Burglary is one of the most common crimes happening in this day and age, and when we go on holidays, our homes are even more susceptible to this type of crime. Luckily enough, there are different ways you can protect your home while you are away and here are the most efficient ones.
Love Thy Neighbour
Knowing your neighbours has an immense role in your home’s safety for several reasons. Firstly, you will make friends with some of them and count on them when you are away for a couple of weeks. Secondly, you will also get to know some suspicious neighbors, thus you can easily stay away from them.
Don’t Leave Sings You are Away
Either you headed to work or you’re planning a short trip, don’t advertise that. For example, if you are going to work and need to leave your home empty, you should never leave your keys in some predictable place, such as your doormat. If you are not ashamed, every time you leave your empty house, you could yell something like: “See you later!”
If you are planning a long trip, there are several cheap tricks you could use. For example, you could ask your neighbors to keep an eye on your home. If they are willing, they could collect your mail and magazines so that the burglars don’t realize that the house is empty. Also, while packing, you should leave your baggage and car in the garage, which will protect your privacy a lot. If you cannot afford an expensive security system, you could buy fake one. Fake surveillance cameras and alarms are great idea. You could buy a fake TV, which produces light on its screen.
Preparations before You Leave
Before you go, there are several preparations you need to make. Firstly, make sure that all windows are closed and that the entry doors are locked well. Bring all keys with yourself is the safest idea, but you could also ask your friend or a neighbor to save them for you. Another thing you should do is to turn down the volume of your telephone, so when it rings, no one will hear it from the outside. Finally, don’t write a status on social networks about your leaving home for a while; you can never know who might be reading it. For the same reasons, you should not leave a note on your entry door.
Door Reinforcement
Although the aforementioned methods are great for keeping burglars away from your home, they can never protect it completely. Just imagine what could happen if a burglar spotted your neighbor collecting your mail or noticed that the surveillance camera is fake? For such reasons, you should consider installing security system. Although it may be expensive, consider it as a permanent investment. One of the most important steps is to learn how to reinforce your door properly or to completely change it.
Proper Door Locks
In a recent conversation with a highly-rated locksmith from Randwick, it was brought to my attention that using solid core or metal doors that are secured with a quality deadbolt lock might be the most effective solution. A deadbolt lock should entail a horizontal; one inch long bolt for it is harder for a burglar to break in. Locks with anti-saw pins from the inside, are also a great solution for they will prevent the burglar from sawing through the lock.
Cameras and Alarms
Surveillance cameras and alarms are also must-have security features. While the alarm reacts when someone tries to break in your home, surveillance camera will probably record his face and help the police to find him in time. That is why you need to install the camera properly.
Lighting
Exterior lighting with motion detectors is another great idea for it lets you know when someone is approaching. Therefore, it is much better solution than keeping the lights on all the time. Finally, you should install a high fence which will isolate your home and represent a great obstacle for every burglar. If all else fails, you could always buy some large breed of dog that will scare the hell out of everyone.
Break-ins are easy to undertake just because people don’t take them seriously. Once they happen, they will influence your family’s life forever. Therefore, preventing the burglary on time is easier than dealing with its consequences when you return from your holidays.