In the last year that Crime Statistics were put out by the Bureau of Justice (2004)
--77% of all crimes were against property
—On average, burglars broke into about 17% of all homes that were broken into.
85 percent of the time, the burglar got into the house or other building.
Ask any expert in the field, and they'll say that 90% of all break-ins can be stopped. So, if it's likely to happen to you and you can stop it from happening, what do you have to do to stop the burglars? I am so glad you asked.
When it comes to home security, sometimes the best plan is one that you make yourself. This is called a "do it yourself" home security plan.
Here are some things you can do to protect your home that will definitely discourage or even stop an intruder from coming in. It's not a complete list, but if you do what it says, it will go a long way toward making your home safer.
Take a hard look at the outside of your house.
Is your house bright enough? Are there places to hide near windows and doors? If you can see a possible weakness in the way your house looks, you can be sure that a professional burglar can take advantage of it. Remember that light is the enemy of thieves and darkness is their friend.
What could stop a thief from getting into your house?
Simple home security measures, like locks on doors (deadbolts are best) and windows, bars, and grates that can be seen from the outside, will not only keep people out but also slow them down if they try to get in. The longer it takes to break into a house, the more likely a thief is to give up. The thief's worst enemy is time.
If someone gets in, how loud can you make it?
Noise is also a burglar's enemy. Many home security alarms are set off when doors or windows are opened or when someone moves. Real or recorded, the sound of a dog barking is very effective and will scare most burglars away.
Lights, noise, and time are the three things an intruder fears the most. If you use these tips to make your house safer, you may be able to stop a lot of break-ins from happening. But there are also some other things that can help.
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Move valuable things out of sight.
Don't risk tempting someone. Diversion Safes could be used to store small valuables.
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Start a neighbourhood watch or join one.
Strangers stand out in a neighbourhood, and they should be reported to the police right away.
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Make it look like someone is home when you are away.
Burglars are much less likely to break into a house that looks like someone is living there.
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Close and lock all the doors and windows. Even if you're only gone for a short while. During the summer, it's easy to want to leave doors or windows open. Don't cave in to the urge. So many garage doors were only opened a foot or two to let the heat out, which was just enough for a thief to get in.
As a public service, many police departments will tell you how to make your home safer. Call to find out if there's space in your area.
You can make your home less likely to be broken into by doing a few simple things. Start by figuring out how to make your home brighter and safer, and how to make a lot of noise if someone breaks in. The enemy of a professional thief is light, time, and noise.
