4 ways to deter burglars from breaking into your home

Many people presume that getting burgled is just bad luck, but that isn’t the case. Thieves carefully pick the properties they decide to burgle based on what they observe. Also, contrary to belief, most burglaries don’t happen at night, in fact, the majority occur between 10 am and 3 pm and the burglary is carried out in ten minutes on average.

Most convicted criminals that have spoken out about their crimes have stated that they can usually gain entry to a property in less than two minutes. So, how can you deter burglars from selecting your home? Besides the obvious (making sure you lock all doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed), there are other things you can do as well.

Strong locks on the exterior doors and windows

As burglars like to gain entry into a property in less than two minutes, make sure your front and back doors are sturdy and secured with a strong lock, such as a deadbolt. These types of locks are almost impossible to break and if a thief notices how secure your doors are, this would make your house a no-go.

If you have a broken lock, contact a locksmith and get it repaired. The same applies to windows too. uPVC windows with locks on them are also very difficult to break and a burglar will have no intention of wasting time on secured doors and windows when there will be other properties around that are far easier to break into.

Make sure your house never looks inactive

If you are going away on holiday, or spend time away from your home for long periods, ensure that this is not noticeable. Have someone you trust pick any mail up from the floor every few days. Nothing tells a burglar that someone is not home more than piles of unopened mail behind the letterbox. Also, if someone is going into your house frequently, it will appear like it’s occupied. Consider investing in a light switch timer so that when it turns dark, a few of your interior lights are programmed to turn on. A burglar will not risk breaking into a property if they think the owner is home.

Take into account your garden as well. If you are away for more than a few weeks during the summer, the grass will grow quickly and an unkempt lawn also tells a burglar no one is home. Arrange for a person you trust to cut your lawn while you are away.

Consider your outdoor security

Security cameras and motion light sensors are some of the best deterrents and many are relatively inexpensive. A thief will not want a spotlight shining on him as he walks up to your front door!

It’s also a good idea to think about obscuring your house from view completely with tall fences or full hedges.

Change your door locks

If you have recently moved into your property, or you’ve never changed the locks since you first moved in, then it might be time to consider getting this done. If a burglar has access to the front door keys (it could be a previous tenant who lost their own set or they were stolen by someone), they can simply let themself in at their convenience. Ask a locksmith to change locks for you. It will be a lot cheaper than enduring the financial strain of a burglary!

If you need your locks repaired or replaced on your doors or windows, please get in touch.