Ensuring that our homes are safe has become more critical as crime levels have increased. The cost of home burglaries can be high due to property loss, and victims’ emotional trauma can be devastating. Therefore, now more than ever, it is essential to take the necessary steps to make and keep your homes safe.
1. 34% of burglars enter through the front door
Burglars are not afraid to access your home using the main entry point. They may pick a lock, kick your door, break glass, or in some instances, walk right into your home through an unlocked door. Therefore, ensure that your front door is locked at all times of the day, even if you are home. You should use a solid wood or metal door rather than a hollow one, as solid doors are much more challenging to break down. Consider using a heavy-duty knob-in-lock set and a heavy-duty deadbolt.
To prevent criminals from using the front door as an entry point, you should mount a security camera or image sensor above the front door. You should also refrain from giving people a copy of your house key or leaving one outside your house. The best way to deal with this issue is by eliminating keys altogether. Consider using a smart lock, as it will ensure you get rid of physical keys forever. Smart locks enable you to create unique user codes for family members, friends or workers. You will also be able to delete people after service, eliminating the risk of your house keys being copied and used later for burglaries.
2. 23% of burglars enter through the window
Nearly a quarter of all burglars will enter your home using the first-floor windows. Burglars will tend to target windows as they are less likely to be secure and are often hidden due to overgrown vegetation, which assists in concealing the burglar. Securing the windows in your home or those on the first level will prevent burglars from gaining access to your home. You can secure every window or those in the living rooms and windows in rooms that contain high-value items with window sensors. You should also ensure that you keep windows closed and locked at all times.
3. Break-ins are usually committed by burglars who live nearby
A burglar will typically be within 3 kilometres of the homes they choose to target. Burglars will take the time to get to know you, learn your typical routines and schedules and then wait for the perfect opportunity to strike. They will look for any signs you are not around, such as un-mowed lawns, no lights on at night or newspapers piling up. Therefore, to ensure that you do not become a victim of a burglary, you should vary your routine as much as possible. The best way to do this is using home automation. This will enable you to turn the lights on and off even when you are on vacation, giving the appearance that somebody is home.
4. The majority of criminals can burglarise a home in under 10 minutes
When looking for a home to target, criminals will always go for those that are easy targets. These are the homes they know they can get in and out of quickly. Therefore, you should do all you can to ensure that your home does not become an easy target. Firstly, you should protect your home with a security system. You should ensure that you do not leave doors or windows unlocked and that all the main doors have a high-quality lock. The best way to scare away criminals is with an alarm system. You can also take it a step further by joining a neighbourhood watch group and using a crime-mapping website, which will allow you to stay updated on the local crime trends.
5. Most burglaries occur between 10am and 3pm
People believe that burglaries occur at night, but this could not be further from the truth. The truth is that most burglaries occur during daylight hours. That is because most people are at work or school during this time, which will reduce the chance of the burglar being noticed. To make it challenging for a burglar to break into your home, you should install indoor and outdoor motion-activated home security cameras, as they will allow you to check on your home throughout the day. You will also receive an alert if the camera detects any motion, allowing you to evaluate the situation immediately.
Conclusion
It may not seem so, but everyone is at risk for home burglary regardless of where they live or what their house looks like. However, being aware of burglary facts is crucial in moving forward with a solid plan.
Take a look at the 6 Common Burglary Tactics to Be Aware Of.
