Can’t afford an extensive home security system? You can still take effective precautions to protect your home from burglars. These are based on observations that police have made on how robbers usually break into homes, and what can put your home at risk.
Always make your house look occupied
Most burglaries happen from 10 am to 3 pm, when most people are out of the house. Robbers will scout a neighborhood to see which homes look ’empty.’
One way to trick them into thinking someone is always at home is to set the TV or radio timer to turn on at random hours. If you’ve hired someone to do your windows or garden, ask them to do it during 10 am to 3 pm on a weekday.
Get a dog (or pretend to have one)
‘Beware of dog’ signs can scare off burglars. But don’t stop there: put a water or food dish outside a side door, hang a leash by the porch. OR you can consider actually getting a guard dog but do realize that owning any a pet requires a lot of commitment, in terms of time and attention.
Invest in good locks
Look at all your entry points and add deadbolt lacks, window pins or window bars. You may also want to add a sticker that indicates that you have a home security system. Also make sure those entry points are well lit, and keep any bushes or shrubs near those areas very well trimmed so that there’s no place for burglars to hide.