Most of us see the stories on the news about burglaries and home invasions that happen during the holidays or whilst others are at work. Most people shake heads at the state of the globe, feel sorry for the affected individuals for a second, and then go on with their lives. To a lot of homeowners, break-ins look like something that only occurs mostly to someone else.
We were recently a victim ourselves when our garages were broken into during the night. Thankfully we had nothing taken although our neighbours were not so lucky as they had a couple of bikes stolen during the break-in. Since this happened we have evaluated our home security and been more mindful of keeping our home and belongings safe.
How Common are Break -Ins?
The annoying truth is that break-ins are even more common than you might think. The truth is, a home break-in occurs about once every 14 seconds in the UK. While crime may have always happened to “the other guy” previously, you may very well become the target of a home break-in at some point. Your home is particularly at risk during the holiday period, when thieves are watching out for homes that have been left empty for a couple of weeks by holiday travelers.
8 Simple Steps to Keep Your Home Secure from Break-Ins
Even if your home is targeted, you can keep yourself from becoming a victim by implementing a few common sense home security ideas. These are things that you can do conveniently to deter burglars from breaking into your home.
- Keep windows clear by shrubbery. It is convenient to feel that you are justified in having shrubs over the windows because it provides a greater sense of privacy. These shrubs may also offer the best cover for an intruder who is breaking in through the window. Cut the bushes and purchase a pair of curtains for privacy.
- Always lock your doors. That is the most practical tip out there, but it is shocking how many people still don’t lock their doors when they leave the house. Studies have suggested that almost all crooks will try the doors of home first to see if any of them are unlocked. I know a friends son left the door unlocked as he headed out to school because he said he didn’t have time to lock it or he might miss his bus! Make sure all the family are on board with locking up to reduce the possibility of break-ins! A substantial number of thieves manage to gain entry to homes through unlocked doors. And also make sure that you check your doors’ locks from time to time as thieves can bypass weak locks even with the use of simple items.
- Set up a home security system – and ensure that it stays armed. Again, this is a no-brainer for many people, but some still don’t understand the significance of a home security system. This crucial piece of the home security puzzle prevents thieves from even attempting to enter your home. They know that a home with an alarm isn’t worth the trouble.
- Regrettably, many homeowners keep their alarms unarmed, making them ineffective in the event of a break-in. Some years ago, research carried out revealed that among burgled homes with security systems, 41 percent of the systems were not set at the time of the break-ins.
- If you have to go away for an extended time frame, be smart about how you leave your home. Individuals going on vacation usually neglect to prepare their home to be empty for some time. When they are gone, the lights stay off all day, every day. The newspapers and mail stack up. It becomes clear that no one is there, making the house a perfect target for burglars. When you go on vacation for the holidays, take some simple measures like putting lights on a timer.
- Also if you are friendly with the neighbour, ask them to put your bins in and out and do the same for them. Keep an eye out for each other. I noticed that a parcel had been left for a neighbour which was actually on display and a sure sign nobody was home! I took it in for them and it was much appreciated!
- If a friend lives close by, give them a spare key and ask them to pop by a couple of times we did this when on our recent Sardinia trip and it gave us peace of mind. Holly also was able to move the mail and buy us some fresh milk ready for when we got home!
- If you have a garage, park your car right up close as this will stop someone being able to open the garage doors. We now do this every night. It is a simple but effective precaution.
These are just a few of the measures you can take to safeguard your home and break ins from crooks during the vulnerable holiday period, and every day. With some common sense and a desire for safety, you can keep your home from becoming another crime statistic the police also offer advice and helpful tips.
Finally, if you are a victim of a crime and are finding things difficult Victim Support help people feel safer and find the strength to move beyond crime so do contact them if required.
