Everyone wants to feel safe in their home, but not everyone has the budget to buy and install a massive total home security system. There are few easy steps you can take to improve the security of your home.
Moving In
If you are moving into a new home, the first thing you should do is change all the locks on the outside doors. The previous homeowners may have said they turned over all their keys to you, but you never know. They may have forgotten about a key they lost years ago, or duplicates may have been made that they were never informed about. This is also a great time to install deadbolt locks. It is recommended that all exterior doors be equipped with at least 1 inch thick deadbolt locks reinforced by plywood or sheet metal. Some burglars will try to enter your home using force. Deadbolt locks will help keep them out.
Don’t Broadcast Information
People these days love to share their every activity on social media. Pictures of yoga class are uploaded to Instagram, vacation photos are shared on Facebook, and personal restaurant reviews are sent out on Twitter. Criminals are keying in on this trend. Tech-savvy burglars can track homeowners on social media outlets, and use this information to plan break-ins. If the entire world knows you are spending the next two weeks in Paris, they will also know your house is going to be empty.
Bright Lights
A majority of burglaries take place at night. Keeping your house well lit is one of the best ways to keep burglars out. Lights signal that there is someone home. They also increase visibility, making it easier for a potential burglar to get caught. Even if they know you are not home, burglars are less likely to enter a well-lit home. It may seem overly simple, but just leaving one some lights is one of the best ways to stay protected.
