Nothing attracts a burglar like signs of inactivity in a nice house. While you might need to travel sometimes, you don’t need to leave your home defenseless. Here are the biggest invitations for burglars that you can remove.
1Empty Trash Cans
Empty trash cans left on the curb for many hours or days prove to a burglar that you aren’t home. Because no nice home owner would leave this eye sore on the curb, it’s that clear sign to creeps that your house is fair game. Stop the prowlers from choosing your home: arrange to have a neighbor drag in your cans promptly on trash day, or forego leaving trash out when you are leaving town.
2Stacks of Mail
Like empty trash cans, stacks of mail attract burglars. Not only can they learn valuable information about your finances from glancing through your mail, but they can also figure out about how long you have been gone from the size of the stack. Outsmart the crooks by putting your mail on hold with the post office. It’s a free service, and it will ensure that your mail doesn’t get returned to sender, too.
3No Security Sign
If your yard lacks proof of a security system, then burglars are sure you are unarmed. Because every reputable system comes with a sign for the yard thatproves you are protected, not having a sign is proof of the opposite for burglars. Get Life Shield for your home, or go to Home Depot and buy a generic security sign for your yard, at least. Make sure this sign is visible from the street. It will proclaim that your house is protected, and it will make other homes that lack that sign easier targets for crooks.
4Lights Out
When your lights are out nobody’s home, so the saying goes. Why would you want people to believe that nobody is home? This sign of inactivity makes burglars’ mouths water because it proves that your house is an easy target. Be smart: leave a light on when you are going away, or get light timers for your home. These timers will turn your lights on and off intermittently so that it looks like someone is moving from room to room. They work during longer trips and in vacation homes that need protection.
5Hidden Windows and Doors
Why would a burglar work for ten minutes breaking into a door in plain sight when he or she could creep behind a concealing bush and break into your home in privacy? Leaving bushes and shrubs hiding windows is a sign to burglars that you want to be robbed, or that you haven’t considered it, at least. Remove those plants, even if they are gorgeous. They are making you an easy target for criminal activity. The low visibility leaves you susceptible to criminals.
By removing the signposts burglars look for in an easy target, you can make your house less attractive to burglars. Your home will be a lot safer if crooks don’t dare to choose it.
