According to the U.S. Department of Justice report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, an estimated 4 million household burglaries occur each year in the U.S. That’s an alarming number, however there are steps you can take to protect yourself and decrease you chance of it happening to you.
You might think that burglaries happen mostly at night. However, data shows that most burglaries occur during daylight hours when most people are working. Here’s a list of ideas to consider doing to protect your home during daylight hours, at night or any time you leave your home unattended.
1. Trim back shrubbery around windows and walkways eliminating places for a thief to hide.
2. Put up a fence. A fence can be a great way to keep unwanted visitors from your property.
3. Stow expensive items in a garage or shed. Items out and on display are targets.
4. Use curtains on garage and basement windows. Out of sight, out of mind.
5. Install motion sensor lighting around your home. Thieves don’t want you to see them.
6. Install a Police reporting security system.
7. Get to know your neighbors. Crime tends to be lower in tight-knit communities.
A walk around your home and surveying it for potential weak spots is a great way to get started too. Another great tip is to check your homeowner’s insurance policy for potential discounts for security systems and make sure you have the coverage you need in the event of something bad happening. Please feel free to reach out to me for an insurance review. I’ll make sure you have the right coverage and applicable discounts.