If you are burglarized once, you are 12 times likely to be burglarized again. Single-family units are 15% more likely to be broken into than apartments. Canada has over 159338 reported burglaries. It is a real threat, especially when you plan to go away on business or vacation.
Burglars can even do it during the daytime when people are away at work or taking a nap. The best thing to do is to put into place measures that will deter burglars. Here are 6 preventive steps from a pro locksmith that should help you keep burglars at bay.
1. Locks
It is the considered the opinion of locksmith www.lockupservices.ca that the first thing to do is to buy and install quality, sturdy locks for doors and windows as well. If you have a garage, keep it locked at all times with a strong lock, even when you are at home.
Get a professional locksmith to give your house a thorough inspection, inspect existing locking systems and recommend a suitable one that will be secure and a deterrent for burglars. He can recognize which lock is flimsy and easily picked.
Do not keep spare keys in obvious hiding places such as the flower pot or doormat.
Make sure your entrance door and backdoor are sufficiently strong and have five lever mortise deadlocks set about a third way up the door.
If you lose keys, replace the lock. If you are moving into a new house change all the locks and get an expert locksmith for the installation.
2. Outlying areas
Your lawn, hedges, and bushes surrounding your house can aid burglars in their approach. Keep all hedges short so that it is not easy to hide behind them.
Trim bushes around your house to a small enough size. Mow lawns before you go away. Your house looks well cared for and deters burglars according to San Jose police department.
3. Security devices
It is worth spending on security devices to deter burglars. You could get your locksmith to install motion sensing alarms right over your front and back doors, taking care to install them at a height of 2.5 meters or more. Switch them on whenever you lock your house to go to work or on a trip.
Get video cameras. Get two of them. One should be installed over and above the door. You can install another one right in the door panel at shoulder height to capture the would-be burglar’s face. Connect these to a recorder. Alternatively, get IP cameras so you can use your smartphone to monitor your house.
Lighting is just as necessary. Make sure all sides of your house are adequately lighted at night.
If you plan to go away then you should use timers to light up interiors at night. A programmed timer, to light up several lights in the bathroom, kitchen and living room, is much better. It gives the impression someone is at home.
4. Secure interiors
Never be in a hurry before you leave for work or vacation. Draw blinds on all windows so that no one can see what is inside. Install and switch on the programmed lighting system if you are going away.
Switch on the interior security cameras and alarms. If you own a safe get your locksmith to secure it to the wall or floor with bolts. Please valuable items out of sight and safely locked.
5. Mails
Let the mails pile up and it is a pointer to the burglar that there is nobody home. Arrange with a neighbor to have your mail picked up every day.
6. Dog
Burglars do not like dogs and dogs do not like burglars. Capitalize on their mutual antipathy and get a dog, possibly one with training to keep at watch at night when you sleep or to roam the grounds when you are away during the day.
Put up signs such as “Beware of Dog”. Burglars may not fear God but they fear Dog.
