When it comes to home, family, and possessions safety, you don't want to skip any steps. Not only do you want to know that you did everything you could to protect your home, but that you and those who spend time indoors feel safe. You want to be sure that you have taken all necessary precautions to ensure that no harm is done to you or your loved ones.
Below are various methods that you can use to improve the security of your home. Of course, every home is different and every community has its particular risks that you want to focus on. If you feel unsafe, contact a professional security team who can help identify additional steps you can take. And if for any reason you feel threatened, or think that you have a greater reason than usual to fear your safety, always contact law enforcement in your area.
Have switched on the exterior lights
This may seem a bit strange at first, but using outdoor lights can reduce the risk of crime or vandalism on your property. It's far riskier for someone to break into a place where anyone who drives by or walks by can see what they're doing. One study found that outdoor lighting reduced crime by 39%. That's a big difference.
Make surveillance equipment visible
People are far less likely to commit crimes if they know they are in front of the camera. Visible surveillance devices can convince someone to leave your home alone. In addition, the police can use camera footage if something happens on your property. This can increase the likelihood that someone will be caught by the authorities and not be able to repeat their crime elsewhere.
Leave a car in the parking lot
Having a car in the driveway or parking lot can be a significant deterrent to criminal activity. In an interview about how they picked the houses they broke into and what stopped them from doing so, almost every single burglar said they wouldn't break into a house with a car in the driveway. This was the main indicator that someone was home and so it wasn't worth the risk.
Get a dog
Getting a dog is a big decision because having a dog is a lot of work. It takes time, money, and loving attention to properly groom a dog. That being said, even small dogs that are not “guard breeds” prevent home invasions. Nobody wants to risk getting bitten by the dog barking on the other side of the door. They'll pick another home to mess with.
Get to know your neighbors
If you live in an area where neighbors can see what is going on in your front yard or back yard, take the time to introduce yourself and be friendly to them. This doesn't seem to make much of a difference, but burglars have cited neighbors as a major problem breaking in and entering. When you are so close to your neighbors that they are talking to someone knocking on your door or looking in your window (Hey, are you looking for Jim? He's not here – want me to tell him you stopped?) , you are far less likely to have a home invasion. Burglars don't want to risk the neighbors noticing anything.
Keep the bushes trimmed
This is another, less than obvious one, but many burglars cite tall trees and bushes around a house as ideal for a house invasion. This is because people from the street and other nearby objects cannot look into your windows or notice when someone is sniffing where they shouldn't be. For the same reason, you need to be careful when fencing as well. Sometimes fences can make it easier for people to go unnoticed on your property.
With the tips above, you will be well on your way to having safer property. As with any online safety alert, the best place to listen is to your instincts. If for any reason you feel unsafe, contact the authorities. Listen to your gut – although we no longer live the way we used to, people have evolved over thousands of years to sense when they are in physical danger. Never ignore the feeling of being watched or followed.
