Today’s article is a follow-up on another story that we did on Tips To Prevent Burglary. We will share with you some more home burglary tips.
In our Home Security Guide we provided a lot of good information, but most importantly some documentation on the threat that home burglary presents to all homeowners.
An astonishing 77% of all crime was property related.
Home burglary happens every 13 seconds according to the FBI and is the most common threat to homeowners.
90% of all burglaries can be prevented according to law enforcement authorities.
One out of every six homes, on an annual basis, will be burglarized.
“Burglars steal $2,119 worth of goods and do another $2,000 worth of damage, on average, to every victimized home.
Police usually only clear 13% of all reported burglaries due to lack of witnesses or physical evidence.”
Here’s a story that comes from the United Kingdom that documents between January 2008 and December 2013 in one area, Essex, 11% of all homes were targeted for Repeat Burglaries. The national average was 8.6%. Northamptonshire was the highest with almost one in three burglaries repeat occurrences.
The story pointed out that getting burglarized once is bad enough, but being burgled again is devastating causing long-lasting and widespread impact on the victims’ lives.
Essex law enforcement is combating repeat offenses by using intelligence to identify where future burglaries might occur and then using a range of tactics for preventing them such as increased patrols and on-site advice and reassurance.
According to the story this has resulted in a reduction of home burglaries year-over-year.
The police force also reminds residents to keep windows and doors locked, anchor sheds to the ground and padlock them, use timed lights and a burglar alarm to deter burglars, consider a gravel driveway and a thorny hedge around your property all while ensuring your front door is visible to passersby. Good advice!
In another story from the United Kingdom comes some home burglary tips specifically warning to avoid letting the warm weather become a temptation for crooks. The biggest culprit for homeowners is the tendency to leave windows and doors open and/or unlocked in the warm weather.
Some of the tips that the police offer include the following:
- Make sure all windows and doors are closed and locked when you are away and even when you’re there.
- Get window restrictors which are devices that prevent windows from being opened fully so you can get some fresh air in the summertime.
- Give your home a lived in look by using timer switches for your lights and leaving your television on when you’re not at home.
- Turn your burglar alarm on if you have one; if you don’t have one, get one.
- Don’t leave valuables on display in front of windows. That is like an open invitation saying “take me.”
- Don’t leave keys near entry points where they can easily be pilfered.
- Don’t leave equipment or valuables in your yard. Lock them in a storage shed or garage.
- If you are going away for summer vacation, give your home a lived in look and cancel milk and newspaper deliveries. Have someone mow your yard.
Out in Bakersfield, California comes a story about homeowners who temporarily leave their homes because of fumigation. Law enforcement authorities warn homeowners that if they have to have their home fumigated with a tent placed over it, their homes are at high risk for burglary.
Apparently pumping fumigants into homes is a popular treatment for bed bugs, termites and other pests that are hard to fully reach with hand sprayed pesticides. The houses are tented to keep fumigants from escaping, making the homes extremely conspicuous. Pest-control companies like Terminix and Orkin warn homeowners that they must leave for a few days during the treatment because breathing the air inside is potentially lethal. They also suggest that homeowners remove valuables because of the high risk of burglary during the procedure.
This wireless Sabre Motion Detection Alarm looks just like a smoke detector but instead is a sensitive 120 db motion activated alarm that can sense activity up to 20 feet away.
Share with everyone your home burglary prevention tips-even your secret ones-so that other readers can take advantage of your wisdom.