Protecting your homes from unwanted guests doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. You don’t have to rely on expensive security systems with high-tech cameras and alarms just to secure your property. There are plenty of low-effort, no-cost measures that you and your family can take to make sure that your homes are secure at all times. Strangely enough, the primary method of how burglars get into your house is through unlocked doors and windows. Call a residential or commercial window installation company in Sussex or in the area where you live to ask them about securing your windows and doors.
Lock Windows and Doors
According to statistics of home burglaries, criminals are just looking for easy targets. About 34% of burglars get access through the front door, while 23% use the first-floor window. Simply put, burglars are looking for easy targets, so lock your windows and doors even when you are at home. You might also want to periodically change the locks and bolts on your windows and doors because over time these locks and bolts can get rusty. They’ll be easy to pry open.
Hold a Household Meeting
Make sure that everyone in the household—you, your partner, your children, and the nannies—understand the importance of securing the property. Give everyone a chore such as checking the locks and windows before bedtime or changing the password in the alarm system. If everyone works to secure the home, there will be fewer mistakes.
Install Motion Detector Lighting
Motion detector lights cost only $15. These are proven to deter crime. What motion detector lights do is to turn on when it detects a movement around your house, especially in your backyard where it can go very dark at night. Burglars and thieves are confident in the dark. However, when the lights are turned on, that’s when they panic and go away. Also, if you have CCTV cameras installed, it will be easier for you to see the burglars when the lights are turned on.
Make the Burglars Think that Somebody Is Home
Burglars are looking for homes with no inhabitants. If your house looks empty, thieves will most likely target it. Make sure that there are lights turned on at night, that the newspapers are not piling up on the front yard, and that the bushes and plants in the garden are trimmed. Make your house neat and eliminate spots where burglars can hide.
Be Smart About Where You Hide Your Keys
If you’re one of those people who are too confident about hiding their spare keys under the mat or beneath a plant container, you should reconsider your options. Leave your spare keys to a trusted neighbour or have a combination lock box.
Put Up Fake Security and Camera Signs
If you can’t afford a home security system for now, the least you can do is to place up fake signs saying that you have. Most burglars are looking for an easy way into the house. They won’t bother checking if your homes are installed with security systems. That’s just too much effort for them.
Another thing that you need to remember is that even though you are inside your home, never leave valuables in plain sight of the window. The reason why thieves target your property is that they believe that there are valuable things there that they can sell for a profit. Avoid leaving expensive jewellery, gadgets, and money in places that can be seen through your windows.
