Back to school season also means back to work for many households. With many leaving their homes unattended during the day while getting back to business, burglars are on the lookout for these empty residences. Every year there are approximately 2.2 million burglaries in the U.S., which averages out to a burglary every 14 to 15 seconds.
Law enforcement authorities often note that burglaries are a crime of opportunity. Unoccupied homes during the day and less people in the neighborhood who might be alerted to suspicious activities are a perfect opportunity for would be thieves. There are steps you can take to protect your home, as 87% of burglaries are considered preventable. The FBI reports that approximately 30% of all burglaries are committed without force courtesy of an unlocked door or window.
Here are a few tips you can use to protect your home:
- Never leave your valuables that can be easily carried away near or within view of an open window or door.
- Always lock your home and be sure you have quality door locks and deadbolts. Lock all of your windows, even ones on higher levels as well as windows that are within a screened in porch.
- If you have an air conditioner in your window, make sure the window that supports the unit is in a fixed position and is not able to be opened.
- When leaving for work, you should maintain a “lived in” appearance at your home. Bring in garbage cans, newspapers, mail or any other items that may appear that you are not home during the day.
- Place a security bar between the patio sliding door and door jam. An inexpensive solution is a thick wooden dowel or a broom handle.
- Another way to prevent a home burglary is to invest in an alarm system. There are inexpensive options on the market that you can install on your own. These systems may even be able to save you up to 20% on your homeowners insurance.
If you have any tips to avoid burglaries of your own, post a comment below.
