trimmed and situated so that they can't provide any cover for any would-be thieves.

Time

Time is the enemy of the burglary - who must get in and out quickly.  You can make things more time-consuming - which will deter most burglars by doing the following:

  Make your house time-consuming to break into by installing good door bolts on all exterior doors.

  Install a double keylock on doors that contain glass - you don't want a potential burglar to just break the glass reach in, and turn the knob.

  Make sure that all windows and patio doors are securable.  This is one of the frequently overlooked areas of home security.

Noise

  There's a reason burglar's hate dogs.  While not everyone can be a good pet-owner - the security aspects of dog ownership can tip the balance if you're unsure about owning a pet.

  Home Security Systems are normally set up with a Siren - make sure that it's loud enough to annoy the neighbors!  Make sure that the siren is not installed in an easily accessable area where it can be quickly disconnected.

Other Useful Tips

  Lock up any ladders or tools that could be easily used by someone to break into your home.

  Make sure that valuables such as art, expensive electronics and guns aren't seen.

  Think like a burglar - walk around your house and see if there's anyway you could easily break in.

  Display your house number prominently - make sure that Police or other emergency personnel can find your home quickly.

  If you go on vacation - have a neighbor or friend pick up your mail.  No need to alert potential thieves that you're away.

Just In Case

  Make sure your insurance is correct for what you own. People tend to under-insure to save money.

  If you don't own your home, seriously consider purchasing a renter's insurance policy.  Landlords are not legally responsible for your belongings, and you could end up with a huge loss on your hands should a burglary occur, or a natural disaster strike.

  Keep a listing of all your expensive belongings (including serial numbers).  This will help you reclaim your property from the police when any burglar is caught.

  When you've created this inventory listing - make sure a copy of it stays with a friend, family, or at work.  It would be silly to have a complete inventory - but lose it to a house fire!

  Using a Digital videocamera or camera, videotape or photograph your possessions - it's irrefutable evidence for your insurance company that you actually owned something in case of theft or fire.

  Use an engraving tool to mark items without serial numbers, so that you can prove ownership should your possessions be stolen and recovered by the police.