4 Essential Tips To Prevent Burglaries and Theft In 2020
Home burglary and theft are all-too-common. How common? Unfortunately, a break-in occurs as often as once every 13 seconds. About 66% of all burglaries take place in private homes and 95% of those burglaries taking place in private homes happen after the thief or thieves force their way in by picking locks, forcing a door, or breaking windows. Plus, home burglaries in some Massachusetts counties were up just last month in December 2019.
Thankfully, there are several things you can do to protect your home and your family. Follow these tips to just about eliminate your chances of a break-in.
Your House Needs to Look Occupied, Even if It’s Not
Do not advertise that you are not home, overtly or inadvertently. Whether you are home or not, keep lights on. Police recommend using automatic timers for lights if you are planning an extended trip. Hook up at least a few lights to automatic timers and have them turn on and off a few times a day. In other words, create the illusion that someone is home and using light fixtures as they normally would. You can also invest in an integrated security system that you can control from your phone and allows you to coordinate your home’s lights, alarms, and locks all at once.
When you’re away, you shouldn’t let mail or advertisements pile up in the mailbox. Ask a neighbor or trusted friend to pick it up for you or visit the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) official website to put a temporary hold on mail delivery. Do not leave trash cans and recycling bins out for days at a time and do not be gone long enough to let grass and plants visibly grow.
Finally, if you have an alarm system, make sure it is on and fully operational. Unfortunately, thieves and burglars can get crafty. If you continually leave without activating the alarm, it is possible that a thief or thieves may pick up on this pattern of behavior. Keep alarms in a dimly lit, confined space without windows or mirrors. Potential thieves may check alarms using windows and mirrors to see if they are on and working.
The Right Locks and Surveillance Can Help
Talk to your local locksmith about the safest lock options and lock services for your home. A locksmith near Medford, MA can easily install a deadbolt lock on your front door, back door, and other doors connecting to the exterior of your house. If you are looking for a locksmith, Medford, MA and nearby cities have plenty that can counsel you and lead you in the right direction. Most will recommend a deadbolt with a key, changing locks when you first move in, and changing the locks if you misplace your keys.
Remember not to compromise the integrity of deadbolt locks. In other words, do not stow a spare key in the obvious spots, like under your doormat or a fake rock. There are new, magnetic lock boxes with combinations you can use to store a spare key inside. You simply set the combination, lock the box, and conceal it by using the magnet to attach it under a metal mailbox or a large metal light fixture. Even if someone finds it, they still do not have the combination and they cannot get inside your home!
Take Another Look at the Outside of Your House
Do you have trees, shrubs, or plants in need of desperate trimming? Remember that this does not just concern the look or aesthetics of your home, it can play a big role in your safety, too! Keep hedges and trees trimmed back and your yard clean, open, and free of convenient places for burglars to hide. It is also a good idea to use landscaping to your advantage. For example, plant bushes or plants with thorns under big windows that may otherwise be a target. Remember attractive-looking plants, like rose bushes, have thorns, too! You can plant strategically without sacrificing the look and overall outer appearance of your home.
Finally, installing a motion-activated outdoor light or lights may be just as important as contacting a locksmith about installing a deadbolt. Motion-sensitive lights immediately bring attention to your home, effectively discouraging burglars. They are especially useful if you live in a busy neighborhood.
Use Social Media Cautiously
Unfortunately, checking into your favorite restaurant can be a dangerous thing to do. You do not know who may be using social media to look at your profile, even if it’s relatively private. Remember that mostly anonymous profile you accepted as a friend months ago? They could easily be someone casing your home. For peace of mind, keep check-ins to a minimum and only if you are relatively close to your house. For abroad trips, any pictures and updates can wait until after you return.
If you are looking for a locksmith in Boston, MA and the surrounding areas, there are many locksmiths out there to help you determine the safest options for your home. Don’t hesitate to call them and talk about home safety today!