Home Security Guide - How Burglars Pick a House

The FBI claims that every twelve seconds a burglary is committed somewhere. Taking steps to secure your home can keep you from becoming one of these statistics. Try to consider your home the way a would-be intruder does.

The first priority of any thief or burglar is completing the job without getting caught. This is why the least protected homes are the most appealing to them.

An inexperienced burglar might just run in and grab whatever they can and get out. Others are a little more calculating in their approach. They won’t waste their time breaking in unless the reward is great.

Their first objective is to get to the house undetected. This is why you won’t see many burglaries take place in broad daylight. Well lighted homes can be a great deterrent, especially in normally shadowed corners and such. Any area that could lead to an entry point should be well lit.

Make sure to pay particular attention to areas that are well hidden from the street and other houses. If there are windows in these areas, make sure they are secured with some type of wooden or metal dowels to prevent opening. Again, any lighting that can be provided in these areas is a plus.

Even windows with this extra protection can sometimes be removed from the frames. Here is a simple and affordable way to prevent this from happening.

Start by drilling a hole through the window frame into the wall that holds it. There are spring-loaded mechanisms available that will screw into the frame. These are similar to that found on some screen doors. You can also use a wooden or metal dowel to secure the window in the frame.

If the intruder is determined to enter at all costs, they may try to break or cut the glass to gain entrance. Some home security systems offer a feature that senses window vibration and will activate an alarm. You could also install wrought iron bars in front of the window to prevent this.

Another added measure of security is to keep your bushes and shrubs trimmed down to eliminate potential hiding places for intruders. If they cannot conceal themselves as they attempt to break in, they will likely look for a more vulnerable target.

To decrease their chances of getting caught, an intruder will often carry out his plans when no one is home. This is a good reason to get together with your neighbors and set up some type of neighborhood watch system. You can also take it a step further and have someone stay at your house while you are away.

If someone is determined to find a way into your house, they probably will. Taking some of these steps, however, will at least make them think twice.