Pretend you're a burglar, and take a good look at your home. What's the first thing you would look for when making the decision to break in?
If you answered “an unoccupied residence,” you're thinking like a burglar—and that's what you must do when taking the proper steps to protect your home.
“Most break-ins occur during the daytime, when homeowners are not at their residence,” says Dr. Tod W. Burke, an associate professor of criminal justice at Radford University in the United States . “Night time break-ins are rare. But when they do occur, they may be quite dangerous to the homeowner, as the suspect expects someone to be home and will usually prepare for the encounter—often while armed with a weapon.”
Don't make a burglar's job any easier. Dr. Burke, a former police officer, offers the following guidelines for protecting your home:
- Practice proper key control. Do not place spare keys in obvious locations, such as under a doormat or in a planter. Be aware of how many house keys have been distributed—and to whom. If the number is “out of control,” it's time to change your locks.
- If you're away from home for an extended period, use light timers. Ask a trusted neighbour to pick up newspapers and mail. Don't place a hold or “vacation stop” on papers or mail, as it alerts employees that you will be gone.
- Keep shrubbery and grass cut. Shrubbery near windows should not block them. This allows a burglar to conceal himself prior to unlawful entry.
- Keep garage doors closed when not in use.
- Buy a dog. Size does not matter—as long as it barks at strangers.
- Keep the exterior of your home well lighted at night. Burglars hate light and noise, which attract attention.
- Contact the police department when you will be away for an extended period. Officers may be able to drive by each day to check your residence.
- Have neighbours call the police when they see truant students in the neighbourhood. Many daytime burglaries are perpetrated by students who skip school.
- Remove all ladders leading to the roof after use, and place them in the garage or shed. Do not leave them on the ground. Burglars may use ladders to gain access to upper levels.
- Make sure all doors and windows are secured when you are not home. If you are home, open windows far enough to allow proper airflow—and no more. Windows can be secured by using a simple nail that will allow them to partially open, without giving a burglar easy entry. The nail prevents the window from opening further than you permit.
- Providing you have a solid door and frame, use deadbolt locks. If you have a window in your front door, use a double-cylinder deadbolt, which requires a key both inside and outside. If you are concerned about small children or elderly family members and you need a fire escape, have a lock that is low enough for them to reach, and keep a key close by—but out of reach of someone who may attempt entry by breaking the window in the door.
- Secure door hinges. A door's lock has little value if the hinges are on the outside. (Many are on the outside for fire-safety reasons.) These can be secured by removing the middle screw and replacing it with a roof nail. The door will still open, but it cannot be lifted off its hinges.
- Know who is at the front door before opening it. Install a peephole in the front door.
- If you wish to invest in a security system, find one that fits your specific needs.