How to Protect Your Home and Family From Burglary

Having your home broken into is a scary and violating event. Burglaries can happen anytime, night or day. It's important to protect your home from burglary by taking the right steps to keep you and your family safe at all times. Here are some tips for protecting your house from burglars and preventing a break in.

Instructions

1. 

   Lock all doors and windows when your not at home. Burglaries sometimes happen because of carelessness on the part of the home owner. Many people feel safe in their communities and are tempted to keep their windows open for fresh air or leave their doors unlocked for easy access when they get home. However, this is when a burglary can easily take place. By not locking doors and windows, you are pretty much asking for anyone to walk into your home at anytime. Don't take chances, always be safe and lock up your home when your gone, even if it's only for a minute for two.

2. 

   Leave the lights on when your not home. Leaving the lights on tells a burglar that someone is in the house. It makes them think twice about breaking in and taking things. While it's not a sure fire way to prevent a burglary, leaving the house lights on does give people the impression that someone may be home and that your home is not safe for breaking into. Burglars aren't going to bother with houses that give them a challenge. They'd much rather take the easy way and break into a home that can quickly be robbed. A dark home tells burglars that no one is home or at the least, sleeping and unaware of their presence. Don't be caught taking a chance by telling burglars that your not at home.

3. 

   Enlist the help of neighbors and start a neighborhood night watch. A neighborhood watch is a support group in which all neighbors in your community help each other by watching each other's homes. Neighborhood night watches are especially great for communities where there is a high instance of crime or many elderly people who live around the area. A burglar will not be able to get away as quickly if he has more than one person keeping an eye out. In fact, he may here of the neighborhood watch and forgo the area altogether. Take turns with your neighbors being on watch for the evening, or just vow to keep and eye on each other's homes constantly. Whatever way you work it, just be sure to make everyone aware of the plan so a burglar cannot get away with breaking into your homes.

4. 

   Get a guard dog. A guard dog, even a small one, will scare away burglars instantly. No burglar wants a robbery to be difficult. If they hear a dog barking, they won't even chance coming into your home. A guard dog will always be protective of it's owner and family. Even the littlest noises will make him bark and create a scare for anyone outside the home. Train your guard dog to be aware of prowlers by teaching him to sit by the door and watch for anything unusual. He'll know the scents of the family and any new or unusual scent, like that of a burglar, will set him off in an instant.

5. 

   Although an expensive step, you could get an alarm for your home to protect you from burglars. This cost can be anywhere between $500 - $1000 or more so it isn't always practical for middle to low income people. However, there are other cheaper versions which won't necessarily alarm a company that you have a burglar, but will alarm you and your family. Some home alarm systems will even scare the burglar away with loud, continuous noises. Check online for places to purchase a home alarm system, or look into Valu Home Centers, Home Depot, or Lowes. See resource list below for links to cheap home alarm systems online.

Resources

• Monitored Home Security Systems
• Secure Home Advice
• World Security Products
• Bell & Howell Alarm Wireless Alarm System