Here are some tips to help you ensure your Home doesn't become a target for a break in.
- Outdoor Motion Lights: Motion-detecting floodlights are an excellent deterrent to thieves, because they don’t want to be seen. If you add these, make sure they’re installed near entryways, and that they aren’t easily reached from the ground. And using timers for interior lights is a good way to give the appearance that your home is occupied.
- Landscaping. Thick shrubs and bushes around your porch or yard can give thieves a good place to hide. Keep them well-trimmed and ensure that problematic areas can be illuminated with your outdoor lighting.
- Make sure your home is locked. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many people leave windows or doors unlocked. Make sure that sliding doors and windows have extra security, such as a track lock or dowel in the track.
- Don’t Hide a key outside. If you need to provide access to your home while you’re away, leave your key with a trusted neighbor or friend, not under the doormat.
- Common Sense. If you’re going away on vacation, cancel your newspaper and other deliveries. Ask a neighbor to keep watch, and park a car out front. Don’t post publicly on social media or leave a message on your answering machine or voicemail indicating that you’ll be away for an extended period.