How To Safeguard Your Home Against Crime

One of the most important aspects of owning a house is keeping it secure against burglars. There is nothing quite so confidence-shaking as being the victim of a break in, not to mention the likely financial losses as well. It’s something you shouldn’t ever have to experience. 

It’s also something that’s quite easy to reduce the chances of it happening. With burglary it’s always to be preventative rather than reactive, and there are a number of simple and easy ways to safeguard your home against a break in. 

Most of these techniques will work against both impulse and planned burglaries. These are the two main types of break-ins that occur, and both are preventable by taking some simple precautions.  

The main types of burglaries

Impulse burglaries are usually spur-of-the-moment opportunity actions by people looking for a quick score. They are best countered by visible anti-crime items and making sure not to leave valuables out on display. An impulse burglar strikes when they can be sure of a profit, so to speak. 

Planned burglaries are exactly that- planned. These burglaries will often be more lucratoive to the burglar and countering them is more difficult than just making a few visible attempts to keep burglars away (though that certainly helps). Vigilance in all aspects of crime prevention is best to minimise your chances of falling victim to such burglary. 

So without further ado, let’s get into some of the best ways to safeguard your home against crime. 

Install security lighting

Keeping the exterior of your house bathed in light is a good safeguard to prevent criminals from being tempted to investigate your house. Being seen is a big no-no for burglars, and security lights are proven to be effective. A study by the New York Scientific Research Crime Lab discovered that neighbourhood-wide security lighting immediately reduces the amount of crimes occurring in the area by 39% and further reduces the houses chances of becoming burglary victims by 7%. Just remember the dangers of DIY electrical work are not to be underestimated. Speak to a licensed electrician if you want to arrange a security lighting installation. 

Have good relations with your neighbours

Having good relations with your neighbours and knowing their usual comings and goings or habits will help you spot something suspicious earlier than usual. And it’s reciprocal. Your neighbours will be able to react quicker too if you’re being burgled. 

Consider investing in a safe

If you have really valuable items it’s best to keep them in a safe. The effort required to break into a safe in your house is often too much for the burglar and they will not likely want to hang around trying to do so. 

Don’t keep the spare key under a pot plant or in the meter box

Just don’t. They’re the first places burglars check. 

Make your house look occupied at night

An oldie but a goodie, leaving lights on is a great start to making burglars think your home is occupied at night when you go out. An extra step you can take is to leave a radio or the television on for some extra noise. The TV already uses energy when its sitting there in standby mode, so you might as well use it to ward off burglars when you’re out. 

Invest in solid locks, doors and screens

Making your house difficult to enter is a great first hurdle for a would-be burglar. If it’s too much effort or time to break in, they’ll likely be discouraged from trying further. Solid door and window locks are a good start, and security screening on the doors is also effective. 

You should also consider getting a door without windows near the door handle, and use a security chain where possible for an added layer of security. Window shutters, while more expensive than the rest of the methods, also offer excellent protection for your windows and shield your valuables from prying eyes at the same time. 

Be careful about what you post on social media

Status updates, check-ins and other comments regarding your everyday life may seem like a harmless way to let the world know what you’re doing, but aspiring burglars can use that information to plan the best time to break into your house. Avoid giving public advance warning regarding when you’ll be out of the house, and avoid flaunting expensive purchases where possible. Time is the most valuable resource to a burglar, and knowing where, what and when to grab valuables reduces the risk to them significantly. 

Install security cameras

Not only will visible security cameras be good at dissuading potential burglars, but they’ll also give you a much better chance at identifying the perpetrators if your house is broken into. 

Who to speak to for more advice?

Everyone’s situation is unique, and some personalised advice can go a long way. A residential electrician, in particular, will see a wide variety of houses and works with security devices, and so will be in a great position to give advice on the matter. Just be sure you’re speaking with a trusted electrician. Vigilance is key.