Criminals who commit all manner of offenses want one thing in common: to find the easiest targets and get away quick. That includes burglars.
While there’s no way to guarantee that your home won’t be targeted by a burglar, there are steps you can take to make your home a less- attractive target. Authorities found that in 2017, a burglary was committed in Australia every 3 minutes. In Melbourne, crime incidents have decreased, but despite the decline of crime rates, you must never be complacent. Here are seven things you can do to deter burglars from entering your home.
-
Remove Possible Hiding Spots
Burglars may use your shrubbery to their advantage. Trim down any bushes, trees, or plants that they can use to hide in or conceal their movements. Change your greenery to smaller bushes and plants. If you have any other structures like tool sheds, separate guest houses, greenhouses, or pool houses, be sure to lock and secure them at all times.
-
Replace Old Doors and Windows
Is your front door or windows old and worn out? If they appear to be unable to withstand a strong kick, they probably won’t. Replace any doors that are cracked, warped or extremely damaged. Pay special attention to your entry door. If it’s something you can’t repair, be sure to get a new door from one of the more trusted door shops in Melbourne.
The same goes for your windows. You can make your windows more difficult for a burglar to force their way through by installing grilles, smash-proof glass, protective film or security screens. You may also want to look at replacing the locks on your doors and adding more secure window locks.
-
Light Up Your Home
If your house can be broken into during the day when you’re at work, burglars also operate under cover of darkness. Put your house off their radar by installing enough outdoor lighting. Place lamps on your lawn, front yard, close to the garage, tool shed, deck, and other outdoor structures. You can install motion-activated lighting for added security as well.
-
Secure Your Garage Door
Apart from simply breaking into your home by boldly kicking your front door, burglars may attempt to gain entry by going through your garage door. To prevent them from entering your home in this manner, make sure you never leave your garage door opener in any of your cars that aren’t inside your carport. For added security, upgrade to a smart garage door opener that links to your smartphone.
-
Be Careful About Spare Keys
Of all the burglaries in Australia until March 2019, 12% were successful due to homeowners leaving their keys in hidden spots close to their front door. Leaving keys under the doormat, in a plant box or other obvious spots made it easier for burglars to gain access to the homes. Don’t leave any keys out for burglars or anyone else to find, and keep the keys on a key chain, on your person. Should you decide to leave keys outside your door, store them in an inexpensive, secure key lock box.
-
Get a Noisy Dog
Burglars are wary of dogs that bark at strangers. The dog doesn’t have to be vicious or big to discourage would-be intruders; they only need to be noisy. A yapping mutt is enough to stave off a burglar from trying to break into your home, as the constant din of the dog could attract unwanted attention.
-
Install Security Cameras
Another effective deterrent against burglars is a security camera. Install one or more to cover the perimeter of your property, and burglars will think twice before targeting your home. You can choose from a variety of models, like this one that has LED floodlights, a motion-activated alert, two-way speaker system and DVR capabilities.
Remember that even if you use all of these measures, they’re no guarantee that your house won’t be targeted. Even so, it’s better to have some of these safety measures in place—you may not be able to keep burglars out a hundred per cent, but you don’t have to make it easy for them to come in.
