Home burglaries occur daily throughout the country. In fact, in the United States, over 2.5 million homes are broken into each year. Estimates show a $3.8 billion loss of people’s personal property. To prevent property crime from happening to you, let us discuss four ways your home is an easy target for criminals and how to harden it. 

Make Your Home a Hard Target

1. Unlocked Doors & Windows

There are many ways that a burglar can break into a home. This includes prying or kicking open a door, breaking a window, or even going through your attic or crawlspace. However, one of the most common ways burglars enter your home is through unlocked doors and windows.

Many people do not lock their homes because they believe that the neighborhood is safe and the risk of a break-in is low. Similarly, they may be forgetful or find that locking their home up is an inconvenience.

Making a habit of securing your doors and windows can help prevent burglary and keep you safe from harm.

For the doors, deadbolts are generally the best locking system for keeping thieves out. Additionally, secondary locks on your windows are great for extra security. A few examples you can choose from include sliding, window pins, or keyed locks. Moreover, if you are moving into a new home, upgrading all the locks on your entryways is a good idea.

Furthermore, it is important that your door and windows are locked at all times. It may be tempting to secure these entrances strictly at night. However, most burgers choose to break into homes during the day, specifically between 10p.m and 3p.m, as most individuals are either at work or out running errands.

2. No Security System

Security cameras not only help give you peace of mind that your home is safe but also help deter criminals. Thieves do not want or like to be watched as they commit crimes. In fact, many burglars will skip houses with surveillance cameras to avoid being caught.

Using a camera sends a very direct message that whoever is on your property is being observed. Make sure the cameras are visible and for extra security. Likewise, plant signs of the surveillance company you use on your property to inform thieves that there are cameras on the premises.

On top of surveillance cameras, alarm systems are another useful item to deter criminals. If thieves do manage to get inside your home, the loud noise can encourage them to flee. 

3. Oversharing on Social Media

In today’s world, social media is the number one go-to spot for sharing the latest updates in your life. However, this can pose some danger if you are not careful. Oversharing on social media, such as posting about an upcoming vacation, lets criminals know that no one will be home during that time.

To prevent becoming a target, you must remain mindful of the information you post online and when you choose to post it. Rather than post before or during a trip, wait until after your vacation before posting any photos.

4. Letting Your Mail Pile Up

Like oversharing on social media, another sign that tells a criminal your home is vacant is your mail piling up. If you plan to go out of town, you should ask a trusted neighbor or friend to grab your mail and hold onto it until you return. Moreover, you can ask your local post office to hold your mail for up to thirty days.

A Hardened Home is a Safe Home

According to the FBI, in the United States, a break-in occurs every 26 seconds. For this reason, you should take the proper steps to harden your home from burglary.

Securing entrances in your home, installing security cameras, being mindful about the content you post online, and not letting your mail pile up are four effective and simple ways to make your home a safer place.