Keeping your home and
family safe is a priority we all share. But beyond locking the doors and
getting a home alarm, there are numerous steps we can take to protect who - and
what - we love, and it doesn't have to break the bank.
1. Change your locks
Did you change your
locks when you moved into your new home? Yeah. Neither did we. That means
someone might already have the most important thing they need to get into your
home: a key.
2. Upgrade your door security
While you're changing
your locks, look for those that give you more secure options. If you're not
sure how important this is, consider what Family handyman reports about FBI
burglary statistics: "65 percent of break-ins occur by forcing in the
front, back or garage service door."
3. Remove that extra key
The FBI also reports
that 12 percent of break-ins are caused by thieves simply finding your hidden
key. If you have one sitting under your welcome mat or in a planter, it's time
to remove it.
4. Use timers
"Put interior
lights, TVs, and radios on timers so that you can create the illusion that
someone is home when they're not," said Bob Vila. "Modern digital
light timers offer a key benefit over traditional models by having lights cycle
on and off randomly."
Make sure to include
motion detector lights in key spots around the exterior of your home. A light
that pops on just as a burglar is approaching your back door may be enough to
make him back away form your home. Home automation products make all of this
easier than since you can control lights, TVs, and other items via Smartphone.
5. Get a dog
Seriously. Homes with
dogs are less likely to be broken into, according to a study by The University
of North Carolina, because they bark to create a ruckus and can also harm an
intruder by biting.
6. Fake the alarm
If you can't swing the
cost of an alarm, pretend you have one. "Thieves look for an easy mark;
making your home look tough to crack will encourage them to move on," said
HGTV. "You can easily put up security system decals - a clear deterrent -
even if you don't have a system."
7. Install a camera
"Thanks to
relatively inexpensive DIY systems, you can install a security camera outside
(or inside) that lets burglars know you're watching their every move,"
said HGTV. A variety of cameras are offered, and you can pick one up for under
$100.
8. Check doors and windows
You might think your
home is more secure than it is. Maybe that backdoor is easy to open with a good
push or the guest room window isn't shutting all the way. Eliminating easy
access points by shutting doors and windows and locking everything up will cost
you nothing, but if you need a backup for that easy-access slider door, a good
old broomstick cut down to size will do the trick.
9. Call the police
In many areas, a police
officer will visit your home to give you tips on how to make your home more
secure, and it will cost you nothing.
10. Eliminate hiding spots
"If your shrubbery
is too tall, bushy, or not well spaced, you're providing a nice hiding spot for
a potential burglar," said Consumer Reports. "Trim and prune
plantings."
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