How to Protect Your Home From Being Robbed

Take measures to protect your home and family from intruders.

Homeowners need to use a combination of preventive measures designed to protect their home from being robbed. According to the most up-to-date burglary statistics released by the FBI at the time of publication, more than 2 million burglaries occurred in the United States in 2009. The high risk makes it imperative to take all measures possible to protect your most valuable assets: your home and family. Even if you don't have a lot of money to invest, you can still take action to keep from becoming a victim.

Things You'll Need

• Deadbolt locks
• Blocking bars
• Burglar alarm
• Warning signs
• Motion sensor lighting
• Electronic timers

Instructions

1. Inspect your home to make certain all door and window locks are working properly. Install deadbolts for optimum protection. Most sliding glass doors use latches, not locks, so reinforce these with blocking bars, also known as "Charlie bars," to prevent the doors from opening. Keep your garage door closed, and hide the garage door opener.

2. Trim hedges to improve visibility and to give a potential robber less room to hide. Install a burglar alarm to protect all entrances, and post warning signs for would-be intruders to see. Install motion sensor lighting on all sides of your home.

3. Seek assistance from the police department to start a neighborhood watch in your area. Ask solicitors to provide identification and to report people with suspicious behavior. Use electronic timers to turn on indoor lights and televisions to give the appearance someone is home when you go on vacation.

4. Publicize efforts to protect your neighborhood to warn potential robbers. The media, church and community groups, as well as making door-to-door announcements, are viable resources to use for publicity.

Tips & Warnings

• When on vacation, have your neighbor collect your mail, or request the post office to hold it for pick-up.

• Install closed-circuit television cameras, and indicate their presence with signs.

• Never confront a suspected robber. Call the police.

References

• Federal Bureau of Investigation: Crime in the United States
• U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; Burglary of Single Family Houses; Deborah Lamm Weisel
• Sumter South Carolina: Crime Prevention

Resources

• ConsumerReports.org; Keep Your Home Safe; June 2008
• Federal Bureau of Investigation: Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report