As more people return to work and school outside of the home, it’s a good time to give your home’s security a quick checkup. Despite what many people think, most residential burglaries occur during the day. The last thing a burglar wants is to come face-to-face with a homeowner. For this reason, many bad guys stake out neighborhoods to see when residents come and go. They may also knock on a front door to make sure the house is empty before going inside. While you might think your home is burglar-proof, it’s always a good idea to give your home security a once-over every few months or so.
OUTSIDE HOME SECURITY
Start the checkup looking at the outside of your home. Ask yourself, “If I forgot my keys, how would I get inside?” The easiest way is typically an unlocked door or window. Burglars are more
likely to think twice about stealing your stuff if they have to waste time and effort breaking into your home. Take a good look at the landscaping around your home. Are there hedges behind which a bad guy could hide? Eliminate these hiding spaces and use motion-activated lights to provide additional security. Are your doors equipped with deadbolt locks? If not, a swift kick could push
open a door. An alarm system sticker or sign is a strong deterrent. Burglars are likely to skip houses with security systems in favor of an easier target. Don’t forget the garage – it is one of the easiest points of access for burglars. To protect your home, make sure that your garage doors are closed whenever the garage area is not in use. Also, make sure the garage doors are closed and locked whenever your home is unattended.
SECURITY INSIDE YOUR HOME
Experienced burglars know just where to find valuables. Hiding cash or jewelry in an underwear drawer won’t fool them. A professional burglar will almost always head to the master bedroom first, grab a pillowcase and stuff it full of small, expensive items, such as jewelry, cameras and laptops. If they’ve parked nearby, they’ll also grab larger items such as flat screen TVs. Authorities always suggest keeping jewelry and other valuable items outside of your bedroom. It takes pros only about five minutes to steal thousands of dollars worth of your property. Oftentimes, your stuff is pawned or sold before you even know it was stolen.
SECURITY SYSTEMS
Authorities estimate that less than 20 percent of items stolen in residential burglaries are ever recovered. Family heirlooms, such as a grandfather’s watch, can never be replaced. Then there is the loss of peace-of-mind after a break-in.
An alarm system is a major step in deterring burglars. Delco Alarm Systems has a variety of security systems to fit nearly any budget.
Contact the professionals at Delco Alarm Systems at 610-494-9100 for information or a free consultation.