How to Burglar-Proof Your House
Securing your home is very important, especially when no one’s home most of the time or you’re always going away on trips. Here are some easy and cheap ways to burglar-proof your house.
Doors and Windows
Make sure that you’ve locked your doors and windows before leaving the house. Doors should properly fit the door frame.
If your door doesn’t fit its frame correctly, try to put weather stripping on it.
Use deadbolts on your front, back and kitchen doors.
For sliding doors, place a broom handle or stick on the inside track .
Have a double latch protection for all your windows.
Put wind chimes or other things that create noise above your door. Position this in such a way that when you open the door, it hits the chimes and makes noise. This way, you’ll be alerted every time someone comes in the house. (Want to create your own wind chime, learn how to make a wind chime suncatcher)
Lights and Other Equipment
Keep a couple of lights on at night. There should be light on your front and back door. Having lights on your side yard is also a good idea.
Keep the curtains down.Don’t expose what’s inside your home, especially at night.
Get yourself a timer for devices like your radio and television. Set them up so that they turn on and off during specific times of the day that you’re not home. This will make it look like somebody’s home.
Keep ladders and other materials that can be used as steps to your second floor out of sight. Put them away in your garage or shed. Don’t make it easy for burglars to get inside your home by placing these items on areas where people can easily access them.
While having a home safe box is good, getting a safe box in a bank is a better idea. Even if burglars are able to get in your home, they won’t be able to get your valuables because these things are safely tucked away in a bank.
Get a security alarm installed. Depending on how much money you’d like to spend on burglar-proofing your home, there are numerous products on the market that you can choose from. (Tips on how to choose a home security system)
Get Help
Come up with a neighborhood crime watch. Ask your neighbors to help each other out in protecting their homes. Look out for strangers that may lurk on your neighborhood during the day and even at night.
Inform your trusted neighbor and friend when you’ll be gone so that they’ll be able to keep a close watch on your home
Don’t keep spare keys in your mailbox, under your front door mats or in planters. Burglars expect to find your keys in these places. Let a friend keep your spare keys. Also, avoid labeling your keys with your name or address. You’ll be leading strangers to your home when you lost your keys.
Have a dog. Dogs get agitated when they see strangers near your home. Burglars don’t like to be caught by a noisy dog so they steer away from houses that have dogs.
There are many ways to burglar-proof your house. You don’t need to buy those expensive security systems to keep your home safe. Involve the whole neighborhood. Get things done to protect everyone. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be sleeping soundly at night.