When it comes to home security, your family, and your possessions, you don’t want to skip any steps. You want to not only know that you’ve done everything you can to keep your house safe, but that you, and those who spend time inside, feel secure. You want to have confidence knowing that you’ve taken all the necessary precautions to ensure that no harm will come to you or your loved ones.
The following will explore several methods of improving the security of your home. Of course, every house is different, and every township has its particular risks that you might want to focus on. If you feel unsafe, reach out to a professional security team that can help determine extra steps you can take. And if you feel threatened for any reason or believe that you have a higher than usual reason to fear for your safety, always contact law enforcement in your area.
Have Outdoor Lights On
This might seem like a bit of an odd one to start with, but having outdoor lights can reduce the risk of crimes or vandalism occurring on your property. It is far riskier for someone to consider breaking into a place where anyone driving or walking by could see what they were doing. One study found that having outdoor lighting cut crime by 39%. That’s a big difference.
Have Surveillance Equipment Visible
People are way less likely to commit crimes if they know they’re on camera. Having visible surveillance equipment can convince someone to leave your home alone. Beyond this, camera footage can be used by the police if something does happen on your property. This can make it more likely that someone gets caught by the authorities and cannot repeat their crime somewhere else.
Leave A Car In The Parking Lot
Having a car in the driveway or parking lot can act as a significant deterrent to criminal activity. When interviewed about how they chose the homes they broke into, and what deterred them, almost every single burglar said they wouldn’t break into a house with a car in the driveway. This was the most significant indicator that someone was home and so it wasn’t worth the risk.
Get A Dog
Getting a dog is a big choice to make because having a dog is a lot of work. It requires time, money, and loving attention to care properly for a dog. This being said, even small dogs that are not “guard breeds” deter home invasions. No one wants to risk that they’ll be bitten by the dog barking on the other side of the door. They’ll pick another home to mess with.
Get To Know Your Neighbors
If you live in an area where neighbors can see what is going on in your front or back yard, take the time to introduce yourself and be friendly towards them. This doesn’t seem like it would make a big difference, but burglars have cited neighbors as a big problem in breaking and entering. If you’re close enough with your next-door neighbors that they would speak to someone who was knocking on your door or looking in your windows (Hey, you’re looking for Jim? He’s not here—want me to tell him you stopped by?), you are far less likely to have a home invasion. Burglars don’t want to risk that the neighbors will notice something.
Keep Shrubbery Trimmed
This is another less than obvious one, but many burglars cite tall trees and bushes around a home as ideal for home invasion. This is because people from the road and other properties nearby won’t be able to see into your windows or notice if someone is snooping around where they shouldn’t be. You also need to be careful with fencing for the same reason. Sometimes fencing can make it easier for people to go unnoticed on your property.
With the above tips kept in mind, you’re well on your way to having a more secure property. As with any safety advice online, one of the best things you can do is listen to your instincts. If you don’t feel safe or secure for any reason, reach out to the authorities. Listen to your gut—even though we no longer live as we used to, humans have evolved over thousands of years to sense when they’re in physical danger. Never ignore feelings of being watched or followed.
