Coming back home to find your things vandalized or stolen is every homeowner’s worst nightmare. This is because it will cost you a lot of money to replace the stolen items and make repairs to the access point that allowed the thieves to gain entry into your home. Research carried out by the FBI in 2015 shows that a home is broken into every 20 seconds. And if you thought the thieves waited until the fall of darkness, you need to think again. Thieves actually break in during the day because that’s when they are sure everyone has gone either to school or work. The problem is that burglars are always advancing their game. Fortunately, there are things you can do to discourage thieves from breaking into your home and getting away with valuable stuff.
- Install Surveillance Cameras
Surveillance cameras help you keep tabs on your home even when you are gone. You actually don’t have to wait until you return home to see who trespassed on your property. The cameras are designed to relay file footage in real time. Besides that, they record the events so you can review them later. When shopping for security cameras, you should settle for those that are able to record even at night. Besides that, you should pick cameras that have a long battery life so that you don’t have to replace them every now and for more information before buying them you should check the surveillance camera review. It’s also recommended you fix them at strategic points around the house. And that’s not all. You should include micro-cameras that are able to capture events discreetly. However, you should put a warning message somewhere to let intruders know that they are being watched. As a matter of fact, thieves tend to avoid targeting homes that have surveillance cameras because they know they can’t cover their tracks.
- Lock Doors and Windows
Most homeowners like to keep their doors and windows open during summer. This is because it allows fresh and cool breeze to circulate inside the house. The problem is that you are more likely to forget to close them when leaving the house. You see, thieves are a curious lot. They will not hesitate in entering a house where the windows and doors are wide open. On the other hand, thieves like gaining entry into a house through the window because it reduces the chances of being spotted by snooping neighbors. In fact, it’s advisable you replace your worn out windows with those that are made from aluminium. The advantage here is that aluminium windows are low maintenance and cheaper than those made from wood.
- Utilize the Lights
If you really want to improve the security of your home, you must utilize lighting as much as possible. This is because a poorly lit home compound encourages thieves to try their luck as the chances of being seen are thin. For a start, you should make sure you install flood lights on the driveway and the parking lot such that you are able to spot a needle on the ground at night. You should actually install lights that are powered by solar so they can remain functional even when there is a power outage. In addition to that, you should prune big trees and bushes that are close to the house as they can be used for hiding.
- Deceive the Thieves
You certainly never thought you could deceive burglars. But it can be done. All you have to do is invoke your creativity. Your focus is to make the thieves believe that you are at home although you are miles away enjoying your vacation. The first trick is to switch lights on at night. If you have already invested in home automation, you can turn the lights on and off remotely via your smartphone. The curtains should also be lowered to prevent trespassers from being able to peep through the curtains. You can also leave one of your clean cars in the driveway.
