Your home is your sanctuary, and sadly, some people will try to put that at risk. Burglaries are always a possibility, no matter where you live, and that is a frightening thought! It is understandable that you want to keep your family and belongings safe at all costs, but knowing where to begin can be difficult. Check out these excellent tips to improve home safety, whether you have heard reports of burglaries in your area or simply want to make your home as safe as possible.
Always Make It Look Like Someone Is Home
Making it appear as if someone is home at all times is one of the best ways to deter thieves. This could be achieved by leaving a light on or leaving a pair of shoes near the front door. While some thieves may still try to break in, the majority of burglaries occur when your home appears to be unoccupied. Intruders will be deterred by leaving some form of noise on, such as the TV or radio.
Install Extra Security Measures
Making it difficult for thieves to gain access to your home in the first place is another great way to deter them! To make gaining access more difficult, you can purchase a variety of security hardware such as smart locks and door levers. If you have a driveway, consider installing a lockable gate to prevent intruders from entering your property and lurking outside.
Befriend Your Neighbors
Getting to know your neighbors is always a good idea so you can have each other’s backs. When you’re away, good neighbors will keep an eye out for unusual activity and can help you put out bins and empty the letterbox. You could also join forces with your neighbors to install security cameras to keep an eye out for unusual activity.
Do Not Leave External Doors Unlocked
This may seem evident, but you would be surprised how many people neglect to lock their external doors when they are at home — or even when they leave for a short period of time! Do not make it easy for thieves to gain access to your home by keeping your external doors locked at all times. It also keeps small children from wandering out of the house and into high risk situations.
Refrain From Leaving Your Spare Key In An Obvious Place
It is understandable that you want a backup key in case you misplace your current one. Many people make the mistake of leaving their spare key in plain sight, such as under the doormat or under a stone by the side of the building. If you have to keep your spare key on your property, make sure you hide it cleverly. Alternatively, you could leave your spare key with a neighbor you trust or a family member who lives nearby.
Keep Shrubbery And Trees Trimmed
Before gaining access, thieves need places to hide and scope out the property. Not only will your garden look much nicer, but potential thieves and intruders will have nowhere to hide.
As you can see, following these guidelines will make your home a much safer place to live. Allowing intruders access to your home is a recipe for disaster!