Did you know that every year over 2 million homes are violated by burglars?
That’s a burglary every 15 seconds! Wow!
Mistake #1:
Leaving your alarm off when you are running errands. Nearly all of the houses robbed have expensive alarm systems,
and more than half the time, the alarms are not turned on.
Mistake #2:
Posting detailed alarm signs, in example, “Protected by …”. When you post a sign that identifies the alarm company, you have just given the burglar the information he needs to disable the alarm. All the burglar has to do is buy a diagram on how that particular system is wired. Instead, buy a generic sign from a hardware store that says “House Protected by Alarm System.”
Mistake #3:
Hiding valuables in the bedroom. The first place burglars look is your underwear drawer and under your mattress, then high closet shelves, etc. Try keeping money and jewelry you rarely wear in a safe-deposit box. Hide other valuables in places where burglars don’t think to look, like in the garage or above removable ceiling tiles. Or possibly hide valuables in the freezer or in fake soup cans, hair spray cans, beer cans, cleaner cans, etc., that are made for this purpose.
Mistake #4:
Getting a big dog? Nope get a yappy! A 100 pound dog like a Rottweiler or German Shepherd will look scary, but burglars know better. Most large breed dogs are not barkers. You are going to want “yappies,” those small dogs that make a lot of noise!
Mistake #5:
Hiding windows with landscaping. Tall bushes and shrubs allow the burglars to break-in to your house without being seen. So keep all bushes trimmed below window height. And don’t count on thorny plants to prevent entry because professional burglars will wear gloves and two layers of clothes, and they will carry cutting tools to remove obstacles that may get in their way.
Mistake #6:
Leaving on the lights. A light that stays on all the time is no better that having a dark house. It is not a deterrent, in fact, it will help burglars see once they are inside. Instead, use timers that turn lights on and off in different parts of the house at different intervals. Also, in addition to timers, hardware and home-improvement stores sell motion detectors that turn on lights or appliances if someone enters the house. They cost around $25.00 dollars for either device.
Mistakes #7:
Having newspaper and mail stopped when you go away. Keep your plans quiet and have a neighbor or close friend pick up your paper or mail. Ask them to drop by at least once a day. The more activity seen, the less likely they are to target your house.
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