There are many ways to keep your family and home safe. In this article, we’ll share a few budget-friendly ways to protect your home from would-be burglars and intruders.
Lock Your Doors
This should seem fairly straightforward however some data shows that nearly 30% of burglaries occur with thieves entering through an unlocked door or window. Another scary figure is that most burglaries happen in less than 10 minutes. While we might envision crafty thieves putting together an elaborate heist to steal our most treasured possessions, many times that simply isn’t the case.
Oftentimes, it’s simply a matter of a thief taking advantage of a homeowner during a vulnerable moment. As in, the crook is walking by home and spots an open doorway or notices a few valuables positioned near an open window and – BANG – he’s in and out with a few expensive items in just a matter of seconds. No plan. No elaborate heist. Just a bad guy taking advantage of some unsuspecting person, and he’s gone before they ever notice what happened.
Monitor Entry Points
Similar to your doors, it’s important to monitor and lock all entry points. This would include windows, patio entrances or sliding doors, basement doors, and garage doors that are connected to the house or have hidden entrances to the main part of the home.
Have you ever opened a window to let in some fresh air and then later left the house in a rush, accidentally leaving the window open? It’s an honest and innocent mistake, however, it’s something that the wrong person can exploit to commit a crime. Make a habit of checking windows and entry points to be certain everything is locked and secured before leaving.
Keep Keys and Passwords Safe
Before automated locking systems, it was quite common for families to keep a spare key hidden outside the home just in case a personal key was lost or stolen and you needed a way to get inside. Some people still maintain this practice.
Whether we’re talking about keeping a physical key hidden outside or sharing a password with a friend in case of an emergency, it’s important to limit the number of people who know this information. Make sure the whereabouts of the hidden key or password to the automated lock don’t become public knowledge. If your children know this valuable information then you’ll also want to make sure that they are aware of the importance of keeping these details secret.
Upgrade Safety Measures
If you decide that you want to invest in a home security alarm then you’ll want to spend some time researching the best options for your family and home. Like anything, you can keep it pretty simple and budget-friendly or go all out with a completely state-of-the-art alarm system. It’s up to you to determine your family’s needs.
Don’t Advertise Valuables
One final thing you might want to remember, especially with the holiday season approaching is to avoid broadcasting valuables inside the home. In other words, if you get some fancy new gifts, especially ones that might come in big flashy boxes, don’t let everyone in town know. Instead of putting out recognizable boxes for trash pickup, break them down so that they aren’t as noticeable. This way if any dubious characters are roaming around, they won’t be tempted to break in and steal your shiny new gifts.
