Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Having your home burglarized can be a terrifying experience. Even if you aren’t there when it happens, it can shatter your sense of security and make you feel violated. And if you are there when it happens, your very life could be at risk.
According to the FBI, there were 1,928,465 burglaries in the United States in 2013. That’s one every 16 seconds. And a third of these burglaries happened to homes where a door or window was left unlocked, which brings me to the point of this article.
Many burglaries could be prevented if people didn’t make so many home security mistakes. If a burglar is absolutely determined to get into your home in particular, he will probably find a way. But as long as you avoid making mistakes (like leaving a window unlocked), most burglars will skip your home in search of an easier target.
Here are some common home security mistakes. How many of these mistakes have you made?
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1. Hiding a Key Under a Doormat
Even first-time burglars know to check under the doormat. After all, it’s the oldest trick in the book. I doubt any of my readers have done this, but I have to mention it just in case.
2. Hiding a Key Anywhere Outside
You might think you’re ahead of the curve by hiding a key under a rock (or in a lawn ornament, a birdhouse, etc.), but experienced burglars will know to check these places. Instead, just be careful with your keys and give one to a trusted neighbor. If for some reason you have to leave a key outside, put it in a plastic bag and bury it (just make sure it’s a spot you can find again).
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3. Leaving a Ladder in Your Backyard
If you have a two-story house, make sure your upstairs windows are locked and your ladder is in the garage or a storage shed. Failing to do these things is almost as bad as leaving a key outside.
4. Using Cheap Door and Window Locks
Consider upgrading to more heavy-duty door and window locks. Many burglars already know how to get through standard locks, so make it as difficult for them as you can. That way they either won’t be able to get them open, or it will take them so long that they won’t bother trying.
5. Forgetting To Lock Your Garage Door
The garage door is one of the easiest ways to break into a house. Burglars can use the hooked end of a wire coat hanger to reach the emergency release lever so they can open the door manually, and it only takes a few seconds. To prevent this, get out of your car and use the key lock on your garage door (if it has one) or install a Gaplock.
6. Relying On A Barking Dog
Don’t get me wrong, a loud dog can be a great deterrent. But you should still lock your doors and have an alarm system. As intimidating as dogs sound, they don’t usually attack intruders. Unless the burglar is afraid of dogs, yours probably won’t do much good and could even get hurt.
7. Using Fake Security Equipment
In the past, I advocated buying dummy cameras, but since then I realized that experienced burglars can probably tell the difference between real and fake equipment. Nowadays you can buy security cameras that can be accessed from your smart phone. It’s a significant investment, but burglars will think twice if they look up and see a real camera pointed at them.
8. Providing Hiding Places in Your Yard
Large bushes, untrimmed trees, and big trash cans are things burglars could hide behind until you get home. As soon as you open the garage or front door, they could ambush you. To make sure this doesn’t happen, trim all the bushes and trees and get rid of any large objects. You want to have a clear view of every part of your yard.
9. Not Having Enough Outdoor Lights
Dark areas also make great hiding places. A burglar dressed in black can blend into the shadows and hide right in front of you. To stop this from happening, put motion sensor lights on every corner of your house.
10. Leaving Boxes From Expensive Items Outside
Have you ever noticed how the day after Christmas you see big empty boxes from TVs and computers on the side of the road? I always cringe when people do this. They’re just giving burglars a reason to break into their homes. Instead, either keep those boxes inside until you can take them to a dumpster, or fold them up and put them in trash bags.
11. Putting Your Valuables Near a Window
When I was a child, my parents had a glass gun cabinet right next to the living room window. Can you guess what happened? Yup, someone broke in and stole the guns. If a burglar looked in your living room window right now, what would he see? Be sure to move any valuable items away from windows. And if you can’t (for example, a big-screen TV), then at least close the curtains.
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12. Putting Your Alarm System Near a Window
Signs and stickers that warn of a home security system can be a good deterrent. But if your alarm system is too close to the window, an experienced burglar could peek inside, see whether it’s armed, and find out exactly what he’s dealing with. Make sure you can only see your alarm system if you’re already inside.
