Since deadbolts were adopted by the general population in the 1960s and 1970s, home burglaries have seen a steady decline, especially with the more recent introduction of electronic home security monitoring. Yet more than a million homes are burglarized in some way each year. Here are some key steps you can take to help deter a potential thief.

Do not put your belonging on public display

If you leave certain things out on the patio or in plain sight from the driveway, it’s like laying out tasty bait for a thief. Bicycles or other things that someone can easily leave with should always be placed inside the house or garage, especially when no one is home. In some cases, you don’t even have to leave an actual item out, but just evidence that you have an item, like placing the empty box on a new TV on the sidewalk.

leave the lights on

When you and your family leave the house, be sure to leave at least a couple of interior lights on while you’re away. This can give the appearance that someone is still home, and a burglar will be less likely to target that home.

Security system

An electronic security system is a thief’s worst nightmare, and (in most cases) they will pass up an opportunity to break in if they see evidence of such a system. Even if your home isn’t equipped with a security system, putting a security sign or sticker on your door is all the evidence most burglars need to stay away.

Secure sliding doors and windows

While the design of newer sliding glass doors has improved in recent years, some older sliding glass doors can be easily circumvented by removing them from the frame. In a matter of minutes, a thief can blow the door completely open and be in his house to ransack it. Newer sliding doors are a bit more difficult, but can still be missed, so make sure you always keep them secured with some type of dowel or even a two-by-four wedge wedged into the rear slot. This will physically prevent the door from sliding even if the lock has been picked (or if you forgot to lock it).

Windows are one of the main entry points for thieves. Sometimes it’s hard to keep an eye on window locks all the time, but they need to stay locked. As an added measure, you can insert a strong metal pin into the window frame (where the top and bottom meet) to prevent it from opening. You can remove the pin from the inside when it’s time to open the window. You can even drive a nail into the frame to prevent the window from opening more than a small crack. Window air conditioning units can also serve as easy access for a criminal. Be sure to secure them firmly and add a stopper to the frame if the window lifts easily.

spare keys

One thing families and individuals can do is leave a spare copy of the house key outside under a welcome mat, under an ashtray or flower pot, etc. If a burglar has broken into your home, there’s a good chance he’ll be looking for a spare key before continuing. Someone can also observe him taking the key to the stash from him, in which case he could be instantly compromised. If you want to keep a spare key outside, at least put it in some kind of container secured with a strong padlock. Another option is to leave a spare key with a trusted neighbor or close friend.

vacation

It’s important to maintain the appearance that you still live in the house, even if you’re hundreds or even thousands of miles away having fun. Arrange for a friend or family member to pick up your mail so it doesn’t pile up, don’t let callers know you’re on vacation by changing your answering machine (keep it generic), and if your local police oblige, have an officer take a look. take a quick look around your property to make sure everything looks in order.

Most importantly, always be on the lookout for anything suspicious in your area and don’t hesitate to contact the police if you see anything out of the ordinary. When you leave your home, always close your doors and secure your latches whenever possible. Increased awareness and extra effort on your part can play an important role in keeping your home and valuables safe and the safety of you and your family.