Why Your House Is Vulnerable to Burglary
Is your home susceptible to burglary? Even if you “think” it’s safe and secure, it could very well be a prime target for burglary. By conducting a security audit, you can identify vulnerabilities and take action to minimize them.
Outskirts of Town or Near Major Thoroughfares
Homes that are in areas with more distance from other homes and farther from roads are more prone to burglary. Neighbors or passersby are too far away to notice any unusual activity. Even living on dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs means your home is less likely to be seen, which is why burglars target them.
In contrast, if you live near a busy thoroughfare where a lot of strangers are passing by, including pedestrian and bike paths, your home may be more vulnerable. With so many strangers passing by regularly, they may notice your habits such as when you leave for work and use that to their advantage to burglarize your home.
Your best defense is to ensure your home is well-protected with solid locks on doors and windows and a security system.
Unlocked Windows and Doors
When was the last time that you checked your home’s windows to make sure they were locked? All it takes is a single unlocked window — whether it was left unlocked accidentally by a child or house guest — or intentionally by a repair person or service worker.
During the spring and summer months, we like to open windows to let in the fresh breeze. However, burglars look for open windows — even on unlocked upper floors.
Even if your windows have little locks to prevent them from being opened more than a few inches, these are not strong. Once a window is open, it’s pretty easy for someone to use force or a crowbar to open the window all of the way.
And of course, it goes without saying, leaving doors unlocked is practically an invitation, so keep them locked, including side and back doors. Any door leading into your home, even from inside the garage, should have a deadbolt lock.
Sliding and French Doors
While doors such as sliding and French doors are attractive, burglars like them too. Why? Because they are far easier to break into. Some sliding doors can be forced open with even small tools. Burglars can easily break a glass pane in a French door without making a lot of noise. Then they can reach in and unlock the lock.
You can place a metal rod or install other physical locks in sliding door tracks to make them impossible to slide open.
You can install a double cylinder deadbolt in a French door that can only be opened with a key from both inside and out. You can also replace the factory hinges with stronger ones or even the doors themselves with thicker, sturdier doors and hurricane-rated glass, which is harder to break. And last, you can install a security bar, which prevents the door from being opened.
Your Home Backs to an Alley
Many homes have alleys that run beside or behind them for access into garages and for garbage trucks. If yours does, your home is more susceptible to burglary. Why? Because alleys provide easy, usually somewhat hidden access to the back of your house.
Burglars have more time to jimmy open a window or break a door without being seen. And burglars can easily load their vehicles without being seen from the main road.
Make sure your garage door isn’t vulnerable to burglary (we covered garage security in an earlier post) and that all doors and windows into your home are solid, with good locks.
You should also install motion-sensor lighting around your home.
You Don’t Have an Alarm System
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Homes without security systems are far more likely to be burglarized. By some estimates, 1 in 3 homes without a security system will be burglarized as opposed to 1 in 250 homes that have a system. From a basic alarm system to more comprehensive systems with video surveillance, they deter burglars.
We Can Give You Peace of Mind
Cultris Security Systems has been protecting residential and commercial properties in the greater Houston area for more than 10 years. We can help design a system to fit your needs and your budget!
Contact us a 281-506-8466 or visit us online today!
Image attribution: https://www.flickr.com/photos/drb62/
