Over 2 million burglaries occur each year in the United States, with many of these crimes taking place during daylight hours. Rather than fret about whether your home will suffer a break-in, take action to secure your possessions from unwanted guests.
Simple Strategies
Enhancing your home’s security doesn’t necessarily have to involve spending lots of money. Here are a few quick, easy, and cheap strategies that you can use to reduce the chances of an intruder entering your home.
Use a Security System Sticker
Saving up for a state-of-the-art security system? It’s a smart investment, but while you’re trying to figure out how to include it in your budget, your home’s defenses are lacking. Even before you officially install a security system, you can put a security system decal on your window or a sign in your yard to deter would-be burglars. Keep in mind this isn’t a substitute for the real deal. If a thief decides to call your bluff, they’ll likely succeed in their burglary efforts.
Similarly, you can put up a “Beware of Dog” sign on your fence to make intruders think twice about invading your space. A cautious burglar will likely keep an eye and ear out for the presence of an actual dog, so, again, this isn’t a foolproof measure.
Keep Your Yard Clean
Don’t let your shrubs grow to such an extent that they obstruct your view of your yard. Not only can overgrown greenery give burglars a place to hide, it’ll also give the impression your home is unoccupied. If you notice any spaces that are hard to see from your windows, you might want to position an exterior light to shine on those areas of the yard at night.
Don’t Tell People When You’re Leaving…
When you leave town for a period of time, don’t spread the word too much. You don’t want that information to reach the ears of someone with bad intentions. Of course, there’s one big exception to this rule.
Except Your Trusted Neighbors
If there are people in the neighborhood you trust, ask them to keep an eye on your home when you’re away. Your neighbors might ask you to return the favor someday. Think of this as a joint defense against invaders.
Investing in Security
All of the aforementioned tips are ways to enhance your security without spending much money. However, if you’re really looking for serious upgrades to your home’s defense system, you should consider investing in the following security measures.
Use a Home Security System
A sign or sticker is great, but nothing beats the real deal. There’s no shortage of security systems on the market. From motion sensors to exterior cameras, these systems have lots of bells and whistles for you to consider. Take your time with this decision. Some systems can be quite expensive, and you’ll want to make sure you install one that works best for your home’s setup.
Fix Up Doors and Windows
If any your doors or their frames have visible damage, you’ll want to have them repaired as soon as possible. Weak door structures are easy targets for burglars. The same can be said of old windows. Have new windows installed whenever necessary and ensure they have reliable locks.
Replace or Rekey Locks
A residential locksmith can be your most valuable resource when it comes to securing your home. Consider asking a professional to either rekey or replace your locks. What’s the difference?
Rekeying is when a locksmith takes an existing lock cylinder and reconfigures the internal pins. Once the job is done, existing keys will no longer work on the lock. Rekeying is a quick and cheap solution.
Replacing a lock, on the other hand, involves installing an entirely new cylinder. The process takes a little longer and will come with a higher price tag than rekeying, but it can result in increased security – especially if the old lock was old or damaged.
Install Deadbolts
In addition to having locks replaced or rekeyed, you can also ask a locksmith to install deadbolt locks on your main doors. This is one of the most effective steps you can take to enhancing your security. A state-of-the-art alarm system can alert the authorities to a burglary in process, but deadbolts will immediately halt the attempts of most thieves.
Keep Valuables in a Safe
If a burglar manages to somehow make it through all of your other defenses, there’s still one final way to protect your most valuable possessions. Keep your most treasured items in a secured safe. Not only can a safe deter burglars, it can also protect your stuff from emergencies such as fires.
Whether you decide to implement all of these tools or just a few of them, you’ll feel more confident in your home’s defenses against thieves.