How to Prevent Home Break Ins

Here are twelve simple tips on how to keep burglars and other troublemakers away from your home:

1. Lock and double-lock/check and double-check. 

You may think you're most vulnerable to home break-ins late at night, however, statistics actually show that most burglaries happen in the morning when most everyone is assumed to be at the office or at school.  So make sure to lock all windows and doors and then CHECK (double check if you must) if all entry points are actually locked.  Bolt locks are highly reliable.  They either keep the burglar out or buy you enough time for somebody to notice that somebody's trying to break into your home.  Remember, burglars are pretty lazy people - if you make something difficult for them they will move on to an easier mark. 

2. Advertise that there's a MAN in the house - even when there's not.

This is especially important for women living alone.  Make the whole world know that there's a man in your home.  It pays.  A worn pair of men's hiking or work boots by the doorstep is enough make that thief double think breaking past that door.

3. Beware of dog.

Having a dog inside your home while you're gone is actually cheap insurance.  Even if you don't have a dog, advertise that there may be one waiting inside.  You can put a dog bowl (a big dog bowl) by the doorstep. You may even consider putting a "beware of dog" sign on your gate.  Which do you think would catch the thief's interest, the doorstep with or without a dog bowl? 

4. Newspaper deliveries during vacation.

If you are going to be away for vacation, ask a neighbor to pick up your newspapers in the mornings.  Nothing says "not home" more than a pile of newspapers in front of your house.  If you can't get a neighbor to take your newspapers, then call the paper and ask them to stop deliveries during the time you're away. 

5. Invest in alarm systems.

They will cost you something but the peace of mind they will offer can never be bought. If you have a tight budget, consider motion sensors and door alarms. 

6. Home alone?  Make noise.

When you are home alone, make some noise!  Let a potential thief know the house is not an easy, vacant target.  Turn the TV on or put on some music. 

7. Check your pet doors.

Are those pet entrances big enough to accomodate something more than your pet?  Often times thieves will someone smaller (perhaps children) to sneak in through the pet doors and open the door from inside.  If you have a large pet door you'd better make sure there's a big, scary dog on the other side that will scare off any potential troublemakers. 

8. A key under the doormat?

Everyone, yes, even burglars, already know that some people leave their keys outside their home (under the doormat, under a potted plant, etc).  The safest thing to do is to BRING the key with you.

9. Ladders - don't help the thieves out. 

A ladder by the window is a sure burglar come-on.  Lock any ladders inside the garage.  Again, don't make it easy for them.

10. Keep the light on. 

Illuminate your porch, back door and garage.  If you're willing to spend a little, invest in dusk-to-dawn lighting powered by photoelectric cells.  These save a lot of energy and will be cheaper to use than electric-powered lights.

11.  Keep things thorny. 

If you don’t have a fence or wall, keep thorny plants and shrubs around.  Plants like roses, holly and hawthorn have spiny leaves and thorny stems are great deterrents because they can produce punctures and tear at the skin.  They not only provide you with security, they are also great ornamentals.

12. Don't answer the door.

If you're home alone and someone comes to your door, don't answer unless you're sure the person is invited.  If the person says he is from the police department or any other city department, call that department to make sure they are who they say they are.  Too many people have opened the door to the man from the "gas deparment" who says he's there to check on a leak, only to find themselves in harm's way.  Check for proper identification and call to see if the person belongs at your house

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