Did you know that one American home falls victim to a burglary every 13 seconds? With that being said, 66% of all yearly burglaries are home break-ins. The police only manage to solve around 13% of all reported cases of burglary. At this rate, 3 out of 4 homes in the Unites States will be broken into in the next two decades. World wide identity theft is also on the rise.
The following tips could help you if you believe that your home could benefit from more or better security measures. Close to 35% of burglars use the front door to break into a home, and 23% sneak in through a first-floor window, these are the first places you should start enhancing the security of.
TIP #1: UPGRADE (ALL) YOUR LOCKS
Burglars look for properties that are easy to break into. Sturdy locks are excellent deterrents because potential intruders will incur the risk of getting caught in the act and will most likely move on to their next victim.
- If you can not remember when the last time was that you had your locks properly inspected, you are highly advised to fix that.
- You can either watch an online tutorial and learn how to install a lock on your home or call a locksmith professional in your area.
- If your exterior doors do not have any deadbolt locks installed, install single or double cylinder deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.
- Make sure that you have the proper type of locks on your sliding patio doors or pet doors. You should opt for keyed locks or twist-in action locks.
TIP #2: FIX/RE-KEY YOUR LOCKS
While upgrading your locks is good for households with outdated locks, you may also simply need to repair or re-key some of your locks that are still good but need a few quick fixes.
Most homeowners have a hard time figuring out whether they should replace their locks or have their locks re-keyed. This is usually a decision that a professional licensed locksmith at ACR Lock & Key should have no problem making.
Schedule an appointment with a professional locksmith and have them assess the lock on your home. They will let you know whether or not you need to replace your locks or just have them worked on. The locksmith should have no problem fixing a broken lock, removing the cylinder and changing the pins, or installing a new lock, if necessary.
TIP #3: NEVER LEAVE THE DOORS UNLOCKED
Never leave your home without properly securing all locks and windows, no matter how short of time you will be gone. Smart lock systems that allow you to control your locks from a remote distance come in handy when you are forced to leave in a hurry or when you just can't remember whether or not you locked the door on your way out.
TIP #4: MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK OCCUPIED
Create the illusion that you are always home. Leave the lights turned on at night(use a random timer) and do not forget about the exterior, senor lights as well.
TIP #5: HIDE YOUR WIRES
Phone lines and electrical wires should be hidden from burglars who might try to disarm your alarm by cutting the wires.
TIP #6: GET A HOME ALARM SYSTEM
If you do not already have one installed, you should get one. You should be able to find a great variety of options that fit your needs and budget. Don't forget to arm the alarm!
TIP #7: SECURE THE GARAGE DOOR
If your home is connected with your garage via a separate door, you have even more reasons to properly check and strengthen the security on it. Always leave your car parked in the garage to make burglars think you are home.
TIP #8: USE KEY LOCK BOXES
Never keep your spare keys in the mailbox or under a potted plant. Install a key lockbox similar to the ones used by real estate agents. These locks rely on combination locks that will make potential burglars' job even more difficult. The keys will come in extremely handy in case you ever find yourself in need of a backup key.