If you’ve ever worried about your home being burglarized, your fears aren’t unfounded. In the United States, a burglary happens about every 15 seconds, according to ProtectYourHome.com. And when burglaries do happen, the perpetrators are arrested only about 13 percent of the time.
Fortunately, it’s possible to make your home more difficult to rob, especially if you educate yourself about what these criminals want.
Burglars Have Goals
No one who takes from a house wants to get caught. They want to get in and out quickly, and they want to make away with items they can convert to cash with little trouble.
Burglars want things like:
- Cash
- Small electronics
- Jewelry
- Guns
Burglars want high-value goods, according to SimpliSafe.com They want things that are small enough to make away with quickly, and things that they can sell for a good amount of cash.
Make it Harder
You probably don’t want to keep your iPad in a safe every time you leave the house, but you can certainly put the rest of these items in a secure area. Safes that attach to the wall or the floor are best as it is much more difficult to move them.
Practice Prevention
A quick drive by will not tell burglars that you keep your valuables in a safe. However, they can tell how prepared you are to protect your home. Safe habits and a few precautions can do a lot to deter robbers.
Secure Your Entrances
You may think you live in a safe neighborhood, but you should still make it a habit of locking your doors and windows when you leave the house. An unlocked door is an invitation.
Install Security Lights
Motion-detecting lights draw attention to your home every time they come on. Burglars hate attention, and will look for a home without security lights if possible. Lights that remain on all the time are less effective for drawing attention, so go for motion-triggered lights.
DIY Security System
Home Wi-Fi networks now make it possible for you to install an effective security system yourself, according to SecurityCompanies.com. You can start small and expand as needed, and self-installation is cheaper than going the professional route.
Make It Look Occupied
When you go away on vacation, make sure a neighbor or a friend grabs your mail and paper. Burglars love to find unoccupied homes. Better yet, get someone to house sit for you.
Avoid Advertising Your Absence
People love to share adventures on networking sites. However, it’s best to save your sharing until you get back home. Burglars keep an evil eye on Facebook for people leaving town, and they may mark your house if you advertise your absence.
Increase Peace of Mind
Consider implementing some of these preventative tips for your home. Now that you understand what burglars want, you can make your home a more difficult target. It doesn’t take much to encourage burglars to pass your house by and to increase your peace of mind, as well.
Image by Elliott Brown pursuant to the terms of his Creative Commons license.
