Burglary statistics are everywhere. You find them on social media and in blog posts. Police agencies discuss them in their public service announcements. You even hear them on the news. If you didn’t know any better, you would think that burglary is a national epidemic that affects nearly every American household.
Yes, burglary is a very real problem. According to Vivint, statistics suggest that one out of every 50 homes nationwide was burglarized in 2017. That works out to just about 2% – a surprising number given the sheer volume of homes in America. Nonetheless, there is no need to live in constant fear.
Burglary is a crime that can be addressed fairly effectively just by employing some proven strategies around your property. A few changes here and there can make a real difference. Add some security equipment and you create an even safer environment for you and your family.
A Safer Home is More Enjoyable
Do not let burglary statistics prevent you from enjoying your home. After all, your home is supposed to be your castle. It is supposed to be a place for you and your family to relax, enjoy one another’s company, and make memories together; a place of safety and refuge.
Is your home as safe as it can be? Have you taken reasonable steps to prevent burglary and other property crimes? If not, remember that a safer home is a more enjoyable home. To that end, the remainder of this post offers some suggestions of things you can do to make your home more safe.
Preventing Property Crimes
The best way to make your home more safe is to take steps to prevent property crimes. It all starts by evaluating the property. An evaluation should consider all of the strengths and weaknesses you can identify. Utilize those strengths and weaknesses to create a strategic plan for improving your home’s safety.
You can begin by looking at points of entry. Burglars prefer to get in and out as fast as possible, so they tend to look for entry points on the first floor. That means front and rear doors, first-floor windows, and basement entryways (where applicable). Entry points should be secured with strong, heavy-duty locks. That means deadbolts on the doors and specially designed security locks on the windows.
Above and beyond entry points, consider the following:
- Security Equipment – Home security equipment goes a long way toward preventing burglaries. Burglars actually look for it when targeting homes. Think about things like security cameras, 24/7 monitoring, etc.
- Street View – Burglars love homes with views obscured from the street. If your house cannot be easily seen by people walking and driving by, do what you can to open things up.
- The Neighborhood – Another great way to improve your safety at home is to get to know your neighbors. Strong neighborhoods are neighborhoods in which people watch out for each other and their properties. Consider organizing a neighborhood watch, whether formal or informal.
Safety While You’re Away
Making your home more safe is key to enjoying your property. But do not concentrate solely on safety pertaining to your daily routine. Also create a plan for preparing your home before you go out of town.
Before you leave, talk with your neighbors and ask them to keep an eye on things. Either stop mail delivery or have your neighbors pick up your mail. Do the same for your trash service and any other services you might use on a daily or weekly basis.
Walk around the exterior of your property and look for any signs that might indicate you are gone. Put the children’s toys and your lawn tools away in the garage and close the door. Make sure all of your windows are buttoned up tightly. If you will be leaving cars in the driveway, ask one of your neighbors to periodically move them around. Inside, draw the shades and program lights to go on and off.
There’s no need to live in fear of burglary. If you are willing to adopt a safety mindset, you can take a lot of little steps that will make your home both safer and more enjoyable.
