Burglary might not be considered as serious a crime as murder or rape, but victims are profoundly impacted by it, nonetheless. So much so that some burglary victims have a hard time feeling safe in their homes again. The big question is this: is it reasonable to think you can actually prevent your home from being burglarized?
In a word, yes. Burglary is a common crime that is well understood by experts. And even though every burglary is different in some of its details, burglars tend to follow similar patterns. They tend to do things in similar ways. So if you know how they operate, you can take steps to stop them. It is all about making burglary as hard as possible to perpetrate.
Master Burglary Prevention
Vivint Home Security recently published a blog post discussing what they referred to as “mastering burglary prevention.” That is a good way to phrase it. Just like the most successful burglars become masters of what they do, property owners can master the art of keeping burglars away.
That takes us back to the point of making burglary as hard as possible. Think about it from the burglar’s point of view. A burglar expects a certain payoff with every job. But if the payoff isn’t worth the amount of effort put into committing the crime, then the job becomes unattractive.
In essence, mastering burglary prevention means figuring out how to make it as hard as possible to break into your home, then employing the necessary steps to do just that. Anyone can do it.
Things That Matter to Burglars
There is always the chance that a successful home burglary was a random act committed in the heat of passion. But such burglaries are the exception to the rule. Most are either planned out at the moment the decision to burglarize is made or planned in advance.
This does not mean that your typical burglar is as sophisticated as the one portrayed on the silver screen. But it does mean that there are certain things that matter to burglars. According to the Vivint post, those things include:
- Routines – Burglars pay attention to the routines of their potential victims. They want to know when victims are at home.
- Entry – Burglars want to get in and out with as little fuss as possible. Therefore, they look for the easiest entry points.
- Visibility – Burglars do not want to be seen. Therefore, they look for cover via shrubs, bushes, trees, etc.
- Valuables – Burglars are after valuables they can carry easily and dispose of quickly. They look for things like jewelry, small electronics, and cash.
- Security – The burglar’s biggest threat is a security system that includes surveillance cameras. Alarm systems and cameras are very good deterrents.
In terms of making things as hard as possible on burglars, a monitored security system does just that. Monitored security increases the chances of getting caught. A burglar needs to work more quickly and more stealthily to get in, get out, and get away without being identified.
First Floor Windows and Doors
A second threat to successful burglary is a fortified entry. Another way to say it is that burglars have a harder time breaking in when first floor windows and doors have been hardened against unauthorized entry.
A typical first floor door that has not been beefed up with extra security measures is pretty easy to breach. A swift, firm kick just above or below the door handle will usually do the trick. An experienced burglar can kick a door open in seconds.
Making burglary as hard as possible means making first floor windows and doors difficult to breach without a lot of work. A good starting point is heavy-duty deadbolt locks for all first-floor doors. Strike plates, reinforced door frames, and heavy-duty window locks all further harden first floor entry points.
Don’t Forget the Garage
Hardening first floor windows and doors is often the first step people take to prevent burglary. But don’t forget the garage. It is easy to overlook because we don’t often think about what it takes to get past that overhead door. We also fail to realize that leaving the garage door open invites burglary.
Garage windows can be fortified with thicker panes. Security grills over the windows are not a bad idea either. As for reinforcing the overhead door, an electrified door opener prevents the door from being opened manually from the outside. Get one with a smart sensor and you will be able to program the door to automatically close – just in case you forget.
One last thing to remember is that the door between the garage and the rest of your house should also be secure. Replacing a flimsy factory door with a security door is a good idea. The door should also be equipped with a heavy-duty deadbolt.
Smart Home Devices Make Burglary Harder
Things like heavy-duty deadbolts and window grills are mechanical devices that can effectively impede burglars. But don’t stop there. A range of smart home devices can make burglary harder still.
You have already read about monitored home security with video surveillance cameras. A security system can be integrated with a home automation system for greater control. And with full integration, you can add a few more devices:
- Motion sensors
- Motion sensitive lighting
- Smart locks
- Doorbell cameras
- Automated lighting
Fully integrating home security and home automation gives you a lot of flexibility in hardening your home against burglary. For example, motion sensors can alert you to someone approaching your home, in real time. Meanwhile, audio equipped video cameras let you both see who is approaching and communicate with that person.
Burglars are by no means rocket scientists. But they are not stupid, either. They know how to break in successfully. Stopping them from doing so is a matter of making things as hard as possible on them. If you can master being a difficult property owner, you can also master burglary prevention. You just need to know how to do it.
