Making your house safe from burglaries is something that I have preached to my family and friends. The trick is to make your house the hardest one to break into on your street. Because so many people are lazy about this, either because they don’t want to think about something so horrible or because they are ‘too busy’, it should be easy to rise above the norm.
Why should a thief work so hard to break into your house if the neighbor’s house is easier, usually way easier?
I have 20 years military experience, in the Corps of Engineers, three years as a security guard and then security guard manager in college and have done a lot of reading and research on the matter. But I am always trying to get the list of things so do down to a manageable few. Here is my prioritized list today:
1. Own a dog. Big isn’t necessary as long a the wee beastie will bark like crazy if some tries to come in the house. Remember a dog is a huge responsibility, if you are not home much, this probably isn’t a good solution for you.
2. Secure your doors. By this I mean your exterior doors, garage doors, and fence door. Use quality hardware including a deadbolt. Insure the inside door from the garage is locked. Insure that exterior doors are solid and use three inch screws to affix the hinges to the frame. Know that thieves can get into most houses through the garage by kicking a panel out of the garage door and then walking into the house through the usually unlocked inside garage door.
3. Use security system signs advertising on your door, in your windows and in your yard. You can get these at many hardware stores, Radio Shack, and on eBay. Do this even if you don’t have a security service.
4. Install motion sensor lights by or near all entrances to your house. Thieves like to work in the dark. If you have one of those twenty plus year old shrubs blocking your entrance from the street, you are screwed. Trim in down.
5. Never park your car on the street. If you have a garage use it for your car. If you don’t park the car in the driveway as close to the house as possible. Not only will this reduce your chances of getting the car or stuff in the car stolen, the finish of the car will stay like new longer. If you have too much junk in the garage to park the car there, do what I do. Clean it out once a year. If I haven’t touched the items in the garage in two years, it gets re-purposed or trashed.
There are more ideas out there, but these are the big ones. I read the blotter report in my town paper and it is sad how many people get wallets/purses stolen from unlocked houses and cars. What the heck? These people are called enablers and they are as guilty as the thief.
The Bis Key Chronicles 
Now, I can comment on this post. 😉 It is an excellent one. Thank you!
This is something I preach over and over and over to whomever I can. I have 25 years career in "security" and believe me..I don’t make it easy and no one I know will make it easy either if they will listen to me. My son’s are excellent now at following those simple steps your outlined here. Include always always keeping your primary doors locked during the day. It does not matter that it is high noon. Home invasions are ugly and fatal many times. Always lock your car doors too, day or night. Home or away. And look/observe around the entry way you are going to use before you go right up to it. Don’t have bushes and shrubbery at the door entry point for anyone to hide in and then jump you as you go toward your door and fumble with your keys.
Carol, I was watching a home improvement show on the Discovery station and noted that all the houses had bars on the first floor windows. My first thought was how hideous. My second was, wonder when everyone will have to do that!
No doubt my cats would lead a rebellion if I got a dog!
we were robbed recently. lots of cash, dvds, video games, but none of the big stuff. and unfortunately it wasn’t a break in. it was someone we foolishly trusted with watching our house while we were away. we were stunned, then upset, now just irate. the culprit fled the city, ending years of friendship…. i still have flashes of disbelief and fury. and there’s nothing we can do about it either.
Come to think of it..my cat would lead a rebellion as well were I to get a dog. No doggies. She said she can hiss and spit and rare up and scare ’em good.
Amanda, no matter what, a report should be made. It will help the next victim. And there will be another victim.
Carole and Laoch, my cats adore Shelby; leaping on her and trying to get her to play with them.
Great tips and right on the money…..I have been burgled twice in my life and it’s just awful (and the bizarre thing is the last time, I had a dog but I had locked her in the laundry when I went out as there were thunderstorms and she was freaking out..not much of a watch dog really but when I realised I had been burgled I was just worrying about my dog and hoping the burglar had not harmed her!)
You can never guarantee you won’t be burgled but if you make it hard for them, they will move on to the next easier home.
I heard another tip that seemed to make sense, that you should always keep your carkeys near or on you. Particularly at night, have them next to your bed. If you hear someone enter or moving downstairs or in your home, hit the alarm for your car, even if it is in the garage or close on the street. It will scare the thief and make him hurry to get out because all the neighbors are now alerted too.
Gandalfe,
This is an excellent post. I agree with everything you state here. I love my dogs they are definitely a great deterrent although if anyone harmed them I am not sure if I would be safe to be around. You know what they say about the quiet ones…(satire here). Ok a weak attempt at best. But I do adore all of your ideas I love all the bells and whistles that make you think your safe anyway. I have one dog that is half wolf although he seems to be the most gentle of all my dogs I have a few!! Your mother has a great post too she is right on the mark I had never thought about your car alarm as a deterrent but that is a great idea. Oh by the way I have big dogs. …lol. There will always be my puppies. Great Post Darling kisses Catherine
Reblogged this on The Bis Key Chronicles and commented:
I need to write a post about creating a community where neighbors watch out for each other. If your neighbors have contact info they can let you know, for example, when you’ve left your garage door open at night.