How to Bewilder Burglars

You are more at risk for a home burglary than you might think. We’ll give you some simple ways to protect your home and valuables.

You may think that a burglary couldn’t happen to you or that your home is adequately protected. The truth is, a burglary happens every 15 seconds in the United States, which is more than 6 million home break-ins per year. From simple, commonsense precautions to home alarm systems, there are plenty of ways you can protect your home and belongings, according to an article from Real Simple magazine.

Inside the Home

• Buy timers for lights and appliances. When you’re out of town, you may leave the lights on so it looks like someone is home at night. If you do this, you “might as well put out a sign in [your] front yard saying [you’re] out of town,” says Ann Lindstrom of ADT Security Services, the oldest alarm-system company in the nation. Instead, buy timers for your lights and for a radio or television. Look for a timer that can be set for random on and off times (one brand is called Leviton and is available for $40 per timer). Otherwise, a burglar can easily figure out that your lights are coming on at the same time every night.

• Your dog may not be the best defense. Barking dogs can be a good burglar deterrent due to the noise, but don’t count on your dog to attack a burglar and protect the home. “Most of us train dogs to be friendly to strangers,” points out Frank Santamorena, an expert for the Discovery Channel’s burglary prevention show, “It Takes a Thief.” A wise thief might even bring dog treats.

• Lock up weapons. Weapons, especially guns, are very attractive to thieves, so if you keep any in your house, keep them in a safe, just as you would other valuables.

• Close the shades. Closing all shades or curtains on your first floor will ensure a burglar can’t see if there is anything worth stealing in your home. Make sure, however, to keep a few shades open on other floors of your home to make it look as if someone is home. A completely closed-up house is another sign to a thief that no one’s home.

• Lock up valuables. This one is pretty obvious, but you have to be smart about how you do it. Most thieves know homeowners’ typical hiding places, like corners of closets, under the bed, in coffee cans. Instead, keep important documents, like passports, Social Security cards in a bank safe-deposit box or in a heavy-duty combination safe that you can bolt to the floor. Santamorena suggests the Gardall brand, starting at about $300.

• Separate your jewelry. Keeping two jewelry boxes may fool a thief. If you put your casual, inexpensive jewelry in one box that you keep out on your dresser, put your nice, expensive jewelry in a box in the safe. The burglar may be fooled by the cheap stuff and may not go looking for more.

• Foil a resale. Mainly, thieves want to sell the stuff they steal. You can make it harder for them by buying an engraving pen, available at hardware stores, and marking expensive items with your initials and driver’s license number (but never your Social Security number) prominently. Do this for televisions, computers and other electronics. Many pawnshops won’t accept items that have been ID-engraved or are required to report them to the police. You will also have a better chance of recovering the stolen items.

• Invest in an alarm system. A recent survey by Temple University researchers discovered that alarms, when used in combination with other tactics, can reduce the possibility of a burglary by as much as 66 percent. All monitored systems rely on a phone line, but more modern systems have a backup service that uses cellular technology or digital radio if the line is cut or the power goes out. This is a very important service to have if you invest in a system. Expect to pay about $350 for installation and around $35 a month in monitoring fees.

Outside the Home

• Make sure your landscaping isn’t an accomplice. Overgrown landscaping can provide ideal cover for someone trying to break into your home. Lauren Russ, executive director of the nonprofit Burglary Prevention Council (BPC) instructs homeowners to “prune back shrubbery from windows, doors and walkways.” She also adds that you should inspect the “’climbability’ of tall trees near second-floor windows.” Prune these as well so burglars don’t have a ready-to-use ladder.

• Lighting is everything. Every door to the outside should be lit with at least a 40-watt bulb so neighbors and police driving by can spot any suspicious activity. The best option is to install a motion-detecting sensor, available at about $20 each at home improvement stores. Thieves “want anonymity,” says Santamorena. “If a spotlight shines on them the moment they step onto your property, they’ll keep moving.” Random timers can also be a good idea, and you can buy ones that allow lights to turn on when it gets dark.

• Make sure windows and sliding doors are secure. Look for windows that are made with laminated glass, which is not as breakable as tempered glass. Also, sliding glass doors are surprisingly easy for thieves to jimmy open, so put a metal bar or solid-wood dowel in the track to secure the door when it’s closed.

• Use reliable locks. In about 32 percent of home burglaries, there is no sign of forced entry, meaning that the thief entered through an unlocked door or window. According to the BPC, it takes most burglars less than 60 seconds to get inside your home, and they typically enter through the front door. For all exterior doors, plus the door that leads from the garage into your home, install and use high-quality deadbolts, such as ASSA Abloy, Medeco or the Schlage Primus, which starts at about $140. If the lock is near a window or within 40 inches of a glass pane, install a double-cylinder dead bolt, which can be opened only with a key from the inside and outside. The best idea is to use a locksmith who is a certified dealer of the brand you want, says Santamorena. You can find one by visiting the manufacturer’s Web site.

• Fortify your doors. Most thieves won’t use a battering ram to get inside your home, but you still don’t want flimsy doors that are easy to break into. Exterior doors, including the garage door, should be solid wood, fiberglass or steel, and the hinges should be on the inside. If you do have exterior hinges and don’t wish to move them, Santamorena suggests using a locking pin that makes hinges more difficult to move.

• Put only your street number on the outside of your home. Some thieves use a very old trick where they look up your phone number using your name and address and call to find out if anyone is home. This is why you should never display your name on your mailbox or elsewhere outside your home. But always make sure your street number is readily visible so emergency personnel can locate your home.

• Fake an alarm system if you don’t have one. A lawn sign or sticker advertising an alarm system is a good deterrent, although the real deal is best. Try to get a spare sign or sticker from a friend who has one, as good thieves can spot fakes.

• Put away clutter. Toys, lawn tools and ladders left lying about can all be used to break into your home. Keeping your home clear of clutter will leave a thief with less to work with.

• Most hide-a-key tricks don’t work. Thieves know all about the fake rock or hiding the key under the doormat or above the doorjamb. If you need to have a key outside your home for a family member or friend, use a steel combination lockbox designed especially for keys, such as the GE AccessPoint KeySafe at about $40. Bolt it to something on the property that is easy for everyone in your family to access. They’re so reliable that you can even install it right next to your door.

• Protect your garage door opener. This is an easy way burglars can get into your home, so make sure not to leave your garage door opener in an unlocked car for a thief to snatch.

• Censor your garbage. Your garbage can advertise a lot about you, such as your name, phone number, financial details and whether you have bought anything of worth lately. Shred all documents with your name or other information on them and cut up any boxes for big-ticket items, such as flat-screen TVs, before putting them out for trash day.

While You’re on Vacation

You need to take extra safety precautions while you’re on vacation, since your home is monitored less closely.

• Ask a friend or family member to watch the house. Enlist a trusted friend, neighbor or family member to keep an eye on the house. You might even ask them to remove any packages, shovel the walkways, mow the lawn or park a car in the driveway. The less signs that you aren’t at home, the better.

• Stop delivery of newspapers and mail or have someone collect them. Nothing says “vacation” like piled-up newspapers or an overflowing mailbox.

• Don’t leave messages on your e-mail or voicemail indicating you are away. Don’t use the “automatic reply” on your e-mail to tell people you are away and always keep a generic message on your answering machine or voicemail. You can also use call forwarding to screen calls while you’re on the road.

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