Most home burglaries are premeditated Thieves want to keep their time inside of homes to a minimum and look for easily-accessible targets. There isn’t one thing you can do to protect your home 100% of the time, but there are some simple steps that will decrease the odds of a break-in.
Before we get to those suggestions, read these facts:
- In two-person family homes, most robberies occur during the day.
- On average, thieves spend one minute gaining entry and less than five minutes inside a home.
- The ground floor is the most common place for burglaries.
- The side door, rear door, and garage door are the most common areas for entry.
Using these facts, walk around your home and put yourself in the shoes of a burglar. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Are your windows locked?
- Are deadbolts installed on exterior doors? Are they solid-core so they can’t be kicked in?
- When did you last change the keypad code to your garage door?
- Does your landscaping allow a burglar to conceal himself while attempting to open a door or window?
- Is your home well lit? Are lights motion-sensor controlled? Are lights high enough so that burglars can’t disable the lights?
- Is your identity displayed anywhere outside your house?
- Are your possessions secure, documented, and out of sight?
By following this process, you can make your home less attractive to criminals and improve your peace of mind.