We live in a dangerous world, so it makes sense to take precautions to keep our families safe. This includes doing what we can to improve our home security. All things being equal, it’s better to convince a potential burglar to seek easier pickings than to deal with them in your living room. If nothing else, there’s less paperwork involved.
There are several things you can do that won’t cost a ton of money but that will go a long way toward improving your home security.
Bolstering Your Home Security
Think Like a Bad Guy
This might be easier for some people than it is for others, but it’s still a worthwhile exercise. Take a good, hard look at your home from the perspective of someone who has ill intent. What information are you giving out without realizing it?
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Those signs and stickers that say things like, “These premises are protected by Smith & Wesson,” might be clever and funny, but they also tell a potential home invader that there are probably firearms inside to steal. All they have to do is wait until nobody is home. That’s easy enough to figure out based on the yard sign congratulating your child’s position on the school football team. It’s a safe bet that the house is going to be empty on game nights.
Leaving the box your big screen TV came in at the curb for recycling pickup isn’t the flex you think it is. Sure, neighbors might be jealous, but they might also not pay much attention to the guys carrying that TV out the back door. Those guys saw the box when they were driving by and circled back around to check out the house.
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Use Your Locks
The best locks in the world are worthless if they’re not being used. Most people remember to lock the front door when they leave the house. But there are a few others that are often missed.
The door coming into the home from the garage is a big opportunity for burglars to gain access. In my experience, it’s rarely locked in most homes. If they can get into the garage, which isn’t difficult in many cases, they can just walk right into the house from there without trouble.
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Make sure your vehicles are kept locked, lest an enterprising thief grab your garage opener and use it to get into the garage, and thus the house.
Second-story windows get overlooked by many homeowners as a security risk. They aren’t at ground level, so we don’t think twice about making sure they’re locked. The problem is that getting access to the second story might not be difficult. A ladder that’s been left sitting out in the backyard after cleaning the gutters might be all it takes. When I was a kid, a friend of mine would routinely monkey climb his way up porch railings and posts to get up to the roof, just for fun.
Fake ‘Em Out
The presence of dogs on the property serves as a great addition to home security. If having actual dogs doesn’t work for you, consider faking it. Pick up a couple of dog dishes at the dollar store and put them in plain view from the front door. Maybe add a leash hanging on a nearby hook. Put up a Beware of Dog sign to complete the look.
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Security systems are expensive. But you could still put up signs and stickers advertising them. Don’t overdo it and don’t put up signs for more than one service, though.
Smart outlets or old-fashioned outlet timers can be used to simulate the presence of someone in the house when you’re not there. They can be used to turn lights on and off, as well as radios or similar devices.
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The ultimate goal is simply to get the criminal to decide your home is too much of a risk or too much potential trouble to mess with.
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