How to deter burglars from your home
Pretend You Are Home and More Ways to Deter Burglary
Theft happens, so try these affordable ways to increase security and protect your home.
As much as you'd like to believe your property is safe from theft, it happens — a lot. In 2020, there were an estimated 6.45 million property crime offenses in the United States.
Fortunately, there are many easy, affordable and commonsense things homeowners can do to protect their homes.
Tighten up your security
Deter burglars with these tips:
- Add a generic security sign to your yard or stickers to your door. It may not fool a burglar, but he may think twice about hitting your home.
- Consider setting up a home security system, which can qualify homeowners for discounts on insurance.
- Create open spaces in your landscaping and keep bushes trimmed so burglars have fewer places to hide. If you're landscaping, plant thorny bushes such as roses in vulnerable areas.
- Install a motion sensor light to catch intruders by surprise — but put it high enough that a burglar can't reach up and unscrew the bulb.
- At night, turn on your lights, open your curtains and walk around the exterior of your home. You'll see what's visible to a burglar from your yard or sidewalk. Then have someone turn off the lights in your home. You may be surprised how much you can still see from street level. After this exercise, you might choose to move certain items or draw the blinds more frequently.
- Install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors and doors from an attached garage. Select a deadbolt that has been given a Grade 1 from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The ANSI tests locks for security and durability, and gives them a Grade 1, 2 or 3 with Grade 1 being the best.
- To make existing locks more secure, install a heavy-duty strike plate using three-inch screws that penetrate the wall stud. Make sure the door strike is held in place by four or more screws. And strengthen the door frame by installing a door jamb reinforcement product.
- Put tools, bikes and other items away when you're done using them.
If your possessions are too visible, burglars may wonder what else you have inside. - Dogs are exceptional deterrents to theft. Let your dog be seen — and heard. A thief who knows there's a dog in the house may pick another target.
What do burglars look for?
Thieves are typically looking for small items they can grab quickly and resell easily.
- Drawers and closets in the master bedroom are often where thieves look first. Hide valuables, jewelry and cash elsewhere.
- Thieves will hit the family room, looking for gaming systems and small electronics. Cover your windows with shades that filter light but block an intruder's view of your components.
- Your desk is filled with important papers, statements and checkbooks — which could lead to identity theft. Encrypt vulnerable information that's stored on your home computer, and keep important documents in a home safe. Then be sure to keep your safe well hidden and bolted to the floor so it cannot be easily removed.
Pretend you're there
Keep your home looking lived-in when you're away.
- Leave lights on timers when you're away — but choose timers that have random settings so thieves can't detect a pattern.
- If you'll be away for a short time, leave a radio or TV on, turned up loud enough that it might be heard outdoors. If a longer trip is in your plans, consider using an electronic device that simulates the lights and flicker of a TV and gives the impression that someone's home — and uses about the same amount of power as a night light.
- Don't leave a message on your home answering machine that indicates you're away. Some burglars phone ahead to see if you're there.
- Don't post your travel plans on social media websites. Some burglars use social networking sites to find victims.
- When you're leaving for longer period, ask a trusted neighbor to watch your home, gather your mail and otherwise give the appearance of activity. Leave your spare key with the neighbor, too — burglars know the usual hiding places.
Try an ounce of prevention
Take these steps to protect your home and property.
- Ask police if they'll do a safety check of your home. An officer can point out where your home is most vulnerable.
- Engrave your electronics with a non-official ID number to help police track goods if they're stolen.
- Take photos or a home movie of every room and its contents and store the film in a safe deposit box. Learn how to create a home inventory with tips from State Farm®.
The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with State Farm® (including State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates). While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. State Farm is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page.
The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.
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10 Ways to Stop Criminals from Choosing You
Here are ten creative ways to deter burglars from targeting your home and prevent a break-in. Learn how to keep you and your family safe all year round.
Break-ins happen all the time. If someone wants to break into a house, they can probably find a way to make it happen. While home security systems have been proven to deter burglars, they aren’t guaranteed to stop a bad guy in their tracks. Since there is no sure-fire way to keep your home from danger or damage once it has been selected as the target, the best course of action is to take preventative measures to ensure your home is not singled out.
Below is a list of ten ways to stop criminals from choosing your home.
