Top 10 Simple Ways to Discourage Break-ins
Nearly 1.5 million homes were
burglarized in 2006 in the United States.
With the advent of the deadbolt in the 1960s, residential
burglaries began their descent [source: Sullivan]. As more homes installed them in the
1970s, burglaries went on a steady decline and reached a plateau in the past
few years. Today, 25 percent of homes in the United States have electronic security systems, not to mention
reinforced glass, superior lock technology and a veritable army of private
security guards monitoring neighborhoods [source: Sullivan].
But in spite of the dwindling
numbers, almost 1.5 million homes were broken into in 2006 [source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports]. And when burglaries
happen, police often have a difficult time tracking down the culprits. Of all
property and violent crime clearance rates reported by the FBI,
burglary ties for the lowest at 12.6 percent in 2006 [source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports].
When thinking about how to prevent
this from happening to you, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
When thieves break into homes, there's a greater chance of them doing so during
the day when many people are at work. Also, around 40 percent of annual
household burglaries in the United States are not forced entries, meaning
someone was able to walk, climb or crawl inside of houses almost as easily as
if the owners left a key in the door [source: Bureau of Justice Statistics].
To keep unwanted intruders out of
your home, you don't have to turn your property into a suburban Fort Knox.
There are many solutions that require no money
at all -- just a little common sense. Read on to learn about 10 things you can
do that take little time or resources to make your home a safer haven.
10.
Don't Showboat
Leaving certain things lying around
your yard or in plain sight from the road can unwittingly lure thieves onto
your property like frantic bargain hunters to a flea market. First, if you have
a bicycle or scooter that someone could easy to
walk away with, roll it inside or into your garage. Also, after purchasing a
new plasma screen television or other pricey
electronics or appliance, don't leave the box out beside the trash can or recycling bin [source: Kraeutler]. That tells people
you have something brand spanking new that could fetch decent dollars on the
street. It may also leave them wondering what other goodies are inside your
home.
You may also be showing off too
much to people walking by your house as well. Open up your curtains, blinds or
shades and stroll around the house and see what's visible. If you have a number
of expensive items within plain sight or near windows, think about doing a
minor redesign to move them out of view.
9.
Tricking Burglars
If burglars can tell that someone is
home, there's a greater chance that they won't attempt to break in. Remember,
more break-ins occur during the day when many people are at work. For that
reason, when you leave the house, create an illusion that someone's still there. You can leave a light
on, along with music or your television
for good measure. Of course, if you're going to be burning up that electricity by not turning off lights when you leave, make
sure you've installed compact fluorescent bulbs that last longer and are better
for the environment.
You can also mentally fake them out
by putting a home security system sign in your yard. This won't guarantee they
won't test out whether it's valid, but it could deter them. According to the
Office of Community Oriented Police Service, most residential thieves stay away
from houses with such signs [source: Sampson].
8.
Secure Sliding Doors and Windows
You can easily break into some older
sliding doors by simply popping them off of their frame, even when locked. It's
harder to do that with newer ones, but you should still take extra precaution
to secure them since they can be an inviting entry for burglars. Simply take a
strong dowel, steel bar or two-by-four and slide it into the back groove. That
way, even if people can pick the lock, the rod stops the door from
sliding back and opening.
Although you should always lock your
windows before leaving the house, you can install a simple pin or nail into to
the frame to stop it from raising more than a few inches. This will add an
additional layer of security in case someone pops off the screen and you have
left the window unlocked. If you have a wooden window frame, you can drill a
hole at your desired height above the sash, where the top and bottom
window meet. Then, insert a thick metal pin or a sturdy nail into the hole. You
can remove the stopper if you want to open the window completely and put it
back in for security.
Also remember to check window air
conditioning units. If you can jimmy the window up from the outside,
add a stopper to that frame.
7.
Don't Leave a Spare Key Out
It may seem like a good idea to
leave a spare key hidden under a flower pot or doormat in case you get locked
out of your house. But that's an open invitation for a burglar to walk inside
without any difficulty. Someone could also see you retrieve the key at some
point, giving away your hiding place.
Instead, give a spare to a neighbor
you know well or friend who lives nearby for safekeeping. Since most people now
own cell phones, if you lock yourself out you can
call for help or walk over to the person's house. You could also put the spare
into a combination lockbox and hide that
somewhere outside.
Remember to never put any
identifying information on your house keys. If you lose them, and someone else
finds them, it would be fairly easy to trace them back to your home and break
in.
6.
Secure Your Yard
Tall shrubs
and overgrown trees are welcome hiding places for criminals to
wait until the coast is clear to get into your house. That doesn't mean you
need to cut down every plant in your yard. Just keep things manicured.
Low shrubs in front of windows
remove additional covering for thieves if they attempt to break in through one.
Cut away any tall tree branches that reach upper story windows and protect
against attacks from above. Regularly trimming larger bushes and tree branches
also eliminates dark shadows that help hide intruders.
