With Halloween just around the corner, you are probably expecting visits from all the little princesses, superheroes and ghouls that will be scouring the neighborhood in search of treats. Your house is decorated, the pumpkin is carved and you are stocked up with candy just waiting for the first knock on the door. However, you may be forgetting another very important Halloween preparation: making sure your home is safe and secure for your family. Most people are having good-natured fun on Halloween, but there may be some tricksters that are just searching for a different kind of treat: an easy opportunity to burglarize your home. And what better night than Halloween?
Simple Home Security Tips
Burglars will be less likely to target a home that is lit up both inside and out, whether you are home or not. Having the lights on outdoors helps make the path to your door safer for trick-or-treaters, and also deters would be criminals or vandals. Other safety tips to keep in mind include:
-
Keep the bushes or hedges trimmed around your home, particularly if they are near entrances and windows. This will help make your home more visible and reduce the likelihood of burglars or others from being able to hide behind them.
-
Be sure to lock your doors even when you are at home. Look to see who is at the door before opening it. Do not open the door if you do not feel safe. Keep your windows locked when you are not home and only open the ones that are in the room you are in.
-
Install motion detecting lights around your walkway, driveway, patio and all entrances around your home. These can alert you to anyone that may be lurking around these areas and could also scare off potential burglars.
-
Do not leave any spare keys hidden outside. Most criminals know the most common places to look and can easily walk away with your key and return at a later time to break into your home.
-
Put away any ladders you may have outside that could make gaining entrance into your home even easier. It can be easy to forget that you may have one lying around from decorating your home for Halloween.
Do You Know Who is Behind That Mask?
There are many people coming and going throughout your neighborhood, which makes it very easy to blend into the crowd. Here in Florida, Halloween is also the one night of the year where people over the age of 16 can legally wear masks to hide their faces. In the past, there has been an increase in crimes committed by people wearing masks around the state. If someone seems to be acting suspicious, do not hesitate to call the police. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Home Security Systems Can Help
Having a home security system can help deter would-be burglars and other criminals, not just on Halloween, but throughout the year. The system may never sound, but the peace of mind that comes with your family’s undeniable safety is priceless. Contact SafeTouch for a free estimate for your very own in-home security system and never worry about threats to your home’s security again.