13. Forgetting to Maintain Your Security System
Be sure to check your security system periodically to make sure it’s in working order. You should also have it checked by a professional every year. If it’s not working right, then it’s just a huge waste of money.
14. Announcing Where You Are / Will Be On Social Media
It drives me crazy when people announce their location or vacation plans on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. They forget that they’re also telling the world, “I’m not home right now!” or “I won’t be home next week!” At least wait until you after you get home before you share your recent whereabouts.
15. Leaving No Lights (Or Just One Light) On While You’re Away
Most people leave at least one light on when they go on vacation, but that trick is too obvious. If a burglar watches your house all evening and doesn’t see any lights turn on or off, he’ll realize no one is home. Instead, connect your lights to digital timers so it seems like someone is there.
16. Forgetting to Stop the Mail or Newspaper
To find out who is on vacation, all a burglar has to do is walk through a neighborhood and check mailboxes and front porches. If your mailbox is overflowing and there are several newspapers on your porch, it’s a dead giveaway. Ask someone to get your mail, and temporarily cancel the newspaper.
17. Letting Your Guard Down
People who have never been robbed tend to be way too complacent. I’m not saying you should feel tense and paranoid all the time, but at least make a habit of checking your surroundings. Scan your front yard before you park your car, look out your window before you go to bed, and keep an eye out for suspicious vehicles or people watching your home. It never hurts to be cautious.
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Why not live in a gray man house:
1) Don’t landscape your yard. Mow it yourself.
2) Drive a USED car. Keep a new car in your garage.
3) If you own firearms; Do not tell anyone that you own them.
4) Don’t be seen wearing expensive clothes and jewelry often. Do not carry an expensive cell phone in your hands. Keep computers out of sight.
5) Be carful about the trash you set out for city pick up. Do not leave Amazon boxes by your curb.
6) keep your window curtains CLOSED at all times.
7) Don’t leave bicycles out in your yard.
My father showed me many ways to keep people from breaking into my home. I still do it today, but my grandkids will not listen to me and I really feel sorry for them not understanding.
Lot of good ideas…I am a retired K-9 Officer so first off…NEVER..depend on a dog…trained or otherwise…if someone wants in a dog by himself might scare off some kid but not anyone determined to enter your home…dogs are meant to be used as a team with a handler…just use common sense…one of the best things you can do is leave a radio or TV going…..have an outside light come on….your home is the single biggest investment you will make in your life and to not make an investment in some type of security to protect it is just stupid…find a local security contractor that has a good reputation and install a couple of door contacts…a motion detector and a loud siren…you don’t have to do every window ..once the bad guy gets inside the motion detector will get them…again common sense will protect your investment
Good advice, Tom. Thanks for sharing!
Recently my car was stolen off the street in front of my apt bldg. It shud have been parked in our secure parking garage. I suspect a neighbour assisted, i had had a disagreement with him just days before. I suspect he tipped off a friend who then opened a door using a coathanger. My 2nd key + a keyfob were in the drink holder in the console, he didnt need to hotwire the ignition or bypass the alarm. I suspect a very local thief as all the subsequent tickets were very local, parking, tolls, red light cameras, speed cameras. The car was associated to 3 local minor crimes before it was rettieved by police. I was faced with over $400 in towing & impound charges, a tank of gas, hundreds of $ in tolls & tickets, significant collision damage, and cleanup of exterior & interior fingerprinting powder. Major inconvenience all because i didnt use my secure parking spot, left key in the car. After i got the car back the thief returned to it to steal more items from the backseat including things that were his but not confiscated by police.
i wanna point out some of the ideas i really stupid and wasting the mother nature, all u really need is a working order security system and the system must be able to send fault signals to you or to the ppl u want to inform if something is wrong. Im using Paradox at my house, every room, door and even the windows are rigged with it, if i leave a single window open, i cant arm my house before i close it, and if my house loses power, i get text messege from the system so i know something is up. Allso i have placed the GSM system to test signal every singel day by sending me messege to tell me how the current status is, what is closed and what is open. Für le bonus i have allso added smoke detectors to the system, allso water guard in case biler or pipe system in my utility room break and we get flooded, i get the call via GSM system that is controlled by paradox secutiry system. Its cheap and i dont have to worry about some asswipe breaking in the house no more.
