According to the FBI, in 2016, there were more than 8 million cases of property crime reported. This means that about 40 percent of all crimes that took place in the U.S. were property crimes. Whether it’s your home or a rental property you own, as an owner you want to ensure that your property is always safe from intruders. With the right security measures and precautions in place, you can rest assured knowing that your home is protected from potential threats. As a homeowner or tenant, there are plenty of ways you can protect yourself from these common crimes and reduce your risk of being targeted by burglars and thieves. Keep reading to find out more about how you can stay safe at home with these tips for property crime prevention…
Install Quality Security Equipment
One of the best ways to protect your home from burglars is to install strong security equipment. Commonly, these devices include locks on doors and windows, security lights, and alarm systems. If you already own a home, you can get your security system installed for free by the company who manufactures it. Alternatively, if you’re looking to buy a new home, you can ask your realtor about the security systems installed. If you’re renting a place and want to increase your safety, talk to your landlord about installing a security system. Many landlords are willing to install it at their own cost if you pay for the service.
Have Strong Doors and Windows
Most intruders break in through a door or window. To protect yourself from this, make sure that you have strong doors and windows fitted with quality locks. Strong doors and windows will help to prevent burglars from breaking into your home easily and without much effort. Alternatively, installing superior quality locks can prevent them from kicking the door in. Furthermore, make sure to keep your doors and windows always locked when you’re at home. This includes your car’s doors as well. Intruders often break into vehicles to break into the house. Also, keep your curtains and blinds closed when you’re at home. This will keep burglars from knowing that you’re inside the house while they’re trying to break in.
Establish Visible Awareness
A great way to keep home intruders away is to establish visible awareness. This means that you should always keep your property’s surroundings visible. Here are a few ways you can establish visible awareness:
Keep your garage doors closed. This will prevent anyone from seeing the tools and equipment you have in your garage. Burglars often look for these items while they’re trying to break into your home.
Keep your outdoor lighting on. Burglars don’t like bright lights because it makes them visible to other people. This means that if someone sees you near or around your home, you can scare them off with help from the police.
Keep your mailbox and driveway empty. If there’s nothing inside your mailbox, burglars will remove it and then replace it with the items they stole from your home. This gives the impression that your house is unoccupied.
Install Fencing
Fencing is another way to protect your home from intruders. If you own a fence, make sure that it’s tall and sturdy enough to keep people out of your property. If you don’t own a fence, you can always build one to increase your home’s security. Alternatively, if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of installing a fence, you can hire a security company to do this for you. They will come to your home and install a tall, sturdy fence on your property. This will cost you a bit of money, but it’s worth it if it helps you to protect your home.
Get an Electronic Surveillance System
Having an electronic surveillance system installed can help you to prevent burglaries and home invasions. These surveillance systems have cameras that allow you to see what’s happening near your property. If you have a security system, you should always keep an eye on your cameras. This way, you can see if someone is trying to break into your home or if there’s a suspicious person nearby. You can also receive alerts on your phone and see what’s happening in real-time. Keep in mind that you must have a strong internet connection to receive alerts from your security system. If you’re having trouble receiving alerts, you can try to fix the problem by upgrading your internet connection.
Conclusion
There are many ways to stay safe at home, but the best way to stay safe is to follow basic safety rules to avoid being targeted in the first place. If you take the proper precautions and put in the effort to make your home a less enticing target, burglars may look for an easier target instead. These tips will help you with property crime prevention, but they’re just the beginning. Remember that staying safe at home isn’t easy, but it’s always worth the effort.
