The holiday season is here and everyone is shopping for gifts – especially burglars who would rather steal items of value from other people’s houses.
To keep your home safe from burglary, you have to look unattractive to burglars. Thieves want to get in and out quickly, they don’t want to be seen, and they don’t want trouble in the form of barking dogs, tricky entrances and noisy alarms.
In most home break-ins, thieves simply walk in an unlocked door. The No. 1 task for do-it-yourself security is simply to lock all doors. Here are some other tips to help make your home less appealing to burglars.
• Fortify the doors. If you have just bought a new home, change any locks from a previous owner. Use a deadbolt in addition to a door knob. A common method of entry is to kick in the strike plate, the panel that holds the lock or latch bolt in place. For more protection, install a heavy duty strike plate using extralong screws.
• Use landscaping for home security. Trim back plants that may obstruct a clear view from the street and give burglars privacy and extra time to break in. Remove climbable trees that allow easy access to second-story windows. Plant thorny plants like cactus, holly or roses under windows. Bougainvillea is a great protector along fences.
• Don’t forget the garage. Burglars frequently gain entry to a house through the garage via the windows or a flimsy garage door. Use the same care on your garage access door and reinforce hinges, make sure the frame is secure, and install a dead bolt. Unplug the garage door opener when you’re on vacation.
• Scare burglars away with noise and light. Install motion sensors on outdoor lights. If you have a home security system, let thieves know about it by displaying the sign prominently in the yard or by the front door. Dogs are great burglar deterrents, and even tiny dogs will turn thieves away with loud barking. Display a “Beware of Dog” sign, whether you have one or not.
• Secure the house and be smart about incoming holiday packages. Install locking chains on bikes. Put extra locks on sheds. Install a security mail box that requires a key to open. No matter how safe your neighborhood is, ’tis the season to lock that door.
— Adriana Donofrio, Podley Properties, Glendora, 626-914-2904 adrianad@podley.com
