Is Your Home a Target for Burglars?

A home is burglarized roughly once every fifteen seconds in the United States, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Unfortunately, many homeowners assume they are safe, only to realize this isn't the case when they come to discover a broken door or window. So, how do you know if your home is a target for burglars?

You Don't Hide Your Schedule

It's important for homeowners and their family members to conceal their daily schedule. If you park in the driveway instead of the garage, for instance, everyone can see when you leave for work and when you return home. Using this information, a burglar may strike while your home is unoccupied. This is why it's recommended that you conceal your daily schedule by parking in the garage instead.

Alarm System

Is your home equipped with an alarm system? If not, it should be! Studies have shown that homes with alarm systems are 3x less likely to be burglars that homes with alarm systems. An alarm system works by triggering a loud siren or buzz once tripped, and if the homeowner fails to disarm it within a specified period of time (usually 30 seconds), it will notify the monitoring company. Burglars prefer to do their illegal work in the shadows, which is why they almost always choose homes that don't have an alarm system. So for the price, there's no better way to protect your home against burglary than by installing an alarm system.

Watch What You Throw Away

With the holiday season upon us, many people are opening gifts. But you should think twice about where you throw away all of those opened boxes, because it could make your home a target for burglars. If a burglar sees a large flat-screen TV box sitting outside by your trash can, they will probably assume that you have a new TV inside. Subsequently, they make break into your home just to steal the TV.

Here are some tips to better protect your home from burglars:

• Install an alarm system
• Display alarm system signs and stickers throughout your home
• Install motion-sensing lights outside your home
• Talk with your neighbors to have them watch your home while you are away
• Double-check the doors and windows to ensure they are locked before leaving