This type of security measure is
referred to as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). CPTD
strategies aim to prevent crime by creating an outdoor environment that makes
it difficult to pull off. Its four tenets are:
- Natural surveillance -- keep entryways to your home
visible to prevent people from being able to sneak up.
- Territorial reinforcement -- using landscaping and
design to define your territorial space.
- Natural Access Control -- adding hindrances to easily
access your property. For instance, holly bushes or other thorny shrubs
around your house.
- Target Hardening -- structural security, such as
deadbolts and double-paned windows.
[source: CPTED Security]
You can implement these techniques
in various combinations, depending on your property. It can also spruce up the
appearance of your yard as an added bonus.
5.
Get Police Help
Police can help you stop crime
before it happens, rather than just responding to it. For instance, if you're
leaving town for a while, let the police know and request that they drive by
your property to check on things.
Many police stations also offer free
security evaluations for your property [source: Olsen].
If your local jurisdiction has a crime prevention officer, find out if he or
she can survey your property and help you identify any security steps you can
implement.
Take advantage of a recent trend in
police practices called community
policing. Community policing involves officers being assigned to neighborhood
beats where they make a greater effort to build relationships with the
residences. This may include walking instead of driving through or setting up
community safety workshops. If the police in your area practice this, get to know the officers who patrol your
neighborhood. Successful community policing has been linked to lowered crime
and healthier neighborhoods and could lower the chances of break-ins.
4.
Prepare Before Vacation
Residential crime spikes during
July and August as people set off on summer vacations [source: OIsen]. As mentioned earlier, if you are going
out of town for an extended period of time, call your local police and let them
know. Also, alert neighbors you trust about your trip and ask that they keep an
eye on your property during that time.
More importantly, when you leave
town, don't leave signs of an empty house. That will only make your house look
like a giant bulls-eye to a thief. First, if you have a home phone, don't change your message to alert callers
that you have left town. Also avoid having piled up mail, overgrown lawns and newspapers
strewn about your yard that send surefire signals you're miles away.
Have a friend house sit or at least
pick up your mail and newspapers. Ask them to move your car
periodically to make it look like you're still around. During the winter if you
live in a cold weather climate, consider having someone shovel snow from your
driveway. In the summers, arrange for someone to cut your lawn.
3.
Know Your Neighbors
Getting to know the people you live
around is one of the most important safety steps you can take. Closer-knit
neighborhoods generally report fewer break-ins [source: Olsen]
because strangers will stick out, and people are more likely to keep a casual
eye on other people's security. Neighborhood Watch Programs, started in the
1960s, can be very effective at lowering and preventing crime. According to the
National Crime Prevention Council, more than 30 million people in the United
States have joined these groups [source: National Crime Prevention Council].
Studies have consistently found that
watch programs effectively reduce crime and violence in neighborhoods. The
National Sheriff's Association oversees the nationwide watch group organization
and offers a number of resources for starting and joining one.
If you rent a house or apartment,
you have more incentive to get to know your community because renters are 85
percent more likely to experience a break-in [source: National Crime Prevention Council]. This may be
because renters aren't as likely to watch out for one another or have any sort
of community watch program.
2.
Stay Vigilant!
Although it's nice to know you have
people watching out for you in your neighborhood, you also need to watch out
for yourself. If you aren't paying attention to what you're doing, you could
unknowingly be rolling out a red carpet for a burglar to waltz through your
front door.
While it may seem like a symptom of
paranoia, keep your identity and any travel plans on the down low. For
instance, only put your street address on your mailbox. Give away your last name,
and someone could find your phone number, work place and a host of other
stats with a few mouse clicks [source: Discovery Channel]. Before you jet off to
Bermuda, don't talk about it openly in public because a sinister stranger could
be taking note.
Educate yourself as well about crime
in the area. Check the crime section in your local newspaper
to see if your neighborhood has been hit recently [source: Discovery Channel]. Also, local police stations,
particularly in larger cities, have online crime maps that will show you
precisely where reported incidents occurred around you. If you notice a lot of
criminal activity, that's your signal to pay extra attention to security. And
always keep an eye out for suspicious activity in neighborhood. A little added
effort can go a long way to protect your home and your safety.
1.
Lock it Up
As mentioned earlier, more than 40
percent of break-ins happen without the use of force. That means a lot of
people are leaving their houses without locking the doors and windows. If you
have a thumb latch lock and a deadbolt on your doors, always lock the dead
bolt. Double-check weaker doors such as patio and sliding ones to make sure
their locks are strong enough to withstand kicks. When you leave your home,
don't forget to lock up the door leading from the garage to inside. Even if
your garage door is down, someone can easily open it.
You may need to change your locks to stronger ones to keep out would-be
burglars. For more detailed information about choosing a lock, read What's the best way to prevent a thief from entering your
home?.