If you take precautions to secure your home when you leave for work every day and when you leave on vacation, you may be wondering whether it is truly safe from break-ins.
There are a number of things you can do, as a home owner, to thwart burglars, according to our friends at Trusted Choice.
A good home security system, for example, can go a long way toward preventing a break-in attempt from being successful.
Burglary in the United States
- About two-thirds of burglaries occur in homes, and about 62% of those happen between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Only about 15% of stolen property is recovered
- An average burglary results in about $1,600 worth of stolen property
- A burglary occurs about every 15 seconds in the United States
Tips for Keeping Your Home Belongings Safe from Theft
You can’t keep all of your valuable possessions locked in a safe. There are other ways minimize your risk of break-ins, according to our friends at Trusted Choice. For example:
- Do not keep expensive possessions such as electronics where they can be plainly seen from outside.
- Always secure sliding windows and doors, especially when you’re gone.
- Secure the yard by keeping foliage away from doors and windows. Trim bushes so they don’t give intruders a place to hide.
- Contact your local police to find out if they offer a security evaluations.
- If you’re leaving on a trip, tell only those who need to know.
- Make sure to lock the house whether you are at home or away.
- Do not hide spare keys in the yard or garage. Consider leaving them with a trusted neighbor. Or install a secure access through your garage that requires a keycode to enter.
Most of the time break-ins involve theft of small appliances, jewelry, and expensive tools; anything that is small and expensive makes an attractive target. When you can, keep these things locked up, or at least out of sight. Store jewelry in a safe or lock box, for example, and make sure expensive tools are secured in a locked toolbox, the garage or a shed. Finally, make sure you have adequate burglary insurance in your home or renters policy, so you can be compensated if and when you do experience theft.
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