There are 136 burglaries that occur every hour in the United States and homeowners in Las Vegas are 18 percent more likely to have a crime perpetrated against their home. However, there are a number of different measures you can take to make sure your property is a less attractive target for burglars.
Most burglars are simply criminals of easy opportunity. Almost always, they will only attempt to rob homes that are obviously easy targets that pose little threat. Studies have shown three primary factors that thieves use to determine if they will rob a house:
- Time of Day
- Noise
- Visibility
Five Tips to Discourage Burglars
1. Get a home security system.
Research has shown that homes that do not have a security system are three times more likely to be broken into than homes that have one. If you cannot afford a home security system, then consider installing more cost-effective alarms that emit loud noise if somebody opens a door or breaks a window.
2. Deadbolt lock your doors.
34 percent of intruders enter through the front door, and another 22 percent come through the back door. One of the simplest solutions is to install a deadbolt lock.
3. Man’s best friend.
While relying on your dog as a primary means of home security is not a good idea, having a noisy barking dog in your backyard will make burglars think twice before trying to break into your home.
4. Make sure your home is well-lit.
Potential intruders do not want to be seen. Installing a set of lights on the outside of your home that would allow your neighbors to see a suspicious person can be a very effective deterrent.
5. Be careful who you let into your home.
Anytime you let someone into your home, you give them the opportunity to steal from you, as well as allowing them an opportunity to see what valuables you have and prepare to come back later.
Following these five tips will greatly decrease the chances of an intruder trying to break into your home. If you believe that someone is in your home when you get there DO NOT go inside. Confronting a burglar can have far worse consequences than missing some valuables. Take these steps to show any potential burglars that your home is too difficult to get into.
Protect yourself today!
While violent crime dominates most headlines across Las Vegas, crimes against property often do not carry as much significance for law enforcement. Going along with these suggestions will help you proactively keep your home safer, your valuables more secure, and most important of all, keep your family out of harm’s way.
From all of us here at Lerner and Rowe, be safe and make sure to take precautionary steps to avoid burglary.