Did you know that the majority of burglaries happen in broad daylight?
Burglars are smart…
To act, they choose the times when people are at work, or running errands.
With, of course, a peak in burglaries during the holidays, when the owners are away for several days.
And it does not stop there ! Here's another interesting stat:
Burglars try to get in and out as fast as possible:in less than 10 min .
This means that the smallest trick to slow them down is essential!
So don't wait until the day before you leave on vacation to protect your home against intruders!
Fortunately, we have listed for you the best tips revealed by the police to avoid intrusions while you are away.
Here are 17 easy tips to put in place to protect your home from burglars (inside and outside). Watch:
To start, take a walk outside your home.
Your mission:locate all the discreet corners out of sight.
Why ? Because these are the places likely to be forced into by burglars.
For example:windows can be forced open easily, if they are not equipped with locks.
Also consider the windows through which an intruder can spot your TV or other valuables.
Better yet, try calling the police station or gendarmerie in your area.
Indeed, police and gendarmes sometimes offer to make a home visit, to assess the security.
Thus, your whole house is reviewed, inside and out.
And the police tell you the likely points that you must secure first.
In 23% of cases, break-ins occur through windows on the ground floor.
The inexpensive solution to protect your windows?
Install a wireless alarm , like this one.
For only 20€, these alarms go off as soon as a window is opened.
It's a small price to pay for your peace of mind, don't you think?
Do you have a lot of bushes and large plants around your house?
Admittedly, having vegetation is great for your privacy...
But it makes the job easier from the burglar!
So, consider arranging the surroundings of your house so that it is clearly visible from all sides.
For the area under your windows, it is recommended to plant roses or very thorny bushes.
This is a simple but effective trick to prevent burglars from gaining too easy access.
Also remember to prune the shrubs in your garden, as they are ideal hiding places for burglars.
Another tip:gravel driveways.
Indeed, gravel is a very effective defense to signal the presence of unwanted visitors.
No wonder with all the noise it makes!
To discover: 11 Stunning Garden Edging You Wish You Had At Home.
It's an investment, but experts recommend investing in a solid fence that is complicated to climb .
The most effective in preventing intruders from entering your home?
These are the forged or chain-link fences, fixed on concrete pillars.
Solid fences with spikes at the top are also a great option.
If your budget allows it, you can invest in an armored door.
Solid wood doors are more difficult to force , and therefore an effective means of deterring burglars.
Some entrance doors are equipped with a small window.
An easy target for burglars!
Indeed, they can easily break it, stick their arm through it and unlock your door from the inside.
If you have one in your home, install a security door stopper like this.
This way, your door will be literally impossible to open from the outside.
To discover: 30 Ingenious Ways to Recycle an Old Door.
A great way to deter burglars is to equip your home with motion detectors.
Place them strategically in front of entrances and dark places around your home.
This way, as soon as there is movement around your house, the light switches on.
Do you have pets?
So maybe you're afraid they'll trip the lights every 5 minutes…
Be aware that there are also motion detectors that ignore the presence of animals.
Maybe you live in a building with a parking lot and dark hallways?
If so, ask your landlord to upgrade the common area lighting system.
To discover: 6 Effective Tricks To Keep Cats Away Easily.
One of the most effective methods to prevent a burglary?
It is to install an alarm system.
No wonder…
But even better, you can also install a remote monitoring system !
And the top of the top is to use night vision cameras, with a hard drive to store the recordings.
You never know…
Sliding patio doors are increasingly in demand, as they allow direct access to the garden.
The problem is that they also tend to be easy to unlock.
Fortunately, there is an easy and cheap trick.
To secure it, simply place a broomstick in the rail of the bay window.
A silly solution… but you had to think about it!
When it comes to valuables in your home, trust my experience:
Better to play it safe.
Here, the idea is therefore to prepare yourself to face to a possible burglary.
I'll give you an example:what would you do if your computer was stolen?
Can you imagine losing all your irreplaceable files, like family photos?
It is for this reason that it is recommended to back up your important data to an external hard drive…
Then, hide this hard drive in an unexpected place, in the middle of household products, for example.
And to hide the cash you keep at home, use these secret hiding places.
Also remember to photograph your valuables and keep their receipts.
That way, in the event of a problem, you'll be sure to be reimbursed by your insurance.
One last tip to limit losses in the event of a burglary:
Leave marks on expensive equipment such as televisions, game consoles and household appliances.
Why?
