When it comes to keeping your property safe, there are a lot of different approaches you can take. But one of the less common is trying to view your home through the eyes of a burglar. Or employing someone else to.
Burglars will assess your home quickly and look for weaknesses to use against you. If you’re not a criminal yourself then you won’t naturally think like that, which will lead you to miss things. By reviewing your home security through the mind of a burglar, you can be sure that you’re fully protected. As experts in exactly this, here are a few common things we see in our security reviews that make your home a tempting target for a burglar.
Broken Gates & Fences
A burglar will take a good look around the whole outside of your home for entry points, and they will often start at the front. If your home has a gate, they will check to see if it is broken or open. This is their easiest route in – and one your insurance company won’t pay out for if they use it. If you don’t have a gate, they will check the sides and back of the property for a fence. They will do a visual check on this, and if they have the opportunity they might even physically test for weak or broken panels they could use to get in. Having a closed gate and well-maintained fence is the first barrier to your home.
Animal Signs
If you have a dog or dogs, you will probably have a ‘beware of the dog’ sign displayed somewhere outside your home. While you might think you’re being considerate to the postman, you’re also sending a clear sign to burglars. You’re telling them that you have a pet. This might seem like an innocent enough thing, but burglars know that most people with pets don’t have burglar alarms. That makes you the ideal target for them. They also know that there’s a pretty good chance you leave your back door unlocked to let them in and out during the day. Since a large number of break-ins happen while you’re at home, it’s essentially rolling out the welcome mat for them.
Access Tools In The Garden
We know it can be difficult to stay on top of your garden, especially if you have kids. But there are some things you should always make sure are tidied away at the end of the day. Loose bricks, and ladders. Bricks can be thrown through your windows to gain access to your home. And if a burglar spots a ladder in your back garden, they’ll use it to slip in through a first-floor window faster than you can say ‘break-in’.
Lazy Locks
Locks and keys are another favourite of burglars, because it means they don’t leave any signs they’ve been there. If you only have a single-cylinder lock on your front door, a burglar can get into your home in less than 5 seconds with just one tool. If you keep your keys near your front door, they can be fished out through your letterbox, literally giving them a key to your home. They may even have a copy made so that they can let themselves in later. Upgrading your locks and installing a letterbox protector or cage are great ways to stop this in its tracks.
You might be wondering why a burglar might get a key to your house, but not burgle you at the same time. Simple – they’re being careful. They might go around taking pictures of your valuables and their locations so that they can act quickly. They’ll also look for a calendar or date book so that they can find out when you’re out, so they know when to come back. While they’re doing this they will usually put a bottle or something breakable by the front door, so they can hear you coming in and know you’ll be delayed, giving them time to skedaddle.
When we talk about thinking like a burglar, this is what we mean. Taking this new perspective means you can make changes that can make a real difference. At Securifix, this is our job! We can offer a free comprehensive home security review, showing you what changes you need to make and even help you implement them. If you’d like to find out more, just get in touch with the team today.
