How to Burglar-Proof Your Home
The usual places burglars break into when they enter a home is either the side or backyard because these are less noticeable to the neighbors and people on the street. You must make certain these areas are totally secure. Use a strong side door that will not give in to kicking. It has been reported that some burglars drive around a neighborhood with their own remote controls to see which garage door will open up.
Because of this you need to lock the door in the garage that leads to your house. It is never a good idea to keep valuables and expensive items in the garage. Keep them inside the safety of your home. There are some clever ways of outwitting burglars. One is to buy safes that look like ordinary household items such as a peanut butter jar, a paint can and some which even look like an electric plug. These safes are perfect for keeping small valuables like jewelries, cash, etc.
There are some houses that have installed cheap door frames. Even if you have the strongest lock available it won’t do any good if the frames are not sturdy enough to withstand the force of a burglar’s kick. There are windows that have very good locks, but their own design makes them easy to break and therefore vulnerable to burglars.
Security Tips
Even if your home is not built like a fortress there are some practical things you can do to make it secure and safe from burglars. Here are some tips in making your home safer.
The first thing to do is to make sure that your front and rear door frames are made of strong, heavy duty material. A strong lock that goes into a heavy duty door is a powerful combination. There are alarms that can be installed on your door that will make a loud sound when the door is opened. Check the design of your windows and determine if they are safe or not. If you think they cannot prevent entry by burglars improve your window design or you can install protective grills on your windows. You can also make your windows safer by installing alarms that will frighten intruders away and alert the neighbors. Another good idea is to install lights above those windows which you feel are more vulnerable to discourage burglars. It is more difficult to brake into a well-lighted window than one that is dark. Do not sleep with your windows open unless you are on the second floor and are absolutely sure that it is inaccessible from any angle. An open window is an irresistible invitation for burglars.
Burglars do not usually break in at night because they do not want any confrontation with the homeowner. However, this is not a guarantee that some will not do it at night. Just to be sure, you must also prepare for this. Having a wireless phone and a cell phone on your bedside is a good start. Be sure to have a full battery on both phones though. If you hear anything suspicious in the middle of the night, you can dial 911. If the burglar disables your phone system, you still have your cell phone.
Also consider arming yourself with non-deadly weapons such as pepper sprays, stun gun or a taser. Burglars that enter homes at night are probably armed with either a gun or a knife. You cannot leave anything to chance. Being prepared gives you an advantage when worse comes to worse.
Be sure to double check all your doors and windows before you retire every night. Doing this may save you and your home from burglars.
