5 Home Safety Tips That Can Keep You Secure

Every 13 seconds in the United States, a home burglary takes place. Each year, more than 2 million home burglaries are reported. Additionally, one out of every three residential assaults are the result of a burglary. While there are many reasons that these incidents happen, it is essential that you protect yourself and your home. Here are five home safety tips that you should follow.

 

Create the Illusion that You are Home

If you are leaving for the weekend or even overnight, you want to give the impression that you are home. A dark house with little movement is a target for burglars. You can create this illusion by turning on a light or keeping the radio on.

 

Don’t Keep Your Garage Door Open

Even if you are home, do not leave your garage door open for long periods of time. This gives burglars the opportunity to look inside and check out your belongings. It also helps them scout additional entrances and exits into your home. Also, make sure to lock any exterior doors into your garage as well as the garage door that leads into your home. About 30 percent of all break-ins are because of an unlocked door or window.

 

Install Motion Detectors Around Your Home

Motion detectors can be a large deterrent for burglars because they catch the eye of individuals passing by or those inside a home when someone steps onto your property. Installing these lights throughout the exterior of a home is a much-desired and fairly inexpensive safety feature. However, don’t just install one set of lights in the front of your home. Install them in places where intruders may hide such as on the side of a home, near bushes, and by fences.

 

Keep Valuable Items Locked Away

Most burglars are looking for something valuable, and if they believe you have it, they will fight for it and take it. This means you must take precautions to keep any type of valuable safe. Keep a locked safe in your home for personal items such as jewelry, weapons, and precious gems. Also, never leave cash or other items lying around your home. Even if it is only a few dollars, it is a win for intruders.

 

Get Rid of Those Spare Keys

Hiding spare keys in a fake rock, under your rug, or even in a potted plant next to the door is not recommended, as these are some of the first places burglars will look. Instead, you want to find unique places to hide spare keys or give them to a trusted neighbor to keep in their own home. If you often find yourself losing your keys as well, consider smart locks that don’t require a key but allow you to unlock and lock your home using your smartphone or with a pass code.

 

While it is crucial that you keep yourself safe while on a run or online, you also can’t let your guard down when you are home. By keeping the above tips in mind, you will feel safer and reduce your risk of a home break-in.