Because seeing these marks, thieves will find it difficult to resell them...
And as a result, they won't be tempted to touch them! Clever, don't you think?
The safe is an excellent solution for keeping valuable things.
It could be your jewellery, cash, passports and other important documents.
But on one condition :
The safe must be of good quality, fire resistant and built into a wall or floor.
A good measure to avoid a burglary is to change the locks on your house.
And this, regardless of whether you own or rent.
Does this advice seem exaggerated to you?
Think about it:
How actually know how many doubles keys to your house have been given to the previous owners?
To discover: Key Stuck in the Lock:A Locksmith's Trick to Remove it Free of Charge!
Too often, we tend to forget about small windows, such as basement windows or roof windows!
These are easy targets for burglars, especially the basement windows that give access to the basement .
To protect your windows, you can install bars or safety glass, which is more resistant to shocks.
Are you going on vacation for several days?
Avoid communicating it to the world or posting photos of your vacation on social networks .
In the digital age, savvy burglars use this type of information to locate them.
Similarly, it is also advisable to close the curtains or lower the blinds.
The goal is to prevent people from looking inside your home.
Indeed, before taking action, burglars always check what they can steal from the house.
To discover: My Tip for Finding White Curtains.
Are you going on vacation or away for a long time?
So, warn your neighbours of your departure, and ask them to watch over your house.
Or better yet:offer to pay a trusted neighbor to watch your house.
To make your house look occupied, ask your neighbor:
- to use your garbage cans,
- collect your mail, newspapers, parcel deliveries and
- to leave tire tracks or footprints in front of your house.
Indeed, all these signs of life make it possible to simulate a presence in your home... and to avoid a burglary.
One more thing:forget the trick of the double key under the doormat!
Instead, best to give a double to a trusted neighbor.
Otherwise, keep a duplicate in a secure key box, like this one.
And after, hide it in a discreet place around your house.
Timer outlets are programmable.
They allow you to simulate a presence with automatic switching on and off of the lamps at the programmed times.
Install a timer that turns the lights on after dark, to make it feel like you're at home.
You can also set the garden lights to come on in the evening.
If your garage is equipped with an automatic opening system, remember to deactivate it.
Indeed, garage doors are an easy access point for burglars.
So, if yours remains unlocked during your absence, I let you imagine the risk that this presents...
Especially if your garage has a door that communicates directly with the house!
If you leave, even for one or two nights, always lock your garage door.
To discover: 14 Awesome Garage Storage Ideas.
This is perhaps the easiest and cheapest way. to simulate a presence at home.
And all you need is a simple plug with timer.
The unthinkable has happened and you are the victim of a burglary?
Here are the tips to follow in case of burglary:
- Avoid going inside your home, in case the burglar is still there.
- Call the police immediately, using your cell phone or a neighbour's phone.
- Above all, do not touch anything (no object, door or window) while waiting for the arrival of the police. Indeed, fingerprints help solve crimes.
1. What attracts burglars:
- All the signs that show the owners are away.
- Easy access:lock all your doors and windows!
2. Secure windows
They are a weak point, because the glass breaks very easily.
But burglars are reluctant to break in through windows that aren't out of sight.
3. Install locks
Experts recommend using deadbolts that are at least 2.50 cm in length.
Also be sure to install high security strike plates with 7cm screws.
4. Prune shrubs
To prevent it from serving as a hiding place for burglars, trim the vegetation under your windows and in your garden.
5. Protect your doors
Experts recommend armored or solid wood doors with a tamper-proof frame, even with a crowbar.
6. Put up "House under alarm" signs
Place alarm signs and stickers prominently.
7. Highlight the house number
If the police have to intervene, your house number must be clearly visible from the street.
And, preferably, with contrasting colors.
8. Use your lamps
No need to leave your outdoor lights on all night…
Experts recommend installing motion sensor lights all around your home and garage.
In case of absence, install programmers so that the radio and the light turn on a few hours a day.
9. Secure your garage
NEVER leave your garage door unlocked, especially if it communicates directly with your house.
Also remember to lock up your ladder and any tools a thief can use to break into your home.
A garage attached to the house can serve as a hiding place for burglars.
10. Secure the windows
Often overlooked, basement vents are an easy access to your home.
Install secure locks and, if necessary, bars.
11. No duplicate key under the doormat!
Don't even try to hide a spare key around your house...
Burglars know all the hiding places!
Better to give a duplicate key to a trusted neighbor.
