Your home holds a special place for you and your family.
Its the place where you feel not only comfortable but also safe.
The problem is that most people dont act until its already too late.
This is partly because they have no idea how to keep their homes safe from break-ins.
If this sounds like you, we have your back.
In this article, were going to talk about how to keep your home safe from break-ins 24/7.
The FBI Crime data reports that there is one break-in every 25.7 seconds in the US.
This adds up to 2.5 million break-ins a year, half of which, occur in homes.
Thats 4% of the total Australian household.
That said, break-ins are serious stuff and its a real risk just lurking around the corner.
That said, hire professional locksmiths toassess and install your locks.
Add a Second Lock to Main Entrances
12% of home invasions are pre-planned in advance.
And one of the criteria burglars have is the number of locks on the front door.
That said, simply doubling your locks will discourage most burglars from including your home in their list.
Furthermore, most of those wholl try will fail.
One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is doubling the lock only for their front door.
So, as a general rule, all entry doors must have adoorlockand a deadbolt.
A DoJ report revealed that 65% of burglaries are done by people that are well-acquainted with the owner.
Furthermore, ADT reported that 50% of break-ins are done by burglars who live within a 2-mile radius.
Furthermore, homes without security systems are 300% more likely to be broken into.
So if you havent installed a security system yet, now is the time to do so.
Install cameras and sensors throughout your properties, but most especially on easily accessible areas of the house.
Nowadays, the price of a home security system has gone cheaper and cheaper.
you could find a good camera and sensors for just a couple of hundred bucks.
Hence, many homeowners put up a beware of dogs signage in an effort to scare off potential intruders.
Many assume that having that sign works, but the pros know free-roaming dogs will trip the sensors.
There are a bunch of ways intruders can without making a suspecting sound.
Similarly, if you lose one of your keys, rekey the door immediately.
You never know when your keys will fall into the wrong hands.
Furthermore, they can assess the security features of your house and prepare for it.
Professional thieves scour the internet for targets, they call this internet fishing.
One way they do that is by checking listing sites and social media.
Similarly, avoid taking pictures or videos in different locations in your house when posting on social media.
Dont Leave Your Keys in Pots and Mailboxes
Hiding spare keys in plain sight is a common practice worldwide.
But security experts advise against such practice.
Leaving your keys in pots and mailboxes mightve worked in the 80s but it sure isnt safe now.
Back then, they werent obvious hiding spots.
But today, almost everyone knows someone who hides their keys in those locations.
A better place to keep your spare key is in your everyday bag or in your car.
That way, youre not leaving them unprotected for intruders to grab.
Someone who knows you online may decide to break into your home and steal your precious items.
If you really want to share your trip, do it after youre home.
Posting late is better than getting broken into.
You never know whos had access to your home and how many people have a duplicate of your keys.
If not, then ask if you’ve got the option to rekey it at your own expense.
Make it a habit to do an overall upgrade of your locks and security system every 7-10 years.
Rekeying can be done by your local locksmith and is a cheaper option compared to changing your locks entirely.
When and Where Do Break-ins Normally Occur?
These hours are usually when children are at school and parents are at work.
Intruders want to intrude when there is no one inside the house.
Hence, keeping your home secured for daytime is paramount to stopping intrusion.
Most break-ins happen through the front door comprising about 34% of the total break-ins.
The first-floor windows and back door come in close 2nd and 3rd comprising of 23 and 22% respectively.
Garage doors and the basement are also possible points of entry.
But contrary to common belief, 85% of intrusions are done by amateurs.
And although the cases of intrusions are high, defending against them is relatively simple.