Home Burglary

Published by julia | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate

Now that many people have taken advantage of our buyers market and settled into their dream home, it’s time to start thinking about the security of your home. For many homeowners, security is an afterthought but this year one out of every six homes will be burglarized and burglars only need about sixty seconds to break into a home, that’s according to crime reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In fact, every 15.4 seconds a home is targeted.

A burglary is a non-confrontational property crime that occurs when no one is in the home. But anyone who has ever dealt with this type of crime knows that it can leave a family feeling vulnerable and violated.

The statistics are staggering, but there are ways to prevent such crime from happening to you and your family. Remember that most homes are targeted, so be sure that you make your home less appealing to burglars by following these tips.

1.    Keep all doors and windows locked.  It’s important to use a quality deadbolt locks on your doors and to use an additional blocking device on sliding glass doors. Windows are often much less attended to than doors, so check them throughout your home routinely.These are items can be purchased at your local home improvement store.

2.    Install drapes or blinds on all lower level windows and doors, including the garage. Most burglaries actually occur during the middle of the day, so keeping your possessions and cars hidden from intruders is important.

3.    Install flood lights or censor lights on the exterior of the home and keep lights on inside the home as well. Burglars are far less likely to enter a lit residence.

4.    Keep a well-maintained lawn. This can emphasize that you pay close attention to your home, whereas an overgrown lawn can suggest vacancy to a possible burglar.

5.    When traveling, make sure you have someone checking on your house, collecting your mail and newspapers; a pile of papers on the driveway is a red flag that your family is away.

6.    Install an alarm system. Make sure all household members are trained properly in working the alarm and use it daily; a security system is useless if it isn’t used or is used improperly. Also, post stickers on the exterior of the home indicating your alarm service and that will often scare off possible intruders.

Of course no method is completely effective against burglaries, but these simple suggestions can significantly reduce your chances of being targeted and becoming a victim.