How to Protect Your House or Apartment Against Burglary

Having been a victim of burglary and seeing how badly it scared my family, I went through all lengths that I could to make my house burglar proof. This article is not just about telling you of the typical methods of stopping burglary, it is about completely preventing it from ever happening again. This is with aesthetics in mind, without making your home or apartment look like a prison.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Many tools
• Money
• Time to install or money for pros to install things.

1. Remember, most residential burglaries happen to homes during the daylight hours (not at night). Most commonly, around 1-3pm, when people are away at work (this is when it happened to me as well). Most burglars DO NOT want to be seen, and are not interested in any kind of conflict with the owners of the property. They want to avoid loud sounds.
   
   Also in consideration, most burglaries happen through front doors and back doors. Most burglaries do not happen to seen windows, especially upstairs windows without good access (such as a fire escape). Lower level windows in hidden areas are more of a target, however, front and back doors are usually the main target.

2. To secure the front and back door, it is often said to buy dead bolts that are 1 inch into the door jam. But remember this, a burglar with a 3 ft. crowbar, can simply pry the entire door right out of the jam. Most residential door jams are made of soft pine wood. The dead bolt is not compromised, the wood in the jam is compromised. To fix this problem I had to deal with a rough situation. I knew that door bars were the answer but I hated the idea of making my home look like a prison. So I went to Lowe's home improvement, and they sell a very nice "Security Storm Door" that is very high quality. The door itself is made of near bullet proof glass surrounded by very hard steel. It looks just as fashionable, if not even nicer than a very high quality storm door. I installed these on my front and back door, but I suggest that YOU HAVE THEM installed because they are incredibly heavy and tough to install.
   
   These doors are incredibly tough, have irreversible screws that mount them into the house framing, and it would take a burglar countless hours of work to pry one of these open. There are 3 locking positions on these security storm doors as well.
   
   The door glass could not be kicked or broken without an extensive amount of work. I suggest everybody consider one of these. Remember also, storm doors swing out, house doors swing in. A good kick from the outside on many doors will kick it inward. Since a storm door swings out, a kick won't phase it.
   
   A nice thing also about this door is you can leave your house door open to see outside, and not worry about somebody getting in with the storm door locked.

3. John Sterling company sells security bars for windows. Wait wait wait.... I'm not talking about "prison looking" bars either. They have some small thinner bars that install on the INSIDE of your window pane between the mini-blinds and the window. They have a swing mechanism on them in case of a fire, that you can lock with a padlock. This is the most inexpensive and nice looking bars I could find. But you need to keep a KEY nearby that is very obvious in case of fire so fire fighters or you could find it. Have monthly fire drills and use the key. Put a note on the padlock in BOLD lettering "KEY IN BLUE VASE 4ft TO YOUR RIGHT".
   
   Now, I don't suggest you put these on ever window either. Put them on vulnerable windows. Especially lower floor side & back windows. Yes pro's can use a ladder, but I've seen estimates that only 1-2% of burglaries are even committed by pros, and that most are by amateurs.

4. Keep all outdoor ladders padlocked with a chain to something solid such as a tree, garage roof slats, garage door runners, or a large set of solid shelves. This will prevent a burglar from using it to access other windows.

5. A security system is a must, but a monitored security system is not always needed. It really depends on how close your neighbors are. If you have a LOUD siren when your alarm goes off and neighbors you know, you don't need to pay for an alarm company. Remember, most burglars will flee from loud noises immediately.
   
   Most burglars know that alarms call through the phone lines, and in many cases phone lines are cut before the burglary happens.
   
   If you live in the country, a monitored service may be much more valuable. (*Also alarms with service give you a discount on your home owners insurance).

6. Discount wireless security cameras can be bought for very cheap prices on Ebay. All they need is a power source. Install some of these on your eves amongst various other places. Time lapse a recorder with it. It is just 1 more step for a burglar to know not to mess with this house and move on to easier targets. Make sure there is a camera on your driveway & on your front door. This way a would be burglar knows you have their face on camera, as well as their vehicle & possibly their license plate. Many will walk away.

7. Do not keep heavy rocks or objects in your yard that a burglar could use to gain entry. All tools must be locked up.

8. Get a good guard dog. They are one of the MOST effective tools against burglars. Not only are they loud and that will ward off most burglars, but they will bite as well. If a "bite" dog is not your kind of dog, at least get a "bark dog". For millennia, dogs have been one of the best ways to prevent burglary from happening.

9. Then there is the common sense stuff. When you are out of town, cancel paper deliveries, keep your lawn mowed, and see if you can get a neighbor to put trash in your can on trash day. Be sure to let neighbors know you will be gone. Make your home look lived in.
   
   The best bushes are spiky low cut ones near lower level windows.

10. Believe it or not, neighbors really work! The person who burglarized my home did it in 5 minutes (and stole $2000 worth of stuff). I was only gone for 20 minutes... My next door neighbors saw a stranger walk around back. He was caught running off down the street with my stuff! If you don't know your neighbors, get to know them! He would have never been caught if it wasn't for mine.
    
    
    By following these steps, you will greatly reduce if not stop your chances of being burglarized.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep valuables in a safe
• Do not hide keys outside
• If you are in an apartment, get a good monitored security system and get a good dog since you are not able to usually install security devices. Sometimes it can be worked out with the landlord.

[grammastacie]

on 11/24/2009 my daughter and family were burglarized last night, thank-you for such an insightful article. How traumatic... 5* and recommend