Be Prepared.
Burglary and home intrusion are things no family ever wants to face. They not only rob you of your possessions, they take away your sense of security and leave you feeling vulnerable and violated. While many think burglaries happen at random, they are usually pre planned events—with burglars scoping out multiple homes and choosing the easiest targets. Fortunately, there are things you can do to make your home less attractive to would be burglars. The ten quick tips below will help you get started.
“Dorcy motion flood lights with motion detection are an excellent choice. Setup is easy, as the lights require no wiring of any kind. They also cut down on costs since they have long battery lives and only run when it is dark and motion is detected.”
Things to consider.
1. Lock and secure all doors and windows.
Make sure to lock all doors and windows in your home, and make it a nightly routine to check the locks before going to bed. If you live in a house or an apartment with a window based air conditioner make sure to use brackets or stops to secure the window from inside. This is something many people forget, and would be burglars know this. Securing brackets come with window AC units but can be purchased at any hardware store if you don’t have them on hand. Otherwise, a window with an AC unit is an unlocked, easy to access entry point, with the unit itself acting as a billboard to attract potential burglars.
2. Keep your house well lit.
Keep your house well lit. Dorcy motion flood lights with motion detection are an excellent choice. Setup is easy, as the lights require no wiring of any kind. They also cut down on costs since they have long battery lives and only run when it is dark and motion is detected.
3. Hang a bell on your door.
This is an affordable and effective solution. A simple, unobtrusive bell acts as an alarm which will be triggered whenever anyone enters your home.
4. Use easy to read and highly visible house numbers.
You certainly hope you will never have to call law enforcement to your home, but in the event that you do, you will want them to come as quickly as possible and have no trouble finding your home. After all, they can’t help you if they can’t find you.
5. Don’t leave your key in an obvious place.
A fake rock in the yard isn’t going to fool anyone, and leaving a key under the doormat is only slightly better than just leaving your doors unlocked. Flower pots, ledges, window sills, etc. are bad choices as well. Your best option is to give your key to a trusted neighbor.
6. Have a family safety plan.
No one likes to talk about a potential home invasion. It’s an uncomfortable topic for adults and can be downright scary for children. But while uncomfortable, there is peace of mind in knowing that you have a plan, and that you and your family know what to do in case of an emergency.
7. Have plenty of lights on hand.
We’ve already discussed keeping the outside of your home well-lit to detour potential burglars. It is also important to have lights available in your home, car, and on your person. Make sure flashlights are located near your home’s exits. This is a useful tip for any type of potential emergency. Make sure everyone in the family knows where the lights are, as well as how to use them. Dorcy’s Failsafe emergency lights are an excellent choice for such situations. These lights can be plugged into any outlet and will flash when the power goes off, making them easy to find. In addition, have working flashlights in all your vehicles and keep key-chain or pocket flashlight on you at all times.
8. Invest in an alarm system to protect your family and your belongings.
Alarm systems are more affordable and more technologically advanced than ever before. Many new systems are wireless and do not require annual contracts or complex installations. There are also many traditional alarm and security services to choose from. Whatever your particular need, if you haven’t looked at alarms systems in a while, it’s certainly worth another look.
9. Consider joining a neighborhood watch program.
According to the National Crime Prevention Council, neighborhood watch programs are one of the most effective ways to reduce crime in a neighborhood. Many towns, suburbs, and neighborhoods already have programs in place. Call your local law enforcement office for more information.
10. Seek out further information.
While the tips above may help reduce your chances of home invasion, there are many more tips and resources available online. A few minutes of surfing and research can help make your home safer for you and your family.