Every 13 seconds, a home burglary is committed in the U.S., which is why keeping your house safe is a totally legitimate thing to worry about. What's more, 85% of break-ins are by nonprofessionals, which means they are desperate and dangerous. In other words, it's not crazy to want to take every step possible to make your home as secure as possible. These 17 precautions could all save you a ton of trouble.
1. I know you don't want to hear it, but locks
aren't 100% secure.
Get this SimLOCK to prevent deadbolts from getting picked.
2. Install motion detector lights.
They're the first line of defense for deterring thieves from even attempting to break in, and you'll be able to see if anyone's around.
3. Make sure your door jamb is reinforced.
If your door was installed in the last 10 years you're probably fine, but you can check by removing your hardware and seeing if your screws are at least three inches long.
4. Your patio doors are a weak spot, too...
Unless you've got some extra security like The Door Guardian, which is super convenient to disengage once you're ready to start your day.
5. These window and door alarms are easy to install.
6. This door stop will sound an alarm if anyone has already entered your house and tries to walk through rooms.
7. Reinforcing your flimsy garage side door is always a good idea.
Grab some two-by-fours, plywood, and brackets. Screw the plywood into the door with drywall screws and test out the two-by-fours to see how thick you'll need your filler strips to be.
8. Get a small safe to protect your valuables.
You probably don't need anything much larger than this to keep your most cherished and valued possessions.
9. Don't keep your spare keys just lying around under a doormat...keep them in a lock box!
10. There's tons of personal information in your mailbox...
So make sure no one can get to it with a secure mailbox.
11. Don't let just anyone in, make sure you know who's at your door!
Install a peephole by drilling a hole through both sides of the door and screwing it in. A wide-angle peephole is even better!
12. When you leave your garage door opener on your visor, you're essentially leaving a key to your house for anyone who breaks into your car.
Get a keychain version instead, so you can take it with you everywhere.
13. Don't just unplug your garage door opener when you go away on vacation...
Physically lock it! If someone's already in your home via another entrance, they won't be able to open it and back a car in, making their getaway sneakier.
14. Most burglars will use brute force to break into your home...
So beef up your door with some reinforcement. It just takes a few measurements and a bit of time to install it yourself and it could save you from a devastating break-in.
15. While this security guard won't stop a determined burglar, it will most definitely slow them down (giving your neighbors time to call the cops).
16. If you want concrete evidence of what goes on around your home, install some security cameras!
It's possible that they'll scare nervous thieves away, too.
17. Of course, it can't hurt to wire up your whole house with a security system.
I feel safer already. Most of these only require a simple installation and a small investment that could protect your home and family from a very scary experience. It's better to be safe than sorry!
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The Family Handyman
