Keep Your Property Safe by Always Appearing to be Home
When it comes to the subject of home security, you’ll find this bit of advice just about everywhere; appearance matters! Burglars and thieves are typically criminals of opportunity that prefer to avoid unnecessary risk. They’ll avoid being confronted by a homeowner or occupant if they can, which means they’ll likely avoid your property if it appears that someone is home. There are a variety of ways to do this from timers to adjusting services accordingly and installing motion lights that make it hard to hide around the exterior of your home. The less appealing your home is to a criminal, the more likely they’ll keep moving.
It’s hard to assume no one is home if a light is on during the night and off during the day. An inexpensive and readily available timer can do just this when you’re away. While using such timers on lamps by windows is a great start, consider also putting a television on such a timer or some other device that simulates the flashing light of a television. Timers can also be used for an oscillating fan that gently blows curtains around which portrays movement to anyone who may be watching from outside. You might also invite your neighbor to use your driveway while you’re away to further advance the appearance of an occupied home.
Another piece of important advice you’ve likely heard before is to suspend mail and newspaper delivery service. This is common advice because it’s so important. Nothing tells onlookers that your home is ripe for robbing than a pile of papers on the porch or a mailbox stuffed to the brim. However, what many forget about are things like yard upkeep if you plan on being away for a prolonged period. Many burglars do their homework which means casing a neighborhood before they strike. Having neighbors that are home during the day is a great deterrent and keep an eye out for strange cars or people just hanging around. If you have an alarm system, avoid putting up the brand’s signs which can be just enough information to tell a would-be thieve what they need to know for disabling it. Instead, put up a generic sign which is also something to consider if you don’t already have an alarm system.
Motion lights are a great addition to any home security system. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. When putting up motion activated security lights, consider where you’re putting them and whether they’re only lighting up your property or your neighbor’s bedroom. Also, be sure to set an appropriate sensitivity. While a motion light is a great way to draw attention to something happening on your property, the motion light that turns back on 30 seconds after each time it turns off because of a slight breeze, your neighbors could quickly learn to ignore your light completely. If you have any questions or would like to look into better security for your home, give us a call at Advanced Lock & Security.
