More often than not, burglars have an opportunistic nature. These criminals choose homes based on how easy they think it is to rob them, and there are certain things that they look for when staking out homes to rob.
Setting up a reliable security system and locking all your doors aren’t enough to deter burglars. Aside from these measures, you also have to make sure that you are not unknowingly making your home look like an easy target to potential criminals. Hence, here are some of the things that you should avoid:
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An unsecured garage door
The garage door is one of the best entry points to a home in the eyes of a burglar. And if your garage door looks unsecured or damaged, your home will look like an easy target.
One of the indicators that your garage door is unreliable is damage. If, for example, your garage door refuses to close correctly, how can you be sure that a criminal won’t be able to force their way through it? That said, it is important to get garage door repair services as soon as you spot signs of damage; you don’t know if potential burglars are lurking around the neighborhood at any time of day.
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Mail piling up
If there is mail piling up on your doorstep or in your mailbox, it is a clear indicator to criminals that no one is home. For this reason, you must ask a friend or a neighbor to take your mail inside if you will be gone for a while. Moreover, avoid ordering items for delivery if you leave your home for vacation to reduce the risk of getting your packages stolen from your doorstep.
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Weak locks
When looking for a house to rob, burglars tend to choose homes with locks that look easy to pick or break. To reduce the risk of your house getting burglarized, make sure to reinforce or replace the locks on all of your doors and windows, especially those that burglars can easily access, such as the front door and first-floor windows.
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Low light
Low visibility is important for burglars as this will make their entry and escape much easier. Thus, they tend to look for houses with inadequate or weak outdoor lighting.
It might increase your energy bill, but installing additional outdoor lighting can help protect you from these criminals and help you sleep more soundly at night. To save money, choose LED light bulbs that are far more energy-efficient and long-lasting than halogen or incandescent bulbs. Moreover, you can also opt for motion-detecting lights that only turn on when it detects movement within its scope (the fact that they can easily catch attention also make them a great deterrent against lurkers).
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Hiding spots
Burglars want to be able to hide easily when trying to get in and out of a home. That said, having plenty of hiding spots around your property can make your home an easy target. Examples of hiding spots include heavy foliage, playhouses, and large storage containers.
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Climbing aids
Are there things around your house that burglars can use to climb? These include lattice, branches near your second-floor windows, and garbage bins, among many others. Remove or modify these climbing aids as much as possible to deter criminals from breaking into your home. For example, decorate your lattice with thorns and trim the branches that burglars can use to access a window or balcony. You can also plant thorny bushes around the perimeter of your fence to discourage burglars from climbing over it.
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Boxes of expensive items
Don’t leave boxes of expensive items outside your home (e.g., TVs, gaming consoles, phones, etc.). If burglars see them, they may want to target your house to steal these items. Keep them inside the house instead until the garbage truck comes, or cut them into smaller pieces so that they fit inside your bins.
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Overgrown lawn
An overgrown lawn is also a clear indication that you are away from home. Not only that, but you have been away from home for a long time. That said, hire someone to mow your lawn and trim your greenery at least once a week while you are gone to avoid making it look like nobody is home.
If you want to avoid attracting burglars to your property, you have to think like a burglar. By avoiding the things listed above, you can avoid inadvertently attracting these criminals to your property and keep your home safe—even when you are away on vacation.
