In This Article
- 1. Putting a key under your doormat
- 2. Hiding a key anywhere outside
- 3. Having weak locks for your doors or windows
- 4. Using fake security equipment
- 5. Relying on a barking dog
- 6. Not having enough outdoor lights
- 7. Noting Keeping Valuables Out of Site
- 8. Not maintaining your security system properly
- 9. Announcing when you will be gone
- 10. Announcing your wealth
- 11. Having certain parts of your house unlocked
- 12. Assuming day-time is safe
- 13. Not hiring a house sitter when on vacation
- 14. Leaving your garage doors open
- 15. Leaving packages outside for a long time.
- Conlusion
In this article, I will cover common home security mistakes to avoid.
Having your home invaded is a terrifying experience, whether it is a burglar, murderer, or vandaliser.
This is a terrifying experience, even if you aren’t home, because it will shatter your sense of security and make you feel violated. However, if you are unlucky enough to be there when it happens, your life is at risk.
According to the Larms, there were about 2,500,000 burglaries in 2019 in the U.S. alone. To be clear here, that is one burglary in the U.S. every 13 seconds. The saddest part about this is that according to Reolink, 94% of the burglarized houses were with houses somehow unlocked.
So, with this article, you can prevent a burglary or home invasion by making it harder to enter your house, so most burglars will steer clear.
Let’s check the tips out.
1. Putting a key under your doormat
Do not store a key under your doormat. That is where a burglar will look first. This is something a lot of people are guilty of.
2. Hiding a key anywhere outside
You might be thinking that you can outsmart a criminal by putting your keys under a rock, bush, or lawn ornament might be a good idea, but it isn’t.
You would be surprised by how many burglars check areas like those. Instead, give a key to a trusted neighbor or bury it if you absolutely have to.
3. Having weak locks for your doors or windows
Having a lock that is easy to picklock breaks to keep your key inside your house. Having weak locks and doors also makes it substantially harder to enter your house without a key.
4. Using fake security equipment
Having a fake security camera is noticeable. Having a security system that notifies you when there is movement is crucial for fundamental security. The best part is that nowadays, security systems are significantly cheaper, so it is worth the investment.
One more thing, try to be one of the 17% to have an actual security system. You’ll be significantly safer with a real security system.
5. Relying on a barking dog
A barking dog is a good deterrent. However, the dog won’t bark if they don’t wake up. If they happen to wake up, then the burglar is better afraid of dogs because the chances are that the dog won’t do much.
6. Not having enough outdoor lights
Dark areas are good areas to hide. Burglars can also blend in very well if your outdoor lighting isn’t powerful enough at night. Having lights that on all night is a waste of electricity, so I recommend you get motion sensor lights.
7. Noting Keeping Valuables Out of Site
Putting valuable items near a window drastically increases the chances of that valuable item being stolen. If you can’t place your valuable items differently, then use a curtain or tint your windows.
It would also be beneficial to store larger valuable outdoor items(bikes, barbecues) in a storage unit.
8. Not maintaining your security system properly
Maintaining your security system is crucial for fundamental security. Just remember to arm your security system regularly and check if it’s working periodically.
9. Announcing when you will be gone
Many people announce when they will be gone on vacation or for any other activity on social media. This is not a good thing. You are basically yelling out, “I’m not going to be home!” which may attract some unsavory attention. At least make your announcement after your event.
10. Announcing your wealth
Many people also announce their wealth by literally showing how much money they have in their bank account, or bragging about the new gadgets you received on social media, or even with a big group of friends.
This will also increase the chances of your chance of getting robbed, so it’s best not to do this frequently, or if you’re concerned about your security, never.
11. Having certain parts of your house unlocked
If you have a house that is above two stories, make sure to lock the windows everywhere, even on the top floors. It is okay to let some fresh air in, but make sure to close the windows, or any other accessible place in your house(dog doors, additional doors, etc.)
12. Assuming day-time is safe
13. Not hiring a house sitter when on vacation
Information spreads, so if you are on vacation, don’t be cheap, hire a house sitter. They will maintain the house(water plants, mow lawns, clean up) and make it look like someone is there.
Also, in the case of a burglary, and 28% of burglaries do happen when someone is home, they can call 911 and keep the house as safe as possible.
14. Leaving your garage doors open
Although only 9% of burglars enter through your garage, the chances are that when a burglar sees a garage door open, the burglar will probably attempt a robbery. So, if you are one of the few that keeps your garage open for an extended period, try to close your garage when possible.
15. Leaving packages outside for a long time.
According to Crresearch, 36% have had their packages stolen at least once. The average cost of the packages was $109. If you were one of the lucky ones who didn’t get burglarized, I recommend bringing the packages in ASAP.
Conlusion
If you follow these steps, you will greatly improve your security and survivability.
Check out 17 home security tips from experts in this article. Check out this book, it helped me a ton with home security, and it will help you too.
I hope you learned a thing or two from this article on 15 home security mistakes you could be making.
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Now, I’d like to hear what you have to say:
Was there anything you are doing that you will fix right away?
Were you surprised by any of the tips?
Or maybe you would like to add to the list!
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