How to Protect Your Home from Burglars

If a burglar wants into your home, he'll get in one way or the other. But most burglars are lazy. If you make things difficult, it's more likely that the burglar will go to the house down the block. There are some things you can do, however, to make your home less accessible to thieves.

Take a notebook and do a home security survey first. Jot down some notes. List any security weaknesses you discover in entry doors, windows, basement entries, and locks. Think like a burglar. Slip a credit card into the slot between the door and the latch and see if you can depress the mechanism and open the door. If you can, it means your lock is sub-standard and you should change it.

The new lock should be of the key-in and key-out variety. A deadbolt lock is an additional impediment to a burglar. Locks can be picked and smart burglars keep specialty tools for that purpose, but many locks are more difficult to cheat. If it takes a great deal of time to beat your system, the burglar won't risk it.

Most homes are burglarized when the occupants are gone for a considerable length of time. There are tell-tale signs that burglars use to judge when occupants are not at home. When the mail piles up and newspapers lie in yard, the burglar's eyes light up with the spark of opportunity. If you're going way for any length of time, it's best to notify the post office to hold your mail and stop newspaper delivery. Another sign of an absent homeowner is when the house is constantly dark for days at a time. The solution to that problem is light-sensing bulbs and fixtures which turn themselves on an off. Fixtures can also be programmed so that different lights are turned on in the home at various times.

A common problem with doors is when windows are placed within or close to the door locks and inside handle. A quick tap with a steel hammer and the burglar just reaches around for door handle on the inside. Door windows should be placed so that the burglar can't reach the inside latches. Nor should the locks be located near the mail slot or a pet entrance.