Burglary Advice

Burglars will use any means to get inside your home, including breaking windows.

In 2009, more than 9 million property crimes were reported in the United States, about a quarter of which were burglaries. Knowing how to protect your home from burglars will help to prevent you and your family from becoming part of the statistics.

Lighting

Most burglars look for the most opportunistic homes where they can enter, steal and get away without being noticed. Hence, the better lighting you have in and around your home, the less likelihood of being burglarized. Installing motion sensor lights around your home, especially on the back side of your home or where windows are located will help deter thieves.

Outside Your Home

Keeping the outside of your home organized will help to prevent burglars as well. Store tools in a storage shed with a lock on it to prevent burglars from using yard tools to smash windows. Also keep side gates padlocked as well as locking up ladders. Consider growing hedges around your windows with prickly thorns to discourage thieves from climbing in through windows.

Considerations

If you are going to be away from home for an extended period of time, have a neighbor collect your mail daily so potential burglars will not be able to detect whether you are home or not. Set a timer switch to turn on lights and radios inside your home regularly. You can also have your neighbor park in your driveway to make it look like someone is home.

References

• FBI: Property Crime in the US
• Home Insurance Guide: Burglary Advice
• Metropolitan Police Service: Burglary

Resources

• FBI: Annual Crime Statistics for 2009
• Mama's Health: How To Deter House Burglars