It’s late at night, and you’re half-asleep when, suddenly, you hear the loud crash of a window breaking. Someone’s trying to break in, and perhaps already has.
What do they want? Probably money, but you never know. Are they armed? Who knows, and if they are, who knows what they’re carrying or how willing they are to use it?
What do you do now? Well, that sort of depends on how prepared you are. Do you have any security systems, professional or homemade?
If you’ve already set up your home for defense against break-ins, then good for you. If you haven’t and are currently facing the situation described above, it’s most likely too late to do set one up now. However, if you’re not currently being robbed, then we have some great home defense tips to help you avoid that situation.
Security System
You’ve no doubt seen commercials for these on TV. Security systems vary, but most are an electrical device that monitors the entrances of your home and notifies proper authorities if someone enters without authorization.
Each version of this system is owned and sold by a different home security company, and often has a different range of services. For instance, many come equipped with video cameras and a wireless capability that lets you monitor your house from anywhere.
Always Look Busy
Regardless of whether you’re there or not, your home should never appear empty. There are a lot of ways to achieve this. For instance, some would suggest putting lights in your home on timers so they turn on and off every once in a while.
Some others have claimed that placing a large pair of men’s boots near the doorway will give the impression that a large man lives there, which tends to deter some would-be burglars.
Close and Lock Windows
It doesn’t occur to a lot of us, but a truly determined thief can potentially find their way in through the window. Closing and locking the windows gives them one less avenue to get in.
That being said, there are other ways to make your windows inaccessible without necessarily closing them.
Move Things Away from the Windows
If you don’t want to shut your windows, you can always make them more difficult to reach. Making sure things aren’t near the windows, such as firewood, bricks, or really anything.
This may not make it impossible to climb into your windows, but having nothing to climb on makes it that much harder.
Strategic Use of Plants
This one seems weird, but it’s actually quite clever. There are a few different approaches to this, but the basic idea is to use plants to put burglars at a disadvantage.
On the one hand, some advocate reducing the number of bushes in your yard so thieves have fewer places to hide. Others suggest planting more bushes, namely rosebushes and other thorny plants. The hazard of pricking themselves on a plant may lead some burglars to believe it isn’t worth it.
Others, meanwhile, may cut themselves on the plant, which means that they may leave DNA behind during the robbery.
Keep the Garage Closed and Locked
In most homes, the garage is directly connected to the house, and thieves will often try to get into it. In addition to holding your car, it also provides a door into your home which may not be locked, assuming you trusted the garage door to work.
In addition to closing the garage door, keep it locked if you can and blocked if you can’t.
Not only is a locked garage door good for deterring burglars, it’s also good for tricking them. An experienced thief may actually watch your car if they can and look for signs of an upcoming trip or even just a run to the store. Blocking their view of your car is a great way to end this before it starts.
Love Thy Neighbor
Okay, so you don’t have to love your neighbors, but you should at least trust them. If they knew what your plans are and when the house will be empty, they can watch and report if they believe something suspicious is going on.
Plus, if you have pets, you at least have someone to take care of them while you’re gone.
Know Your Locksmith
Knowing a locksmith can be very useful. They’re in the business of protecting homes and choosing locks, so they’re bound to be full of great security advice, at least if they’re accredited.
Keep in mind, there are some pretty shady operations out there, so you might want to do a little research on the locksmiths in your area before committing to anything.
Wiring
This one’s a little trickier, but, if at all possible, try not to have any important wiring or fuse boxes outside. This ensures that your electricity, and everything attached to it, can’t be suddenly cut by a hopeful burglar.
Not only is that possibility terrifying, it also knocks out your security system, which leaves one less obstacle between the thief and your stuff.
Safes and Other Precautions
It may seem a little cliche, but there’s a reason for it. This is a form of security that is basically a last line of defense, in case a burglar actually does get into the house.
It may not be perfect, but a well-hidden and secure place for your valuables could keep some of them in your home and in your hands.
No Need to be Insecure
It’s perfectly normal to worry about how safe your home is, especially with the sheer amount of burglary cases in the United States. There are a lot of ways to do this, but it mostly comes to locking up and being prepared.
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