The cases of burglaries taking place are far higher than we think: for every 12 seconds that goes by, another home is being robbed according to FBI's reports. However, there are precautions one can take to make sure your do not end up as one of the victims.
The first priority of any thief or burglar is completing the job without getting caught. This is why the least protected homes are the most appealing to them.
An inexperienced burglar might just run in and grab whatever they can and get out. Others are a little more calculating in their approach. They will not really bother to force their way in unless the temptations are worthy of their time.
Their first objective is to get to the house undetected. This is why you won't see many burglaries take place in broad daylight. Well lighted homes can be a great deterrent, especially in normally shadowed corners and such. Any area that could lead to an entry point should be well lit.
Make sure to pay particular attention to areas that are well hidden from the street and other houses. If there are windows in these areas, make sure they are secured with some type of wooden or metal dowels to prevent opening. Again, any lighting that can be provided in these areas is a plus.
Even windows with this extra protection can sometimes be removed from the frames. Here is a simple and affordable way to prevent this from happening.
Start by drilling a hole through the window frame into the wall that holds it. There are spring-loaded mechanisms available that will screw into the frame. These are similar to that found on some screen doors. You can also use a wooden or metal dowel to secure the window in the frame.
Burglars might even resort to cutting the glass or breaking it in order to force their wa into the house if they really want to do so. There are security systems that take note of disturbances in the windows and it will trigger off alarms. A way to stop this is to install grills and iron bars at windows as well.
Another added measure of security is to keep your bushes and shrubs trimmed down to eliminate potential hiding places for intruders. If it is difficult to appear unobtrusive by hiding in the shadows while trying to break in, intruders will try to search for other weak spots.
To decrease their chances of getting caught, an intruder will often carry out his plans when no one is home. This is a good reason to get together with your neighbors and set up some type of neighborhood watch system. You can also take it a step further and have someone stay at your house while your away.
If someone is determined to find a way into your house, they probably will. Taking some of these steps, however, will at least make them think twice.
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