7 Ways to Prevent Home Break-ins
January 2, 2012
Safety and security are among some of the most important parts of your daily life. To help prevent intrusionsinto that sense of security, here are some of home safety tips to consider. They will keep burglars out and make you feel more secure at night.
- Kickproof your doors. One of the most common methods for burglars to get into your home is to kick in the doors. In most cases, unless you have an extremely hollow door, the door itself is usually not the problem. Irregardless of the material of your exterior door, whether steel, wood, or fiberglass, nothing can keep a burglar from kicking in the door if the door jamb is easy to split. In most cases, the door jamb will split near the lock's strike plate. One method that can be used to strengthen your door is to use a 1-inch-long deadbolt lock and a reinforced metal box strike. Make sure to use 3-inch screws to mount them so that they lodge in the framing beyond the door jamb itself. Also, don't forget about the door that leads into your house from the garage. That's a common point of entry for burglars because it's often overlooked in lieu of the garage door being closed and/or locked.
- Choose the right locks. Chose high-security locks that can resist drilling and picking to strengthen your door lock. Get a reinforced strike plate to ensure the stability of your lock. Always use a pull-apart key chain so that your home keys stay with you when your car is ever valet-parked or serviced.
- Secure glass areas. Security window film can typically withstand blows of up to 400 kicks. These should always be installed by a professional to ensure accuracy. You can also further secure your window locks by inserting removable eyebolts in holes drilled into the sash where they overlap. In all windows, check that added barriers won't violate fire safety codes, PERSONAL SAFETY or manufacturer warranties.
- Keep it bright. Burglars HATE light!! The more light you can provide to cover entry ways, the better. Illuminate all areas surrounding doors, windows and blind spots. Install lights high up on exterior walls so that they aren't easy to disable. Avoid solar-powered lights. Although they are energy efficient, they often don't provide enough light for security purposes. Instead, choose easy-to-install low-voltage light systems or professionally installed 120-volt lights. These can be connected to motion detectors and whole-house security systems. You can also use compact fluorescent lights made for outdoor use which can save energy and outlast regular bulbs. However, they can take longer to reach full brightness, especially in cold weather, and they don't all work with motion-detected fixtures, so make sure to check the packaging at the time of purchase.
- Landscape wisely. Be mindful that though tall foundation plants or high fences offer a degree of privacy, they can also provide cover for criminals.Make sure to trim tree branches that could provide access to your windows, skylights or roof. Putting gravel beds around the house can make it easier to hear anyone lurking outside your home. Underneath your first-floor windows, plant heavy bushes or plants like roses or other thorny bushes that aren't easy to maneuver around. This makes it harder for burglars to access your windows.
- Talk to your neighbors. The National Crime Prevention Council has great tips for putting together a Neighborhood Watch group. Often, you can find resources from your local police precinct, who often have officers assigned to assist with these groups. Try putting together a neighborhood watch program, starting first with just your street. later, if you want or need to expand, it becomes much easier. It doesn't cost any money to start, but you may have to donate a night or two a week to keeping an eye out in your area. Also, find neighbors who you can trust to pick up your mail and newspapers when you're away for a few days or on vacation. This way your mail doesn't pile up which is a dead giveaway to burglars that nobody is home and lowers their risk of getting caught.
- Add an alarm. There are lots of alarm monitoring systems available. Most central-monitoring systems offer online access that you can access right from your mobile phone or will call your mobile phone if they can't reach you on your landline. If you're switching to an Internet-based phone service, then make sure it's compatible with your alarm system. You also can install radio-based alarm systems that use dedicated UHF frequencies that can be used as a backup or as a standalone solution that eliminates the need for landlines. Lastly, put a sign for your alarm system on your lawn in an area that is easily visible. This may help keep burglars away by letting them know you have an alarm system rather than to have to use your alarm system if they break in unaware that a system is in place. Most burglars prefer an easy target and will avoid the risk of breaking into a house with a known alarm system and choose one that doesn't have an alarm system in place.
Posted by Leon S.. Posted In : Burglaries
