How to Prevent Someone From Breaking Into Your House

Secure a home to help reduce the possibility of a break in.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there is a home break-in every 15 seconds in the United States. Burglars often use opportunity as a criteria for choosing one home over another. Scouting from house to house and making casual observations can often clue a burglar in on an easy break-in. Take steps to secure a home and reduce the likelihood of a burglar illegally entering a home.

Things You'll Need

• Pruners
• Landscpaping plants with stickers or thorns
• Light timers
• Door locks

Instructions

1. Survey the landscape around the home paying particular attention to areas near doors and windows. Trim trees and shrubs back away from entry ways where a burglar could hide. Trim back trees and shrubs from around windows and consider installing plants with thorns or stickers to deter a burglar. Plant holly varieties, rosebushes, or bougainvillea, for example, and other plants with sharp stickers.

2. Plug lights and radios into plug-in wall timers. Use timers to help maintain an appearance of being at home even when away. Set timers to turn lights and radios on and off so a burglar scouting a home will think someone is in the house.

3. Park cars in a garage, when possible, and keep garage doors and windows closed. Secure vehicles and garages so that a burglar cannot easily tell when someone is home or not.

4. Install an alarm system in the home. Choose an alarm company with a good reputation and work with them to determine the type of motion sensors, glass break detectors and other features that will work best with a particular home.

5. Change door locks when moving into a new house. Purchase suitable replacement door locks and install them before moving valuables into a new home.

6. Establish a neighborhood watch group with other residents in the area. Contact local law enforcement officials and request help for starting a neighborhood watch. Gather as much support for the program, schedule regular meetings of interested parties and consider scheduling a time when a local law enforcement officer could address the group.

7. Lock doors and windows, especially when away from the home and close garage doors when leaving the home. Double check all doors and windows before leaving the home and consider purchasing additional safe guards such as a lock bar for sliding glass doors.

8. Purchase a garage door opener that features a rolling code system. Look for garage door openers that rotate, or roll, the frequency between the receiver and remote control to prevent a burglar from locking onto the code with a device and gaining access to the home.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware of what is going on around a home, watch for unusual delivery or work vehicles, look for suspicious individuals driving slowly and avoid opening the door for unknown individuals.

• Consider buying or adopting a dog for security. The sound of a barking dog can be a deterrent to a would-be burglar. However, make sure you are ready for the responsibility of a dog, especially a large one, before purchasing or adopting for security purposes.

References

• State Farm Insurance: Home Safety
• Neighborhood Link: Start a Neighborhood Watch