It's a sound that people dread; that unexplained bump in the night that sends you running for the nearest make-shift weapon or mobile fone to call for security. Unfortunately,most people don't think about home security until they have experienced a break-in. But there are many easy and inexpensive ways to deter thieves from your home and protect your valuables.
Don't wait until it's too late to take action.
To really burglar proof your home, you need to be able to see your home as a potential thief sees it.
Walk or drive slowly by your house and look at the exterior. Ask Yourself, "If i were going to break into this house what features would i take advantage of? "
Do you leave your garage door or main entrance gate open while doing yard work or working in the house?
Do you store ladders alongside the house where they could provide access to a criminal?
Look at every aspect of your home from an outsider's point of view and look for lapses that might tempt a criminal.
Some of the best deterrents for thieves are found on the exterior of your home.Start by evaluating your landscaping. Overgrown landscaping is an invatation to criminals and provides them With the perfect place to hide. Utilize the 3ft./6ft. rule when planting trees and shrubs. Trim tree branches up to six feet off the ground and shrubs down to three feet. This creates a “window effect" 'n your yard and minimizes hiding for burglars. You might also consider planting thorny shrubs or bushes beneath windows.
Another easy way to keep criminals at bay is to install security lighting around the exterior of your home. Make sure all possible entry points on the outside of your home are well lit, including doors and windows on the main floor and basement windows (if any). High-pressure sodium lights and mercury vapour lights are economical and illuminate a larger area than regular incandescent lights. You might also consider motion trigger lights that turn on when they sense movements.
Also consider a high fence with barb wires or electric fences.
Many burglars enter homes by simply breaking glass windows. A good deterrent is to have better quality glass installed at vulnerable points around the perimeter of your residence. Laminated glass, tempered glass and wired glass are usually four to five times stronger than regular glass and add additional strength to your Windows.
To gain entry, a burglar would have to strike the glass repeatedly in the same spot in order to make a small opening. Burglar proofs around the windows are also effective in deterring burglars who are typically reluctant to make too much noise for fear of attracting attention.
Burglar alarms should be installed and tested every year. Although more expensive, if your existing system needs replacing, consider getting connected to a monitored service.
If installing a new system,get specialista advice from a company and only use a reputable supplier after getting several quotes.
If you can't afford a system, then even a dummy alarm box on the front of the house will make a burglar think twice. There are always other homes that will be easier to break into.
