According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a home is burglarized every 15 seconds. The average loss to the homeowner is around $2,000, which means many homeowners pay for their losses out-of-pocket if they have a high deductible on their homeowners’ insurance. If you want to protect your home, your family and avoid becoming a statistic, there are things you can do to secure your home that will not cost you an arm and a leg.
Don’t Show Off
Take a look around your neighborhood after the holidays. You’ll often see empty boxes put out on the curb with the trash from holiday gifts. Boxes from big-ticket items like video game systems, computers, flat-screen televisions or other home electronics. Seeing those boxes on the street alerts potential burglars what new toys you and your neighbors may have. Instead of placing those boxes on the curb, break them down and place in your trash receptacle or drive them to your local recycling center to dispose of them.
Another way to avoid showing off what you have in your home is by keeping valuable items away from windows or patio doors where anyone can walk by or look in. Many burglars choose their targets by simply window-shopping. You can prevent potential burglars from looking in your windows by keeping drapes or shades drawn, especially when you aren’t home.
Don’t Give Burglars a Place to Hide
You can make your home less attractive to burglars by making sure your doors, windows and porches are fully visible from the road. Shrubs near your home make it easy for a burglar to hide and a break-in to go unnoticed by neighbors or people passing by. Make sure to keep your shrubs and trees trimmed to cut down on possible hiding places for intruders.
Keep Home Well Lit
If you are away from home often, it is a good idea to use timers to turn your lights on during various times of the day to give the appearance that someone is at home. Burglars are less likely to target a home when it appears someone is there. Installing motion detector lights around the exterior of your home can also act as a deterrent for potential burglars. If you are home, these lights can alert you that someone is lurking outside.
Secure Your Home with Small Investment
One of the best ways to deter burglars and secure your home is by having SafeTouch Smart Home products installed, in addition to your standard security system. Your home will be professionally monitored and you will receive instant alerts on your smart phone. Stay in the know about all things happening in and around your home, even when you’re away.
Learn more about how you can secure your home by contacting the experts at SafeTouch Security today.