Using Your Home's Appearance to Stop Break-ins

Did you know that the easiest way to prevent burglaries and other home invasions is to improve the appearance of your home? Your home's appearance plays a big part in whether criminals find it an attractive and worthwhile target. Many criminals will "case" the neighborhood, looking for homes that look like easy targets. They will then return to break in when it looks like you're not there. Home security doesn't have to be expensive, and you don't have to sacrifice aesthetics for a secure home. In fact, with just a few simple strategies you can make your home much less attractive for burglars and other criminals.
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<br>Criminals will pick a home that looks like there are worthwhile items to steal. To prevent this, keep the curtains closed on your windows, especially those on the ground floor. You don't want thieves peering inside your windows at your new TV and video gaming systems. Keep these items inside the house where they can't be seen.
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<br>Criminals are also looking for a home that is easy to break into. Doors with panes of glass make attractive targets, because thieves can unlock the door themselves after they break the glass pane. Did you know that nearly a third of all burglaries happen when doors and windows are kept open or unlocked? Keep your windows and doors locked securely to prevent break-ins. A dummy camera placed in the eaves of your home is an easy way to make criminals think they are being watched; most criminals will not break into a home when they see such a device. Keep ladders, crowbars, hammers, and other devices locked in the shed so they cannot be used by opportunistic thieves to break into your own home.
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<br>Finally, criminals are casing the neighborhood to look for homes where they won't get caught breaking in. Place signs around your home alerting potential criminals to the presence of a home security system, even if you don't actually have one. A criminal is much less likely to choose a home with a security system than one without, and they have no way of knowing that your home does not actually have such features. To catch any burglars that may break in despite the signs, place door and window alarms on any doors or windows that are accessible from outside the home. Though these won't prevent break-ins, they are very likely to keep intruders from coming any further into your home.
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<br>Avoid planting bushes or other cover around windows or doors. Criminals can hide there, out of sight, as they break into your home with no worry about being seen by those driving or walking past your home. If you feel that planting bushes near these areas is necessary, choose particularly thorny varieties. When planning for home security, walk around your home and think about how you might be able to get in if you were locked out. If you can find a way in, secure it. This is a method a criminal may use to get inside your home.
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<br>Your home should look occupied at all times; thieves know they are less likely to get caught if no one is inside the home at the time. If you are on vacation, have a neighbor or friend collect your mail, and possibly even cut your grass. Leave a light on when you're not home. Though it may cost a few pennies in electricity, if it makes a would-be burglar decide that they should not stop at your home, it is well worth the investment. With careful planning, you can protect your home from burglars and other criminals without spending a small fortune or compromising the beauty of your home.
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