Burglars often target homes that appear to be unoccupied or have an easy entrance, so making your home less appealing to burglars is a great way to protect your family and belongings. The thing people often don’t realise about burglaries is that in the majority of cases they are opportunist crimes. While they undoubtedly go out with the intention of stealing, thieves don’t always have a specific target in mind. Both home and business owners can be prone to carelessness when it comes to security for a number of reasons. Quite often it is the simple things we overlook such as a window left ajar, forgetting to set the alarm or failing to lock up properly. Burglars are looking for an easy target, so make sure your home doesn’t fall into that category! In this article we look at the steps you can take to make your home less appealing to burglars.
Don’t Compromise When It Comes to Locks
One of the mistakes people often make when it comes to security is choosing sub-standard locks thinking it will save them money. When it comes to security you should always use British standard approved locks. While they may cost slightly more they are likely to save you money in the long run. If you are unsure of the best types of locks for your home or business just speak to your local locksmiths in Livingston or anywhere else and they will be only too happy to advise you. When faced with quality locks burglars will often move on and look for a much easier option.
Make Sure You Choose the Right Security System for Your Home
There are a lot of different security systems on the market these days, and it can be hard to know which one is right for your home. There are a few things you should keep in mind when choosing a security system, such as the size of your home, the level of security you need, and your budget.
If you have a small home, you may not need an elaborate security system with multiple cameras and sensors. A basic security system with a few door and window sensors should be enough to deter most burglars. If you have a larger home or are worried about more sophisticated burglars, you may want to consider a security system with more features, such as motion detectors, cameras, and a loud alarm.
No matter what type of security system you choose, be sure to read the reviews before purchasing. There are a lot of great security systems out there, but there are also some duds. You don’t want to waste your money on a security system that won’t do its job!
Keep The Outside of Your Home Well Lit
The very nature of what they do means that burglars like to operate in the dark. Installing security lighting or even having decorative lights on trees and bushes in your garden will make most burglars think twice about breaking into your home. Keeping the outside of your home illuminated will stop burglars from being able to skulk around in the shadows and increase the chances of intruders being spotted.
Never Leave Valuables in Plain Sight
Leaving any sort of valuables in plain view will instantly attract the wrong type of person. If a burglar can clearly see you have items of value in your home, they will automatically become interested in them. Always keep anything valuable out of sight of passers-by, for example, don’t leave expensive electrical items such as tablets, laptops and smartphones on windowsills and always keep things like jewellery and cash in draws and away from prying eyes.
The four things mentioned above are just a few of the things you can do to make your home less appealing to burglars. There are many more. Even if your budget doesn’t stretch to the latest security systems and CCTV there are a lot of simple steps you can take to make your home a much more secure place.
