Break-ins are something no one wants to think about happening to them. But home invasions and break-ins when no one is home do happen, and quite frequently. Many homeowners think that all they can do is use a security system, but the truth is there are many ways to protect your home.
You could go the route of Macaulay Culkin in the film Home Alone, wherein to stave off robbers, he sets up booby-traps around his house. For instance, setting up small toy cars for would-be robbers to trip over, crushing Christmas ornaments underneath windows so that if someone tries to come in through the window, they’ll step on them, rigging paint cans to fall at the robbers if they try to go up your stairs, etc. However, this might not be the best plan to foil a break-in. After all, this was a movie.
Useful Tips
Instead, do things that will actually ward off a break-in. Install motion sensor lights near your garage and main doors. That way, someone won’t be able to get near your home without tripping a light. If you have windows on a ground floor in a rough neighborhood, you may want to consider using burglar bars on them for added deterrence. If you can, set up wireless surveillance cameras so that you can check in on what’s going on in and around your home any time you want. Keep your valuables out of sight from windows—put laptops away, etc. Things like timed televisions or lights are said to be helpful, but consider how long you’ve been hearing that advice—every single burglar knows about them.
Extended Trips Away or Moving
If you and your family are taking an extended trip away from your home—say, going to your summer home for a few months—you may want to look into more sturdy solutions for preventing break-ins. Homes that no one is living in, even for a couple of months, can quickly become a target for break-ins and vandalism. If you’re away for an extended period of time, or are trying to sell your home but have already moved, it’s important to keep the place secured. Installing window security guards as well as a door guard system can help do just that. Without a method to get in easily, many potential criminals will simply pick somewhere else.
