Even with burglaries declining nationwide each year, you should still be diligent about safeguarding your assets. Learn how to protect your home from burglary and consider 14 easy-to-implement strategies.
1. Keep Your Absence Private
While you may want to share your upcoming travels on social media, it’s ideal to wait until you’re back in the neighborhood to post about your trip. Never publish specific dates you’ll be away or post updates while you’re absent.
One study from Credit Sesame shows that nearly 80% of burglars monitor social media to discover their target properties. [1] If a burglar discovers when you’ll be gone, they may see your absence as an opportunity to break in and take what they want.
Furthermore, you can keep your absence private by not leaving a voicemail saying you’re unavailable and the date you’ll be back.
2. Don’t Leave Spare Keys Out
If you can avoid it, you should never leave a spare key out and accessible for them. Instead, leave a spare key with a neighbor or friend. This way, you can ensure that a trusted person can access your property while you’re away.
If you must leave a spare key so someone can check on your property and you don’t have the opportunity to present it to a trusted individual in person, follow best practices.
ADT offers a few suggestions, like leaving the key in a concealed key hider or magnetic key holder near the front door and telling a trusted individual how to access it. Avoid leaving it in more conspicuous places, like in your mailbox or under the doormat. [2]
3. Make Your Home Look Occupied
Make it look like someone’s home by leaving the TV or radio on when you go on short errands. You can also set the lamps or lights in your home on automatic timers. This way, they’ll turn on and off periodically, signaling to a burglar that someone may be home when they’re trying to enter.
4. Lock All Outside Doors and Windows
Some people may grow accustomed to leaving their doors and windows unlocked. They might have lived in the same neighborhood for years without issues, causing them to settle into a trustworthy nature.
However, you should always lock all outside doors and windows when not in use. Considering that 34% of burglars enter through the front door and 23% enter through a first-floor window [3] , it’s best to limit their access in any way possible.
The average burglar spends no more than 60 seconds attempting to break in. [4] If all it takes is a locked door or window to slow their progress, you may be able to curb an attempt altogether.
Don't Count Top Floors Out as Entry Points
Because 2% of burglars enter through a second-story window, it’s important to lock all entry points in your home, even if they seem out of reach.
5. Maintain Your Yard
Perform regular maintenance or hire a landscaping company to upkeep your yard consistently. A well-maintained yard can suggest to burglars that someone attends to and monitors the property regularly, deterring a break-in attempt.
Furthermore, yard maintenance can remove hiding spots for lurking burglars. Trim bushes and shrubbery throughout your yard and close to major entry points so that burglars don’t have easy spaces to conceal themselves if they try to encroach on your property.
6. Arrange for Mail-Hold Services
If you plan on being away from your home for an extended period, don’t allow your mail to accumulate. An overflowing mailbox or an accumulated pile of newspapers in your driveway may alert a burglar that no one’s home.
Visit the USPS’s website to arrange for mail-hold services. This service can hold your mail at a local USPS facility for up to 30 days. The website also offers options to hold your mail for a longer period or reroute your mail to a different location.
7. Store Valuables in a Secured Spot
Keep your valuables, such as electronics, important documents, jewelry, and cash, in a secure, fireproof safe. If you use them regularly and don’t want to keep them in a safe, keep them in an inconspicuous spot so they’re not visible from a window.
Develop a habit of hiding items as they enter your home. Otherwise, leaving expensive items in plain sight can tempt thieves.
Consider storing valuable items elsewhere than the master bedroom, as burglars often target this room first. [5] Instead, keep them in a smaller guest room or a linen closet.
8. Don’t Leave Certain Belongings Outside
If you recently got a new TV, printer, or another fancy electronic device, break down the box it came in and fit it in your recycle or trash bins. Don’t leave the boxes on your curb in their full form, as the size of the boxes and the words and images on them can alert burglars that your home contains new items worth stealing.
Furthermore, you can avoid leaving other items in plain reach of burglars, such as bicycles, lawn equipment, and sports equipment. You should also remove tools, ladders, benches, and other equipment a burglar can use to break into your home. Keep these items in a locked storage shed or garage.
9. Avoid Routine Schedules
If you have a predictable routine, burglars can study it and determine when you likely won’t be home. Deter burglars by varying your routine as much as possible. Try to leave and return home at different times, especially if you have the flexibility to take your lunch break at home.
Most burglars attempt to enter their target homes between 10 AM and 3 PM, [6] so you may want to try to be home during these times on some days to throw off unsuspecting burglars.
10. Install a Security System
Install a security system that includes motion detectors and window and door alarms. Ideally, the right system will set off loud alarms and flicker bright lights when an unknown individual attempts to enter a property. These stimuli can cause a burglar to abandon their break-in and flee the scene, keeping your family and property safe.
Install security cameras at various points throughout your property, such as at the front door, garage door, and back entrance, so you can see what’s going on at all times. Consider home security cameras and alarm systems you can manage with your smartphone, as your phone can let you see the footage and control the alarms at all times.
Should I Set Up a Security System Myself?
You can set up a DIY home security system, but it may be in your best interest to have a company come out and set one up for you. Review different options for security systems to find one that has your preferred features and falls within your budget.
11. Install Motion-Sensor Lighting
Consider setting up motion-sensor lighting on your property’s outskirts. If a burglar approaches your property and causes bright lights to shine on them just by walking, they may forgo their burglary attempt without setting off any alarms.
Motion detectors that aren’t connected to a home alarm system may be cheaper and more accessible for some homeowners and landlords, and they can still effectively deter burglars from engaging in their exploits.
12. Upgrade Your Exterior Locks
Even if you have standard locks on your doors, experienced burglars may be able to pick them or use brute force to break through them. Invest in high-quality locks for all your exterior doors to stop burglars from gaining access. Consider getting deadbolt locks, which provide enhanced security compared to standard locks.
You may also update your door frames to reinforced ones to prevent forced entry. Furthermore, smart locks allow for digital locking and unlocking, meaning an individual can’t enter without granted access.
Securing Sliding Glass Doors
Place a security bar on the door track of every sliding glass door in your home. This security measure prevents an individual from forcing the door open, even if they break the lock.
13. Ask Your Neighbors for Help
Communicate with your neighbors about watching for and reporting unusual activity. Form a neighborhood watch group or participate in an existing one to enhance its effectiveness.
If you go away on vacation, tell a trusted neighbor who can check in on your property. They may bring in your mail, park their car in your driveway, or perform other small tasks to make it appear as if someone is home. A burglar may be less likely to target a property if they think someone is regularly monitoring it.
14. Park in Plain View
Some people may think it makes sense to park their vehicles in their garages to prevent car break-ins. However, parking right in the driveway may deter burglars because a parked car indicates that someone is home. If you park one or more of your vehicles in the driveway, lock the vehicle doors, and don’t leave any valuable possessions in the seats or on the vehicle floor.
Summary
Protecting your home from burglary is an important step in ensuring your family’s well-being and the safety of your property. By implementing a combination of security measures, daily habits, and strategic upgrades, you can drastically reduce the risk of a break-in.
If you’re currently renting an apartment or home, check the lease agreement to learn what security measures the landlord has implemented and whether they’ll cover any expenses if you wish to implement certain measures yourself.