Keep in mind that the main goal is to keep your home from being targeted. Trust us, prevention is always better than dealing with the aftermath of a home break-in. So without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Home Security Tips
We’ve tested and reviewed the most popular doorbell cameras, home security systems, you name it. These systems certainly help to deter burglars and home invaders, but there are other home security tips to keep in mind. These security tips and tricks are easy to implement, and you’ll get peace of mind from day one. And it starts with lighting!
Lighting Is Everything
Ring Floodlight Cam Night Vision
The first and most important deterrent is bright lighting. When criminals are casing potential target locations, they look for dark places that look empty and are difficult to see at dusk or in the dark. A well-lit yard allows your home to be visible to neighbors and people passing by.
So we recommend leaving a few interior lights on while you are gone to create the illusion that someone is home and to keep criminals from targeting your home. You might also want to look into a spotlight camera. We recently got hands-on experience with the Ring Spotlight, and that’s always a good choice for surveillance plus lighting.
Avoid an Empty Appearance
As mentioned above, it is important to keep your home from appearing empty. As well as leaving a light on inside, you should also leave a TV on or turn on the radio while you plan to be away. Giving the impression that there is movement inside is a great way to deter burglars and looky-loos.
We also recommend that you have a plan for your mail if you plan on being away from home for an extended period. If it becomes visible or obvious that you have not collected packages or newspapers, your house might become an easy target. Leaving packages on your doorstep will also entice porch pirates or package thieves who are up to no good.
Do Not Showcase Valuables
Another thing that you need to consider is the visibility or accessibility of your expensive or large items. This is especially important to remember when tidying up the yard. Often, expensive items such as a new grill, a parked riding mower, or a nice car that is parked visibly near the home will attract burglars. If they see that there is something expensive in the yard or near the home, they will assume that high-ticket items can be found inside as well.
Did You Know: Leaving fancy items in your yard, like a brand new lawnmower, is not only vulnerable to theft, it also tells burglars that more expensive items might be found inside your home.
Keep Your Keys With You
A lot of people think that keeping a hidden key is a safe and handy way of having a spare key in case of an emergency. Unfortunately, this is not such a great idea. The reality is that criminals are aware of this practice and will often search for a hidden key before attempting another way into your home.
It is also common for burglars to watch the activity around the homes they are casing. If they are watching your home to see whether or not it is a house that they want to break into, they may notice the key and exactly where you have placed it.
Make Entry Difficult
This might seem like a no-brainer, but there are a lot of small details that can make your house appear to be a good target. These can include thin or poorly secured windows, doors with cheap door locks, or easily opened garage doors. These things can, however, can easily be fixed. You should make sure you have thick windows with visibly locked latches, new doorknobs and deadbolts (or better yet, smart locks), and secured garage doors. If an entry looks like an easy access point, it probably is.
Vivint – Smart Door Lock
Cover Your Windows
Closing your blinds and curtains is important as well. You’ll need to make sure potential intruders do not have a clear view into your house that could expose any of your belongings or hint at the fact that you are away.
If a criminal has no incentive to break into your house, he or she will likely choose a new target.
Eliminate Blind Spots
A lot of people fail to consider how important it is to keep their house visible from the road and the yards of neighbors. If a burglar can easily hide from passers-by behind bushes, appliances, or fences, he or she may feel confident about targeting your home. If, however, there is nowhere for a burglar to hide, they will be less likely to hang around.
Unruly trees and shrubs are common items that can create blind spots or hiding spots. So we suggest keeping your trees and bushes trimmed to eliminate the blind spots they might create.
Beef Up Your Doors
Thick and stately doors can also be a great deterrent. If you have strike plates on your doors and your doors look like they are a challenge to break through, burglars will have less confidence about the speed with which they can enter your home. If it appears that it would take a long time to enter your home, they will likely not want to remain visible for a long enough time to break in.
Pro Tip: If you have panes of glass on your doors, make sure they are secure and that they do not allow a visual line of sight into the home. It is also a good idea to place a deadbolt or other locking mechanism on your door where it cannot be reached through a window.
Keep Your Yard Free of Tall Objects
Live Video of the Vivint Doorbell
Having objects such as ladders, trees, or large appliances near the house can be an invitation for burglars to climb to a high window or the roof to find a better point of entry. They can also provide cover behind which a potential intruder could hide. A better idea is to keep tall items locked away and to trim trees in a way that would make them difficult to climb. You should also rid your yard of objects such as large rocks or other heavy items that could easily be thrown into windows.
