Make Your Home Unattractive to Criminals 

Homeowners spend a lot of time and money making their home attractive to the outside world. This includes home improvements that add curb appeal. However, there are groups of people for whom homeowners should want their home to be unattractive. We are talking about home burglars and criminals who hope to use your home as a way to make a fast buck.  

Home burglaries are not elaborately planned events like you often see in movies. Most break ins are not the work of “Home Alone” criminals but rather the work of criminals that see your home as an easy mark. How can you make your home less attractive to these criminals? Here are a few ideas to help you. 

Lock All Entry Points 

By now we all know that we should be locking all doors and windows when we are not at home, but did you know that you may want to carry that practice over to the times when you are at home as well. According to a 2020 nationwide survey of 1,500 American homeowners by Zebra online, almost half of all homes do not have a security system and almost 20% of people are still not locking their front door when they head out. 

The study also looked at the idea that homeowners are not taking into consideration other entry points such as doggy doors, cat flaps, bulkheads, and sliding glass doors at the rear of the property. These should all be using security protocols as well.

Burglars are looking for an easy way into a property and a home. Keep your doors, windows and other access points locked when you are out and possibly when you are home as well. 

Show Signs of Life 

Burglars are often deterred from entering a home if they suspect they could be discovered by someone at home or by someone watching them in the neighborhood. For this reason, you should always keep some “signs of life” going even when you are not at home. This could include leaving lights on, having a motion activated light in your entryway, a radio playing, or a television show on. The thought that someone could catch them may be just enough to have a criminal move on to an easier target. 

Keep Criminals Guessing 

Law enforcement experts suggest varying your regular routine to keep criminals guessing. For example, if you jog every day, don’t do it at the same time to give a home invader a chance to follow your pattern and burglarize your home while you are out for a run. 

Additionally, home security experts suggest not giving your information out on  any social media sites. Keep the criminals guessing about when your next vacation is or when you plan to head out for a day of skiing or to the beach. It’s fine to post after an event but never let people know in advance when your home will be vacant. 

Know Your Neighbors 

One of the best ways to keep your home safe is to know the people who live around you. These people may be able to let you know if strangers have been casing your home. They can also take in your newspapers, mail, or other delivered items if you are not at home. 

Be Alarming!

By far the best way to make your home unattractive to criminals is to have a comprehensive security system installed that has 24/7 monitoring. Even if you are at work or on vacation, your alarm will alert the proper authorities that your home is not secure. This has the possibility to stop criminals in their tracks.