10 Home Theft Prevention Tips
Did you know that a home burglary occurs every 26 seconds, with an average loss of $2,799? Disclosure1 Plus, most home burglaries occur during daytime hours, when thieves expect you to be at work, school or running errands.
Even the safest neighborhoods can be targets for intruders. Help secure your home with these tips:
Especially when you’re leaving the house, even for just a few minutes, it’s important to check doors and windows to make sure they’re securely locked. Also, be sure each exterior door has a deadbolt lock.
Remember to always set your alarm when you’re out of the house or asleep for the night. As an additional deterrent, post signs in your yard alerting would-be thieves that your home is protected by a security system.
When you know the people who live nearby, it will be easier to pick out strangers in your area. You can also think about forming a neighborhood watch group through your local police station to discourage thieves.
Instead, give a key to a trusted friend or neighbor. If you must hide a key, keep it in a combination lockbox instead of tucked under a mat or inside a faux rock. Burglars know all the typical outdoor hiding spots for keys.
That way, if an intruder attempts to break into your home after dark, the motion sensors will shine a spotlight on them.
Most burglars are looking for an empty home, and they’ll probably move on if it sounds like someone’s inside.
If you don’t have a garage, or if you must park in your driveway or on the street, always make sure to lock your car—and never leave valuables inside. Vehicle break-ins can occur even in the safest neighborhoods, and an unlocked car is an easy target.
Burglars won’t take the time to break into a safe while they’re in your home, but they are likely to snatch one up if it’s portable and not bolted down.
If you’ll be out of town for more than a couple of days, it’s wise to place a hold on your mail through the USPS Hold Mail service at your local post office. You can make the request online (opens in a new tab) from 1 to 30 days in advance.
Since the average loss from a home burglary is $2,799, it’s important to have the right amount of homeowners or renters insurance to protect your belongings. In addition, it’s a good idea to have a home inventory to catalog your most important items (including serial numbers for electronics) so that it’s easier to identify what’s missing and its value.