Keep Your Garage Closed
Don, the Vivint Installation Technician, installing our Smart Garage Door Opener
This is another no-brainer, but you might be surprised at how often people leave their garage doors cracked open, unlocked, or raised.
Always make sure there is no possible way for an intruder to enter your garage. If your garage is left in a compromised state, it is easy for an intruder to enter it and close the door to remain hidden while he or she figures out a way to break in. Even if a burglar finds it difficult to enter your home from the garage, you risk having tools or other expensive items being stolen when your garage is left unprotected.
We recommend looking into Vivint and other smart home security systems — as these brands often sell remote garage door controllers and garage sensors. In fact, we recently tested and reviewed Vivint smart home security system with their garage opener, and it gave us a little extra peace of mind.
Make a Plan
Although these deterrents are proven to work well in keeping potential burglars from entering your home, it is always a good idea to meet with your neighbors before leaving your home for an extended period. Be sure to have a plan ready if they do notice a break-in.
Ask them to call authorities first, then notify you.
Another important aspect of your planning should include the safe-keeping of the valuables in the home. The days of hiding things in the floorboards are over. The best way to keep jewelry, guns, cash, and other valuables safe is to keep them in a large safe that is bolted to the ground or into the wall.
There are also home security systems that you can monitor from your phone, laptop, or desktop computer. The whole idea is that you feel that your home, its contents, and your family are safe from harm.
Home Security Systems
In addition to doing the things listed above to avoid break-ins, if you do not currently have a home security system, you should consider getting one. Having a home security system will not only act as a deterrent, but it will also alert you and the authorities of any incidents.
SimpliSafe Equipment
There are some pretty neat features available with some home security systems. One of the features to look for is the capacity for magnetic sensors that can be installed on the windows.
You should also make sure the home security system is easy to maintain and easy to use. User-friendliness should be paramount. If you want to learn more, head on over to our top-rated home security systems guide.
You should not wait to secure your home with a home security system. Your peace of mind and the safety of your loved ones, belongings, and your home are too important to put off.
How to Protect Your Home from Invasion
Home invasion can be financially and mentally devastating. The FBI estimates a burglary occurs every 13 seconds, and in 2019, victims of property crimes (excluding arson) collectively suffered almost $16 billion in losses.
But numbers only tell part of the story. We also know that the emotional impact of home invasion goes far beyond loss of money or belongings; we’re also left feeling unsettled and frightened in our own home, a place we once felt safe.
Though crime has largely decreased in many communities in the U.S. over the past 15 years, that’s certainly not an excuse to let your guard down.
Here at SafeHome.org, we routinely test and review hundreds of products and services to help you make your home security experience, and while we’ve seen a few lemons here and there, the bottom line is this: Simply installing a deadbolt lock on your front door isn’t going to be enough.
FYI: Check out our latest report on Property Crime in the U.S. We interview retired Burglary Detective Travis Goodreau to get his expert insight into the mind of a burglar. You’ll also find the latest trends and data concerning all things property crime in America.
Nowadays, we have several tools at our disposal to start securing our home right away, whether that’s picking up a couple of cameras and motion sensors, adding smart lighting and locks, or simply posting a “Beware of Dog” sign. Technology has paved the way for many of these advances, but some of them, we think you’ll find, are just common sense.
All that said, our #1 tip for protecting yourself from home invasion is to set up a professionally monitored home security system.
That way, if someone does gain entry, the police won’t be far behind.
We hope this guide helps you to safeguard yourself and your home against burglaries and home invasions. Trust us, it’s worth the little extra effort upfront to sleep with peace of mind, knowing you have active crime deterrents in place.
step-by-step instructions with expert advice
On the one hand, my home is my castle. But protecting your bastion turns out to be more difficult than an apartment. There are even more nuances in protection. Progress comes from two sides: both in security and in the underworld. Therefore, it is important to follow the recommendations for protecting your home from thieves. Together with a security expert, Komsomolskaya Pravda tells how to protect a private house from criminal encroachments.
Step-by-step instructions for home security
Lock
Owners of a private house often pay minimal attention to the quality of locks. They think that since there is a small fence, then thieves will not turn up.
