One of the most terrifying things that anyone can imagine is being robbed in their own home. This is because many thieves prefer to enter empty homes, where they know they can find valuables in the shortest amount of time with no one standing in their way. Installing an alarm is not always sufficient, and many security measures are already well known, so it is critical to implement new ones to improve home security.
Ask people you trust to keep an eye on your home
You can tell at a glance when a house is empty, either because the yard is unkempt or because the mailbox is full. In this case, the best thing to do is to have people you trust to take a look around your home, pick up the newspaper, or remove any mail that is deposited at the entrance of your home.
These people can be your neighbors, but ideally, it should be someone you trust enough to put the protection of your home in their hands when you are away. And to further increase security, avoid talking to strangers about your extended absences.
Placing deterrent signs at the entrance
A deterrent sign at the entrance, indicating that the house has anti-theft security systems, is a good way to make a burglar think twice about entering your home. This will also help to keep the alarm from going off unnecessarily, lowering the chances of a burglary.
However, because many burglars know how to tell if a sign is fake or not, another safeguard must be implemented. Furthermore, without the authorization of a specialized company, this may be illegal. It is best to consult with an expert before purchasing signs that come with a set of surveillance and security tools.
Never hide keys in flower pots, mailboxes, or under mats.
The first places burglars look for house keys are carpets, mailboxes, and flowerpots — burying them in the latter can lead the intruder to become suspicious and simply break them.
Ideally, you should hide the key in a place that’s difficult for the thief to access, but, at the same time, allows you to access it easily. Sometimes the best hiding places are those in plain sight, such as in the barbeque grill, the birdhouse, or the doghouse. You can also use your imagination to find the best hiding place to make it difficult for strangers to get into your home.
Consider making copies of keys for each family member.
While in the previous point we talked about finding the best hiding place for your keys, sometimes it’s safer to take them with you. And if you have children, consider making copies for each of them. This way, they will be able to access your home more quickly.
If your children are still minors, educate them on the importance of taking care of their key and avoiding sharing it with their partner, delivery person, or maintenance personnel. Security can be even stronger if coordinated as a family.
Keep the second-floor windows closed
According to a group of burglars, many people make the mistake of leaving their windows open, particularly those on second floors or even in the basement. A quick glance tells criminals not only if the house is empty, but also if there are any valuables they can easily steal.
In this case, closing the window may raise suspicions about whether or not the house is actually occupied — and being on the first or second floor will not “reduce the desire” to enter to steal. All they need is a ladder or a pole to climb to gain secure access.
Consider buying a safe
Safes are one of the most classic options for storing money, documents, jewelry, or other valuables. However, it’s necessary that these are approved to ensure that they have all the security systems against theft, fires, and flooding.
In addition to that, you should also consider choosing different types of safes according to your needs; they range from built-in to camouflaged. Ideally, they should be placed somewhere inconspicuous, out of sight of intruders trying to steal from your home.
Safes are one of the most classic options for storing money, documents, jewelry, or other valuables. However, it’s necessary that these are approved to ensure that they have all the security systems against theft, fires, and flooding.
In addition to that, you should also consider choosing different types of safes according to your needs; they range from built-in to camouflaged. Ideally, they should be placed somewhere inconspicuous, out of sight of intruders trying to steal from your home.
Don’t hide valuables in places that are “obvious” to a thief
If a safe is not available, the best thing to do is to hide objects throughout the house. However, there are far too many “obvious” places for burglars to look, and while they may have served their purpose in the past, they are now the first places burglars go to look for jewelry and money.
Nightstands, jewelry boxes, toilet tanks, and lockboxes are among the most common hiding places. On the other hand, they find it difficult to peer into the bottom of a trash can, a heavy safe, or the back of a freezer.
Dare to break your daily routine
While following a routine is necessary for a balanced life, many times, assailants tend to look closely at the movements of their victims to plan their assaults. In this case, it is best to be able to detect any strange signs in your environment, whether it’s a change or the presence of a suspicious person in your neighborhood, in order to modify your daily activities.
Not doing the same things every day can create confusion for the thief, making him or her discouraged from trying to rob an unpredictable person. People of fixed habits are usually easy targets for anyone planning a home robbery since only a few days of observation are enough to carry out their evil plans.
What security measures do you take to protect your home in your absence? How do you educate your family to increase home protection and feel safe at home?
Pretend that other people are in your home
Since many burglars prefer to steal when no one is home, the best thing to do is create an illusion that allows them to flee in fear of being discovered. Simply program your audio equipment to transmit sounds of footsteps, voices, or even white noise to disturb the burglar.
Another way to fool potential intruders is to “say goodbye” when leaving the house, even if there is no one else in the house. In this case, you can say “goodbye” before closing the door. This is one of the simplest yet effective tricks. This can lead them to discard the idea of entering the house to avoid problems
