How to Protect Yourself From a Home Intruder: A Guide

How to Protect Yourself From a Home Intruder

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Does your home have a security system? According to research, homes without security systems have 300% more chance of being broken into. Unfortunately, only about 17% of US homes have security systems, which is one of the major reasons why there are 2.5 million burglaries every year, 66% of which are home break-ins.

Your home is probably the one place you let your guard down and feel, secure, safe, and at peace. Until a home intruder breaks in and leaves you feeling vulnerable. Experiencing a home invasion or a burglary can be a life-shattering event for you and your family, which is why you need to do everything you possibly can to prevent it from happening.

Now, home security systems can be quite expensive, and it’s understandable if you may not be able to afford one. However, there are many other easy and affordable steps you can take to protect your home from intruders. In this post, we’ll be looking at some of the most clever and effective security measures you use for home theft prevention and protecting your home from intruders.

Secure Your Doors

The front door happens to be a burglar’s favorite point of entry for the simple reason that it’s the easiest one. About 34% of burglars break in through the front door, and it’s usually the first place they try. Hollow doors are easy to kick in and are not as reliable as wooden or metal solid-core doors.

One of the first things you should do is install a peephole on your front door because it’ll allow you to see who’s outside, but it’s not as vulnerable as a glass window. Beyond that, you should reinforce your doors with door jamb reinforcements or door reinforcement plates. If you have sliding doors in your home, use a safety bar in the interior floor track, and add a floor bolt or lock because they are easy access points for intruders as well.

Reinforce Your Windows Too

If the front door is locked, the next points of entry most intruders try are the windows, which are easy to get into in most homes. Always ensure your windows are well locked and make a habit of checking them when leaving and when going to sleep. Of course, a regular window latch is not enough because most are usually quite weak and give in to brute force.

For better protection against a possible home intruder, you can install window pin locks, install window sensors, and put curtains over garage and basement windows. Beyond that, you can always plant thorny and prickly bushes beneath your windows and install safety glass where necessary.

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Secure Your Garage

The garage is another entry point that most people give little consideration to. Most garage doors are easy to break into because home intruders can punch, kick, or jimmy them open. The bigger problem with the garage entry point is that if you have an interior door that you rarely lock, the intruder will easily have access to your home.

The best thing you can do is install a home automation system, so your garage door always closes automatically after opening. When going on vacation or out of town, unplug your garage opener or lock the doors to prevent any entry in your absence.

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Keep Your Outdoor Clean and Bright

Bad landscaping is not just an eyesore, but thick shrubs, dense trees, and insufficient lighting play a significant role in how attractive your home is to a home intruder. The brighter your home is, especially in the corners, the harder it’ll be for intruders to approach your home. Consider the front and back yards, and paths.

If you can, install lights with infrared motion sensors, which will be exceptionally useful when you’re not home. If you can, get solar-powered lights as they are far more efficient and eco-friendly. Having a fence and a gate that you can lock also goes a long way.

There are so many great gate openers that you can use as well, so check out this guide from floridagatemasters.com for more information. If you have a neighborhood association where you live, see whether you can install street lights as they will benefit the whole community.

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Install a Home Security System

Installing a home security system is among the best ways to prevent a home intruder or burglars from invading your home. There are so many types and so many models out there that you can find something affordable and valuable. If you can install a security camera with night vision as well, that would beef up the security in your home.

The cameras may or may not be part of the home security system. Also, cameras that sync with mobile apps are more effective as you’ll have the ability to view the footage from your smartphone, regardless of where you are. Wireless security systems are especially a good option as they require simple installations.

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Get to Know Your Neighbors

Getting to know your neighbors and being on good terms with them is a good idea. Apart from the friendship it could come with, it’s also a preventative measure against home intruders for several reasons. To begin with, when you go out of town, one of your trusted neighbors can collect your mail and newspapers because if they accumulate on your porch, a home intruder will know you’re not home.

A lot of homeowners have been victims of the ‘moving truck trick’ where burglars pack all possessions from the home while the neighbors think they are moving out. This happens in broad daylight, which makes it even less suspicious. With a trusted neighbor that knows you’re out of town, such a trick would not work, and they can alert the police before anything happens.

Beyond this, you and neighbors can set up a neighborhood watch program, which will significantly reduce the crime rate in your area.

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Get a Dog

Thieves and home intruders generally fear dogs because they bark, make noise, and can possibly bite them. For these reasons, they try to avoid homes with dogs. Of course, this is not a sure deterrent, especially if you have a friendly dog that will easily accept treats.

If you don’t have and can’t accommodate a dog in your home, you can put up a ‘Beware of Dog’ sign at the entrance, which is usually enough to turn most criminals away. You can go the extra mile and place a dog chain and bowl on your back porch, so intruders think you really have a dog.

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How to Avoid a Home Intruder: Everything You Need to Know

These are the most effective tips you can utilize to prevent a home intruder from entering your home. You also need to ensure that you have a security plan in your home where everyone knows what to do and how to operate your security system. Be wary of door-to-door scams where intruders pose as salespeople, and always keep your keys in the right place.

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