But in vain. Protection must be comprehensive. First, you need to pay attention to the lock of the gate or gate. Most often, coarse massive bolts are installed there. From mechanical hacking, they may be better, but for a skilled burglar they will not become an obstacle. And it is difficult to put a cunning lock here, and often you have to open and close it.
Therefore, we propose to focus on the castle in the house. More precisely, on the complex of castles. It will be more profitable to purchase immediately with a finished door in some specialized store. Just don't go cheap. A flimsy door with a good lock is money down the drain. nine0003
Discard the bolt locks. Their pros open with fishing line. Your choice is cylinder or lever locks, and a combination of them is better. Check that the documents indicate the class of burglary resistance. This is not some kind of marketing ploy, but a real GOST. The maximum class is No. 4, it takes at least half an hour to open this. Do not be surprised that an autopsy is still possible.
It is believed that nothing is impossible for professional burglars. But the time that needs to be spent is a big risk. Therefore, a good castle will simply scare away rogues. nine0003
Plus, don't forget: in private houses there are outbuildings, such as sheds, they are also of interest to thieves. Padlocks can be easily knocked down. It is up to you to decide whether it makes sense in your case to invest in the installation of a good door and lock for the tool shed. Perhaps expensive tools - chainsaws, lawn mowers - are best kept in the house.
Door
It is better to choose a special front door designed for private houses. They are made taking into account the fact that the structure will be located on the street, and this is moisture, sun, snow. Therefore, it is worth stopping the choice on a steel door. By the way, they also have GOST - 31173-2013. If it is indicated in the technical documentation, then the quality can be trusted. Plus, the strength class must be indicated.
The highest is M1. The thickness of the steel should be around 1.5 millimeters, and the thickness of the entire door should be about 9see
It is not superfluous to take care of the choice of models with anti-detachable bolt. In private houses, it is easier for thieves to cut down loops than, say, in the entrance of an apartment building. Therefore, it is important that pins are provided in the design of the door that will hold the door in the frame. Plus, there are quite cunning mechanisms that, when attempting a rough break-in, for example, with a crowbar, block the door even more.
Windows
When you plan to protect your home from thieves, give solid attention to windows. After all, there are usually more of them in a private house than in an apartment. Windows are a potential way for criminals to enter the cottage. Forget about shabby wooden frames and fragile glass. One throw of a stone and now the attackers are already climbing inside. nine0003
First, install the roller shutters.
In a private house, they look more appropriate than in an apartment building. Secondly, order windows from specialized companies. Be sure to ask if they meet the European protection class, which begins with the Latin letters WK. The maximum degree of security in WK3. If you are worried that plastic will spoil your appearance, then you can order a wooden profile. It is also covered by this protection class.
Finally, for complete safety, it is worth sticking an armored film. With it, sound insulation will be better, plus it protects against powerful mechanical impact. Some models can withstand a dozen blows with a hammer: cracks and dents will go on the glass, but it will not crumble. Of course, nothing is eternal, but this is another degree of protection at home. nine0003
Additional protection
- Firstly, a private house allows you to get a dog to guard the site. But, of course, she needs to do at least a little. The best solution would be a security post in the village where the house is located.
Moreover, employees must patrol the territory. To support full-time security guards, you should conclude an agreement with a private security company or a private security company so that they have a button, - says general director of the private security organization Gvardiya-SN Alexei Makarov. nine0034
It would be useful to equip the village with cameras with the output of the picture on the control panel of the guard post. Plus, you can install surveillance on your site. Now they sell a large number of IP cameras that can be connected by anyone who is more or less versed in technology.
- But in this case there is a danger of misplacement. Due to inexperience, you can leave blind spots, so it is better to invite an expert who will write everything correctly. Plus, it’s better to make cameras invisible so that intruders have less opportunity to break them,” adds the interlocutor of KP. nine0003
The expert also advises installing motion sensors on the site and in the house and buying a quick response button.
It can be on a keychain, a smartphone or an alarm in a house. By clicking on your address, a rapid response group is put forward. The alarm system should be autonomous in case the electricity is suddenly turned off in the village.
The fence in the house must be installed at least two meters and it must be made of brick. However, in modern settlements, for the sake of uniformity of style, the installation of private fences is often prohibited. In this case, all other measures to protect the house from thieves - security, alarms, windows, doors - must be of high quality. nine0003
Frequently asked questions and answers
What additional measures can be taken?
