When you think of securing your home for your family’s safety, your main priority is to keep intruders from gaining access to the inside of your home. But to completely burglar-proof your home, you need to protect not only inside your home, but also your backyard from unauthorized access to keep you, your family, and your belongings safe. Your backyard can be very attractive to would-be thieves and give them access to commonly stolen items, such as bikes, patio furniture and barbecue equipment.
Here are some tips on how to burglar-proof your home’s backyard to keep your home more secure for your family.
Fences Make Great Neighbors
You’ve probably heard the saying that fences make great neighbors, but more importantly, they keep people out of your yard. A good strong fence can act as a deterrent for would-be thieves. You should choose a fence that is tall enough to discourage anyone from trying to climb it. A picket fence with sharp points or a smooth vinyl fence make climbing over it very difficult. When choosing a fence and accessories, don’t forget the value of having a good locking mechanism that includes a self-closing lock or latch. It is also important to choose a mechanism that prevents room for a hand to slip in from the outside.
Motion Sensor Lighting
Installing motion sensor lighting is an easy and inexpensive way to increase security in your backyard. This type of lighting can be programmed to turn lights on for a set number of seconds on its preset timer. It then shuts off automatically if it no longer detects motion. For the best results and for an element of surprise motion sensor lighting should be installed at least six to 10 feet above the ground. To burglar proof your home, position your sensor lights to cover pathways and gates to your backyard. For added security, direct additional sensor lights to heavily foliaged areas, patios, decks, sheds and access doors.
Secure Your Outside Belongings
While you might not be able to secure everything in your yard, you can make it more difficult for burglars steal outside items or even worse, gain access to inside your home. If you store ladders in your backyard, store them in a locked shed or chain and lock them up so that they cannot be used to access your home’s second-story windows. After a day of working in your yard, make sure to put away your tools. Pry bars, hammers, screwdrivers and other types of tools can be used to break into your home. For large items, like grills or patio furniture, chains and cables can be used to secure them or make it difficult to be removed from your yard.
Discouraging Burglars with an Alarm System
A burglar is more likely to avoid your home if they realize that your home is protected by a security system, especially when cameras are visible around your home. But don’t stop at just cameras, make sure you have signs and window stickers that are prominently displayed. These signs should boldly announce that your home is protected by a SafeTouch Security system.
While your backyard might be more vulnerable than your home, burglars may be more wary of entering your yard if you have taken precautions to protect it. Learn more about how to burglar-proof your home from the experts at SafeTouch.