On average, a burglary happens every 30 seconds in the United States.* Your home should be your safe space, so with such a high number of break-ins, it’s no wonder that this is the most feared type of property crimes. Most people feel that a security system is enough to deter crime, and while it does help, there are many things that each of us can do to make our home a safe haven.

Judge Your House by Its Cover

Thieves love untidy yards. Shrubs or hedges that are overgrown provide a hiding place. Even something simple like an unkempt lawn could be a sign that you’re on vacation and the house is empty. Consider hiring a landscaping company (or a neighborhood teen looking for a summer job) to keep your yard trimmed and polished.

In addition, don’t leave tools outside if you are not using them. Leaving out a ladder welcomes thieves with access to the upper levels of your home. Try to keep gardening, house, and barbeque tools out of sight when not in use. The less thieves have to work with, the less likely they will be to break in.

Being Away from Home

It isn’t realistic to expect yourself to stay home 24/7 to deter crime. The following tips will help your home seem like it’s occupied, even when you are away.

1. Set lights on a timer. This tip is especially useful at night by turning lights on and off throughout the house, as though someone is living and moving from room to room.
2. Use frosted vinyl to cover the windows around your door and on your garage door. Inexpensive and easy to install, thieves will be hard-pressed to know if your car is in the garage.
3. Ask a trusted neighbor to gather your mail, including any flyers or notes left on the door while you are away. Experienced thieves will scout their targets in advance, and anything left on the porch or yard for more than a day or two signals that no one is home.
4. Motion lighting will help deter thieves, who prefer to stay in the dark.

Update Your Home in Simple Ways

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to update your own home to make it safer.

1. Replace your existing door screws with 3” or longer screws. This will allow your screws to reach through the door frame into a much sturdier stud.
2. Place a thick bar or dowel in the track of a sliding glass door. Sliding doors are notoriously easy to unlock. By jamming the door’s ability to open, thieves will be forced to break the glass to get in; in turn, making a lot of noise.
3. Add a peephole to your front door and ask for identification from unknown visitors. Many burglars will pose as landscapers, gas company employees, and even police. Once you see their identification, contact the company they claim to represent to confirm their employment.
4. Many burglars are off-put by dogs, so make it look like you have one even if you don’t. Dog toys, a warning sign about a dog inside, and a leash are great ways to hint that your home is guarded.

If it’s in the Budget

These last suggestions do cost more money and require installers, but they are great investments if you want something a little more.

1. Get shatterproof glass for your windows.
2. Invest in door braces (used for doors that swing inward) that make it nearly impossible for anyone to kick in the door.
3. Get a metal front door.
4. Invest in a security system, but keep the security box away from windows/doors where people might see you input your code.

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*https://www.safewise.com/blog/8-surprising-home-burglary-statistics/