Monday, August 22, 2016

The Dos and Don'ts Of Keeping Your Home Safe

Your home is your castle. While for some fortunate people, that is literally true, for most of us it's a figure of speech. However, it is one that holds true. If you feel that your home is under threat, then you feel threatened to the core. After all, if you can't feel safe and secure in your own house, where can you? It is often said by people who have been burgled that it is the most invasive experience they can imagine.
As we can all agree, the prospect of it happening to us is a genuine nightmare. Many of us will do anything we can to prevent it. There are countless tips available - online, from friends and from law enforcement. Sometimes, the biggest question we have is which ones actually work, and which ones are not worth the paper they're written on.
Do: Purchase Strong Locks For Doors And Windows
Burglars look at the locks on a house, and often there and then decide whether or not to go ahead with an invasion. The idea that there are locks won't turn them off - they are used to picking and bypassing locks. But if they are of good quality, these locks can persuade them not to try.
Don't: Plant Large Hedges And Bushes
While some bushes wouldn't be a bad idea - anything with thorns near potential entry points can be a deterrent - there are drawbacks. A large bush provides a potential concealing place for an experienced burglar. Especially late at night, they can use any shade and structure to hide.
Do: Have A Motion Sensor Light Installed
Darkness is a burglar's friend, and the moment it is fractured by light they become less at ease. When a light flicks on late at night, if you are at home you'll notice it. If you're not, your neighbors might well. Most burglars won't want to wait to find out. Certainly, they won't want to break in when they're all lit up.
Don't: Make Your House A Prize Target
If you have recently bought expensive appliances, dispose of all packaging yourself. Don't leave the cardboard boxes out for the recycling or garbage trucks. If you do that, you're telling burglars "my house contains some trophies for you - go right ahead".
Do: Buy An Alarm
A good burglar alarm will alert people far and wide if you're being burgled. One word of advice, though. If you have a sticker in the window saying the home is "protected by ADT Security", it gives burglars a clue to how they may disable an alarm. A generic sticker saying the house is alarmed is a better idea.


There are other tips you'll hear from speaking to people. Some of them are good, some bad. The key is to remember that there are simple things you can do - and others you should avoid like the plague - to keep your home safe. It's much more likely that you won't be targeted than that you will. But there are always things you can do to tip the balance further.