- The best protection is complex. Your house must be covered on all sides. Of course, it is the human resource that guarantees the maximum degree of security. That is a living guard. But not everyone has the means to do so. Therefore, the guard post should be at least in the village. Lonely standing houses are especially attractive to thieves.
Or those that can be approached from the side of the edge. Install motion sensors that turn on the light in the yard, conclude an agreement with a private security company, advises Alexey Makarov .
How to create a “presence effect”?
In a private house, it is especially easy to run the territory: do not cut the grass, do not harvest, etc. All this can be a signal for thieves - no one has been here for a long time. So keep order. There is no possibility by yourself - agree with the neighbors. But only with those you trust.
Install motion sensors that not only alert you, but also the security company, that strangers have entered the area. You can install smart lighting - lamps that will light up at a specified time or by clicking in the application on your smartphone. The bad thing is that this requires an Internet connection and a Wi-Fi router, and not all private houses have an order with communication. nine0003
How to protect your country house from thieves - INMYROOM
Tips
Alarms, chemical protection and roses under the window - use everything you can
Experts warn that no device can give a 100% security guarantee.
The best option is to think over a multi-level defense system and set up as many "traps" as possible for intruders.
Ilya Menzhunov
expert
Director of suburban real estate department at Metrium Group
Fence
The fence must be strong, high and preferably opaque to protect your yard from prying eyes. The concrete base will exclude the possibility of undermining, and mortise locks on the gate are more reliable than padlocks.
You can think of additional methods of protection. For example, plant roses near the fence: an attacker is unlikely to want to jump from a three-meter height into thorny bushes.
Lock
The ideal option would be a combination of a conventional mechanism with a stealth lock that is located inside the door and closes from a radio key fob signal, like a car door. nine0003
Of course, an electronic lock is not a panacea, it can also be hacked. But most likely, the presence of such a device will come as a surprise to the criminal, and he will retreat so as not to attract too much attention.
Door
Another trick is to install two doors at the entrance. The attacker will spend a lot of time opening the first one, but he will face the second, more reliable one.
Windows
According to statistics, more than half of the robbers enter the house through window frames. For protection, bars can be installed on the windows of the first floor - criminals will think twice before cutting them down. Firstly, it's not fast, and secondly, it's loud. nine0003
An alternative is roller shutters. Guides for the movement of their canvases must be cut into the walls of the window opening. It is better not to use bolts for fastening the mechanism - they can be easily twisted.
Angry Dog
Tailed Guard will definitely make robbers wonder if your property is worth it. However, with a long absence of hosts, this method of protection is not the most effective.
If intruders watch your house and realize that there is nothing to separate them from the desired prey except for a furry watchman, the dog can become an easy target for them.
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Alarm
If you want to be sure that your property is under surveillance, you should consider installing a real alarm that will notify you of danger to your mobile phone or to the police. But do not forget that such protection is not perfect.
An alarm installation is effective only if the security post or police station is close to your area and the rapid response team can arrive on call within a few minutes. In addition, alarm systems are powered by electricity, and experienced burglars know this. nine0003
If you cut the wiring and wait two or three days, the battery of the device will be completely discharged and it will become useless. Therefore, it is important that the homeowner receive alerts not only for suspicious movement in the house or yard, but also for power outages.
Means of psychological influence
If you watched the film "Home Alone", then remember how a little boy easily fooled the robbers by placing figures of people near the windows and turning on loud music.
The idea to create the effect of the presence of the owners in the house is very good. Programmable sockets will help you implement it. nine0003
Intermittent radio, TV and watering systems for lawns and flowers will give the impression that the owners are at home. In addition to this, you can set a watchdog timer to control the lighting: it will randomly turn on the lights in the house at a reduced brightness.
Chemical traps
Devices that mark the intruder's body and clothes with indelible paint, usually disguised as wallets, jewelry cases, bottles of expensive alcohol, and bundles of money in bank tape. If a robber opens such an item, it will instantly be “marked”. nine0003
Chemical traps can dissuade a thief from doing so, but they are best used in conjunction with a means to quickly detect if a home has been broken into for greater effect. On the trail left by the criminal, specially trained police dogs will be able to find him.
Budget options
Sometimes, in order to discourage a thief from committing a break-in, it is enough to place dummies of surveillance cameras and stickers with the words “The object is under protection” on the site.
