Introduction
Getting back to a burglarized property is not a pleasant experience and one feels vulnerable for quite a while even when all his possessions are recovered. Luckily, burglars are only interested in finding an easy way to enter a building, which means that by following certain measures, you can reduce the risks of becoming their target significantly. In this manual, we are going to talk about preventing burglars and give you a number of effective ways to achieve that. Here, you will learn everything about home theft prevention methods, such as improving your locks, installing security cameras, and so on.
How Criminals Select Their Victims
Most criminals do not select houses randomly. Rather, they seek signs that suggest a house is vacant, easy to access, and undetected. Such signs might include darkened entrances, dense vegetation around the entryway, open windows or doors, piles of mail or deliveries, and lack of visible security equipment like cameras and alarms. In addition, they prefer rapid and noiseless entry through doors and ground floor windows. This knowledge will help you determine what to focus on since all preventive methods are basically aimed at causing delay, visibility, and increased risks for the intruder.
Tips for Preventing Home Theft: Beginning with the Basics
It is not necessary to have fancy gadgets to increase your level of security. The most helpful measures can be easily adopted.
Lock every door and window, every time. It may seem simple, but open access points are one of the most frequently used methods by burglars to gain entry. You should check back doors, side doors, garage doors, and even upstairs windows.
Upgrade weak locks. Install a high-quality deadbolt lock on all doors that open to the outside and install a smart lock to avoid hiding key copies.
Reinforce doors and frames. The security of the door depends on its frame; therefore, use an extra-strength strike plate with longer screws extending into the wall stud.
Secure sliding doors and windows. Place a bar or a security pin in the track so the door cannot be forced open or lifted off.
Do not hide spare keys outside. Thieves know about fake rocks and planters. Rather than having an extra one yourself, give it to your neighbor.
Keep valuables out of sight. Do not leave laptops, bags, or electronics visible through windows, and keep car keys away from the front door.
Use Lighting to Deter Break-Ins
A burglar’s best friend is the dark since it helps him remain anonymous to his neighbors and any passing people. Effective use of bright lights will ensure that the burglar feels that your house is being watched, and that it is difficult to break into. You should put lights that are motion sensitive on both sides of the front and rear doors as well as in the garage and backyard, as this will activate the lights when anyone comes close to the house.
Tidy Up Your Landscape and Eliminate Hiding Places
Bushes that are too tall and hedges that are dense will provide hiding places for thieves who are working on your property. Make sure bushes are kept low, preferably below the height of windows, and also trim back tree branches where a burglar can possibly climb up to get onto an upper level. Tools, ladders, and garbage bins should be locked up, since they may be used by burglars to access your property.
Make Your House Seem Lived In
A vacant-looking house makes an easy mark. While traveling, request that your neighbors pick up your mail and any other packages you may receive, or opt for the hold service. Use timers or smart plugs to switch on and off some of your house lights and even the television at regular hours. Do not post pictures of your trips that will make it clear that your house is unoccupied on social media sites. You can park your car in the driveway, if possible, and have your trash taken out and put back.
Home Security Camera Systems: Your Best Protection
Camera installation ensures not only increased deterrence but also solid evidence. Seeing cameras may deter burglars, and recording any event could be useful when dealing with police and filing an insurance claim. Home security camera systems will also give you access to your property through your smartphone and alerts whenever someone gets close to your home. A standard security camera system is usually composed of cameras, recorder, hard disk drive, and a mobile application. Wired camera installations tend to be the best solution since they are reliable, are not dependent on Wi-Fi connections, and have no batteries to change. Although no camera system guarantees the safety of your property from any intruder, a quality system will definitely reduce the risks considerably. If you wish to have a ready-made system, then our 4 camera security system would be the perfect choice for you.
