Top 10 Anti-Burglary Tips
1. Maintain you property; Let people know the property is occupied.
2. Know your neighbors; You'll be able to let them know your visitors so they can see if any irregular activity is going on.
3. Play a robber; Assess your house and it's blind spots. See where you would break in and make changes.
4. Use of lights; Don't worry about the cost for lighting, it's cents and it only makes sense. Criminals do not want to be seen and will more than likely choose a target where they won't get caught. They're cowards.
5. Use smart devices; When you're gone, you can still make it look like someone is home. invest in smart technology so you can turn on lights and music from your mobile device. If you don't want to spend that much or don't want to incorporate tech devices, you can use an inexpensive alternatives such as a timer.
6. LOCK YOUR DOORS! Many times people forget to lock doors and close windows. Speaking to a Riverside Police Officer, he told me that many break ins happen through open doors and windows.
7. Get a better locking system; Check your door jam and strike plate first, make sure they are solid, then invest in a good deadbolt.
8. Sirens; Burglars don't want the attention because they don't want to be caught. Their concern is witnesses, so let all the neighbors hear that someone is doing something wrong.
9. Use surveillance cameras; The Los Angeles Police Department started a program encouraging homeowners to install a device called ring. It's a doorbell that can capture video and also be viewed on your smart devices. See who is at your door when your home or away. The LAPD claim that it has dropped the burglary rate 55% in the test neighborhood. Read the full article here.
10. Label your property & create a list; Make sure you'll be able to identify your property. Use an invisible pen or engrave something on your valuables. Also, log all your expenses along with serial numbers and full description.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions regarding this or any real estate matter contact us anytime.
Resource: Tracey Hawkins