I have all my lights on timers according to my routine. That way my situation does not appear to change when I leave. I have a large mail box that holds my mail and newspapers for 10 days. I only take the mail out 1 or 2 times a week, so a build up would not appear unusual. I don’t use social media and do not have the need for everyone to know or be envious of my vacations or visiting. Without this need to brag about where I am, what I bought, what I have, it has always seemed safer to me. If I am pleased with something, I will share with close friends on a one to one basis, if they are looking at something similar. The safest measures you can take is to be more private and stop seeking the approval or envy of others.
Bad Idea regarding newspapers. Do not stop newspapers (or mail for that matter). Do you really want your paper boy (and his friends) to know that you are on vacation? I’ll spare you the details based on years of experience but, telling anyone (other than a trusted friend or neighbor – without teenage kids) that your house will be abandoned for a period of time is definitely not good advice. Don’t do it…….. Dan (retired NYPD Detective)
Lights & locks. Thieves don’t like to be seen. Security lights, especially behind your house, are ultra important. Motion activated recommended. A light coming on startles a crook more so than a constant light he planned to evade. Deadbolt locks are best, with steel doors. An alarm system with a local siren will deter most bad people from entering. Sensibly arm yourself! Have offensive tools in key locations in the house. Be capable to fight your way to firepower. Stay aware.
Don’t just leave your home keys under your doormat, better keep it with you and have a CCTV camera installed in your house and a safety slarm as well.
Um – if they want to break in they will. You can hide keys, lock doors, leave TV & radio on, alarms & video surveillance cameras. If anything Video Surveillance cameras attract Theaves.
Great post, thank you for taking the time to put it all together!
Another interesting idea for your house key is to actually carry it with you like millions of people do
Real security cameras are not a “Significant investment” anymore. Obviously the writer didn’t do his due research in that area. I’ve purchased decent cameras for under $100 and you can get a DVR system with mobile access for $100 or cheaper sometimes. I don’t consider that “Significant” at all. They are WELL worth the minor cost. I’m shocked more people don’t have these systems set up.
What is “Minor” to you isn’t to everyone. So get over your shock. Learn about reality
So $100 is not a “Minor” investment to you and your property? Do you actually own any property over $100 in value or do you live in a cardboard box?
Your a dick
dumb post anyway.
I tell people all the time, don’t post where you are on facebook in real-time, save that for when you get home.
Instead of giving a key to a neighbor, purchase a key lock box that can be mounted by your front door (they have ones now you can mount directly onto the wall, so it doesn’t hang off your door knob). These can have complex codes and are difficult to get into. It would be easier to break the door/window than an intruder trying to access this box. Also, if you have multiple cars (some that have to park outside), don’t leave a garage door opener or house key in them that can be easily seen, gotten to.
There are window “bars” that are aesthetically pleasing and even offer a way to open them to escape (say during a fire) that can only be opened by someone inside the house. There are also “armor” you can buy for your door locks/jams that increase the strength of the “weak spots” on your door that make it a lot harder to kick in (though it is recommended to get a solid wood door / steal door in addition to this armor). Add in a decorative security screen door (look like a metal screen door with glass, but has stronger locks and bars that prevent easy entry), and you significantly increase your ability to withstand a full frontal assault at your door entrances.
Use “security” plants that have large thorns around your windows so intruders shy away from attempting to access them. Dogs are great to have, though if you are travelling on vacation, you’ve likely taken the dogs with you or taken them to a friend/family/shelter to take care of them while you are away.
While I am a big 2nd Amendment fan, you have to be diligent in storing your guns and instead of openly keeping one in your nightstand (or under your pillow), instead keep a loaded gun in a “quick access” mini-vault beside your bed on in your side table. This way, if an intruder breaks in while you are not home, your gun isn’t easily accessible to steal. If they break in while you are home, you still have quick access to your firearm to use in self-defense. Always lock up the rest of your guns/ammo/accessories unloaded in a gun safe, preferably one that needs a key code entry (the old school rotary dial ones are supposedly easy to crack for those in the know).
The single best security device you can get is a well trained protection dog. http://goo.gl/39rIxn