Six tips on home burglary prevention

Your home is your sanctuary, your castle, your retreat, a place where you should feel safest. With more burglaries occurring in summer months¹, whether you are planning a staycation, or for an island getaway, it’s important to ensure your home is secure year-round.

Home burglary may be more common than you think.

• A home burglary happens every 25.7 seconds in the U.S.²
• In 2021, $737.3 billion in goods was reported stolen. This included $81.9 billion in motor vehicles. Of the total $737.3B only $89.5B was recovered.³
• Between 2012-2021, non-fatal carjacking more likely to occur at or near the victim’s home (39%); majority involved offender with a weapon (59%), and of this 38% with a firearm.⁴
• U.S. Households suffered 11.7 million property crimes in 2021. Including burglary and trespass (1.8 million), motor vehicle theft (558,670), and other household thefts (includes no contact with the victim) (9.3 million).⁵
• Of reported thefts, the majority took place during the day.⁶

Don’t be a victim of a break-in or vehicle theft. Make your home a fortress so it is harder for burglars to commit a crime.

Taking some simple steps to keep your property safe can be the biggest deterrent to burglars.

1. Install an alarm system

With the increased accessibility of smartphones and IoT security systems, this provides an opportunity for more homeowners to protect their properties with exterior and interior cameras, video doorbells, and home security systems that can be monitored by a central station or by the homeowner.

2. Secure your home and cars

Lock doors and windows, lock your cars. A burglar will potentially move on from a locked house or car, but if unlocked it makes it easy to enter. An unlocked car with a garage door opener gives access to both the car and the house. Do not leave house or car keys in the car. Do not leave house keys hidden in obvious places — under doormats or planters, in a mailbox, on the door frame.

3. Install lighting around the exterior

Lighting is a first line deterrent. Have exterior lighting be on a timer or motion activated. Interior lighting should be placed on timers to make it look like someone is at home. 

4. Notify neighbors if you will be away

Have a neighbor or keyholder take in the mail and packages and check on the house while you are away. Don’t share travel plans or household schedules with anyone who doesn’t need to know, and do not share travel plans on social media.

5. Lock all doors and windows

39.5% of burglars gain access through an unlocked door or window.⁵ Install quality doors and hardware with a deadbolt. Do not obscure the front door with heavy landscaping, cut back growth from windows to eliminate hiding places.

6. Consider a vulnerability assessment

Get in touch with a security firm for more advanced steps like a complete central station monitored security system with cameras, installation of a high-security jewelry safe, installing property gates will provide higher levels of protection.