American homes are victims of burglary about every 15 seconds, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The typical homeowner suffers a loss of nearly $2,000 in stolen goods or property damage.
"With the national economy getting worse, burglary is again becoming a more common crime," said Charles Sczuroski, a former police officer and now senior trainer for the National Crime Prevention Council.
If you have a high deductible on your homeowners insurance policy, you'll likely have to pay out of pocket to replace your stuff. But for a small investment, you can make your home less appealing to burglars in the first place.
9 Ways To Protect Your Home From Burglary
1. Prune your shrubs. Bushes, shrubs and trees can offer an intruder places to hide and camouflage signs of a break-in. Trim back any overgrown vegetation so that your home's windows, porches and doors are visible to neighbors and passersby. This doesn't cost but a few hours of your time, yet it can make a difference in making your property much less attractive to a burglar.
2. Draw the blinds. Use shades, drapes and other window treatments to keep potentially tempting household items out of view. Burglary is sometimes a crime of opportunity and "window-shopping" is one way criminals choose potential targets.
3. Don't advertise new purchases. Be sure not to draw undue attention to your home by discarding empty boxes at the curb with your trash -- a big problem during the holidays. By putting out boxes from a new flat-screen television, video game system, a laptop computer or other expensive home electronics at the curb, you're showing a potential burglar exactly what new and valuable items are now available in your home.
4. Get motion sensors. Adequate nighttime illumination is critical, because a dark or poorly lit property makes it easier for a burglar to go about unseen. The best deterrent for crime and therefore safety for your home and family is to install motion-sensing security. Motion-sensing security lights are ... activated when motion is detected and the sudden change from darkness to the bright light will not only startle intruders, but also provide a visual alert to the homeowner and neighbors.
5. Set timers indoors. Many insurance companies recommend using timers that are hooked up to indoor lights, as well as radios or televisions. Setting a timer to switch on about 30 to 45 minutes before it gets dark makes it appear more like someone is really at home, and combined with a radio or TV activating during the day and evening, that impression can be even more convincing. Burglars generally don't want to be confronted by anyone in a home. They basically want to slip in and out unseen. If they hear sounds of activity, they'll generally move on.
Timers can run from about $5 to $40, depending on their sophistication. A basic plug-in unit can turn a light on and off once or twice a day, whereas a wired digital outlet switch can switch lights on at any number of set or random times.
6. Reinforce entry points. Sixty percent of all burglaries take place at ground floor doors and windows, so it makes sense to "harden" these entry points. All entry doors should be solid wood or steel-wrapped wood-core doors. Hollow-core doors or rickety old wood-panel doors can be kicked in easily and don't offer much of a deterrent. New solid (slab) doors cost around $100. Installation, of course, will cost extra. However, an experienced home handyman can tackle the job with the help of instructions.
7. Shield windows near doors. For existing doors with windows, safety experts recommend installing a protective barrier of quarter-inch Plexiglas over any existing glass. Attached properly, it can prevent the burglar from breaking the window and either opening the door's lock from the inside or getting into the house through the opening.
8. Install deadbolts. A deadbolt should be installed on every exterior entry door, and the bolt should have a throw of at least one inch. Insurance companies and locksmiths recommend Grade 1 or Grade 2 American National Standards Institute deadbolt locks on exterior entryways. The two main types of deadbolts are single and double cylinder locks. A single cylinder deadbolt, about $35, has a keyed opening on one side and a knob that can be turned by hand on the other. A double cylinder deadbolt lock, about $45, is keyed on both sides.
A double cylinder locks should be used on a door with a glass section or one located near a window. If the glass is broken and someone tries to reach in to open the door, they won't be able to.
Consult local building codes before buying new double cylinder deadbolt locks, though. Some communities don't allow their use due to safety concerns: They can impede a speedy exit from a home in case of fire. And when upgrading any entry door lockset, make sure that the strike plate is properly secured with strong 3-inch screws into the home's structural framing (studs).
9. Use Common Sense. But the best form of protection is to simply lock all your doors and windows whenever you leave your home. It's amazing how many people don't do that, and yet it's the simplest and best thing anyone can do.
At this time of year the warm weather finds most of us outside, or in the backyard pool, or getting ready for that summer vacation. An open garage door, and unlocked door or open window, or newspapers piled up on the porch are all invitations to would-be intruders. Take a moment to safe-guard your home and valuable possessions this weekend. A theft can happen in less than 60 seconds.
