Common Sense Is Your Best Anti-Theft Device

Just like other crimes, a burglary can be a totally random event. However, when it’s planned, there are certain things a burglar will look for when staking out a possible break-in, and there are steps the homeowner can take to minimize this risk. This is a good checklist before leaving your home empty or for beefing up your protection against theft: Study your house from the street, and look for any valuables that may be visible from the street. Don’t give thieves a reason to show up. Before leaving for any length of time, ensure that all windows and doors are locked, including the door to your garage. Many home invasion robberies come through garage doors and inner doors to the houses. Doors should have deadbolt locks with a one-inch throw and reinforced strike plate.

Place a piece of wood or metal in the track of any sliding doors to prevent opening. on’t leave your house in darkness when you’re away, create a sense of activity by using timers on lights, radios and televisions. nstall low-voltage lighting outdoors to keep your surrounding yard well lit. Install motion detectors in dark areas along the sides and back of house to alert you of any intruders. Suspend your newspaper delivery while you’re away and ask your neighbor to collect your mail. You may even ask them to park in your driveway while you’re away. ever leave a message on your answering machine that says you’re on vacation. eep any shrubbery near your walkway or entrance trimmed; removing any possible hiding places. Think about planting cactus or rosebushes under windows that may be especially vulnerable. Advise your neighborhood watch that you’ll be away. nsure your security system is activated when you leave.

The more you can do to deter an intruder, the better your chances are that your home will not be chosen as a target, said the author who used to be a roofing specialist and trade in commercial roofing. He’s now working as an Auckland plumber. Studies have shown that if it takes a burglar more than four or five minutes to break into a home, they’ll move on. If you increase their vulnerability by adding a well-lit area or a barking dog, that minimizes your risk again.

Home Security-More on Burglary Prevention

In 2004 the Bureau of Justice reported that: -77% of all crime was property related -17% of all crime domiciles were violated by a burglar -85% of all burglaries the offender gained entry into the house or other building. We talked about ideas to prevent entry to your home. But the fact is that a determined burglar will get into your home. That is his job and let's face it, looking at the statistics, they are unfortunately good at it. Remember this: property crime occurs every 3 seconds, a home burglary every 15 seconds. The home burglary that has received the most attention recently involved the theft of a laptop from a Veteran’s Affairs analysts’ home. The laptop reportedly had the personal data for 26.5 million veterans. Three other tactics might be used to help prevent a burglary are home security alarms or burglar alarms, property marking and home security cameras. Property marking is simply marking all your valuables with an identifying "signature" so they can readily be identified when recovered. Methods of marking include micro dots, laser pens, and ultraviolet pens. The key here is to have signage letting everyone know your property won't be so easy to sell on the black market because it is marked. Believe it or not most burglars do read and study their targets.

Home security cameras as part of a home security system are very effective in two respects. First as a deterrent. If a burglar sees that a property is covered with surveillance cameras they will have second thoughts in targeting that property. Second, if they are not that smart and decide to enter anyhow, a good surveillance system will capture the images of the perpetrator making it easier for the police to capture the bad guys. Home security cameras can be wired or wireless, real or dummy, indoor or outdoor, or any combination thereof. Alarms can act as a successful deterrent. 90 % of police believe alarms deter burglary attempts. There are all kinds of alarms including expensive home security alarm systems monitored by ex-police officers. Silent, noisy, wired, wireless, door, window, motion, monitored, unmonitored-you name it and there is an alarm for it. Signage again is the key. Let burglars know they are in for a hard time ahead of time. The thing is alarms work.

The author is an interior designer and his works are at http://bathremodel.co.nz/