Security Camera Selection for Burglar Deterrence
Not all security cameras are alike in their effectiveness, therefore consider specifications relevant for burglar deterrence. A high definition – 2K or 4K, allows you to recognize people. It's vital to select a security camera with night vision due to the increased risk of burglary at nighttime. An IP66 or IP67 rating makes sure your outdoor security camera works even during bad weather. Intelligent detection of people and cars means less false alarms triggered by tree branches and pets, which saves you time and effort spent on sorting irrelevant notifications. Wide viewing angle helps to increase coverage with fewer cameras. Local recording with an additional option for uploading data to the cloud is needed for protecting recorded videos from hacking or damaging of the recorder.
The Right Place for Placing Cameras to Prevent Thieves
Positioning is equally essential as the technology. The front door should be covered as it is the most common point of access. Place the camera about 8-10 feet above in order to record facial features and make it hard to grab. Take care of the back door and backyard as the rear entry is not visible to the outside world. Position the cameras in the garage and driveway in order to keep track of the tools and cars, and place the camera for any side entry. Make sure that at least some cameras should be placed in a way that they will work as a deterrent. Do not position the cameras on any bright area or sunlight, and do not focus on others' property.
Add an Alarm System and Smart Home Functions
A camera functions best in combination with additional layers. An alarm will frighten away the intruder while warning others. Sensors will notify you when someone enters the house through a door or window. Smart doorbells allow you to watch and communicate with whoever comes to your front door. Many smart systems are capable of sending you a phone message, turning on the lights, or recording video in case of motion detection. Not all features are needed, but two or three layers are much more effective than one.
Get Acquainted with Your Neighbors
Friendships really matter. Your neighbors know who you are and are more likely to recognize anything suspicious going on and watch your place while you are away. Get involved in a neighborhood watch program or use a neighborhood app if one is available and give valuable information about any suspicious activities. Your neighbors can assist by collecting your mail and other packages, and inspecting your property when you go on vacation.
Professional Installation Advantages
A camera will not serve its purpose unless it is installed properly. Wrong camera angles, poor Wi-Fi signal strength, and inadequate height of mounting will cause gaps where there should be no gaps at all. A professional camera installer will plan the installation process, arrange cables properly, adjust angles according to your property, and set up notifications and remote access through your mobile device. If you would like to get some assistance with installing cameras in your house, we can do it for you.
Mistakes To Avoid
There are certain mistakes that most homeowners make. They have a locked door or window but keep a key somewhere that is easy for anyone to access. Some people install a camera but fail to confirm whether it is working. Most homeowners install cameras at a height where one can hardly notice and neglect to install light. Most people also forget to change their passwords. They continue using the same password provided by default.
What You Should Do In Case of Burglary
If you get home and there seems to have been a burglary, do not attempt to enter the house. Rather, go to a secure place and call the police. Don’t touch anything because there might be evidence on doors, windows, or stolen things. After it is safe to return home, create an inventory of the stolen property by gathering the serial number and receipt, among other documents. Provide video footage, if any, to the police and your insurance company.
Commonly Asked Questions
What is the best method of protecting my home from burglars?
A combination of different elements will be your best bet, including lock systems, sufficient lighting, trimmed landscaping, and security cameras.
Will installing security cameras deter burglary?
Visible cameras will certainly deter potential intruders and record a criminal activity if it happens; however, no system can provide absolute protection from burglary.
How many cameras do I need for my house?
Generally speaking, most houses require four cameras, one each for the front door, back door, driveway or garage, and a side entrance.
Which type of camera is the best choice, wired or wireless one?
Wired systems usually offer more reliability, while wireless systems will allow an easy installation and are perfect for renters.
Should I install the cameras by myself or better have them professionally installed?
It depends on your personal skills and preferences.
Conclusion
Protecting yourself from the thieves involves ensuring that the outside appearance of your property shows difficulty in breaking into it. The use of strong locks, adequate lighting, proper landscaping, and camera systems will go a long way in securing your family and assets. Begin with the easy steps now, but include the home security camera systems as part of your security plan. Should you require professional guidance in purchasing and installation of the right systems, CamRelo has the ability to assist you. Check out our 4 camera security system today.
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