The safety of you and your household should be at the top of the priority list when building or buying a new home. This is why taking steps to secure your home from outside criminal activity is important. Prevention is always the best option.
Do not wait for an accident to happen – do everything you can to ensure peace and safety for you and your household. Before taking the proper steps to secure your home from burglars, you need to be aware of the possible risks and mistakes that can sneak in.
People often make common home security mistakes when they leave home for longer or shorter periods. To help you make the right decisions for your home, we will list six common security mistakes in this article.
6 Common Home Security Mistakes
1. Leaving Doors and Windows Unlocked
It might seem obvious, but locking your doors and windows is the most important thing to do while leaving or even staying in the house. According to Reolink, 56% of burglars enter through the front or back door. You think you live in a safe neighborhood, and you might be right, but that only partially eliminates the risk.
You might think that being home eliminates the risk of burglary. However, burglars will choose to break into the house even while someone is home if there is a chance that they might not get noticed. So, consider this possibility and start locking your doors and windows even when home.
2. Leaving Second-Floor Windows Unlocked
A little less obvious but still an extremely important measure. Many people focus on doors and first-floor windows, forgetting that their second-floor windows are also a vulnerable option and an easy entrance for burglars.
Whether you are on vacation, a business trip, a weekend outing, or you are present at home (it’s night and a time for a well-earned sleep), your upper windows will almost certainly be the next target of burglars if the doors and lower windows are already locked.
3. Installing Weak Locks
So you locked all the doors and windows, and it seems your locks effectively protect against burglars? Sometimes problems arise from inadequate or damaged locks, which can be problematic.
Whether it’s a misaligned lock or a well-placed lock that still doesn’t offer enough protection, correcting any faults is important. Homeowners should invest in locks that will provide complete protection for their property. According to Serious Home Security, you should also invest in weatherproof padlocks when securing an outdoor structure like a shed.
4. Leaving Spare Keys Outside
One of the mistakes people often make is leaving spare keys in places that burglars almost always check first. These are usually mats, pots, and decorative stones in the yard. If you use a keyed lock, it’s best to hide the key somewhere where burglars are less likely to check.
A key box is also an excellent solution. Better yet, don’t leave your spare keys in the yard, but take all your keys with you. The best thing is to install a keyless smart lock. It will eliminate every possible headache and provide you with real home security.
5. Making the Alarm System Visible
So you installed an alarm system. It is certainly one of the best and most important protective measures you should have! Unfortunately, sometimes even the alarm system is not sufficient protection against burglars if you have placed the alarm box in a visible place.
One of the first things burglars will check is the alarm box. If the box is visible, burglars can find out all the details, including whether the alarm is set to “armed.” Therefore, we advise placing the alarm box in less visible places. Burglars will not be sure whether your alarm is armed and will likely not take any risks.
6. Sharing Sensitive Details on Social Media
Social networks are the main platforms where people share their exciting and significant moments, from vacations to business trips. People also like to share news about the latest fancy TV set or other home appliances they bought.
You should be careful here because burglars use social networks as another source of information about potential victims of their criminal activities. Even if you share information privately with your closest friends, do not share sensitive information.
This personal information can include things such as:
- Your Home Address
- Bank Account Information
- Vacation Date Announcements
- News About Purchasing Valuable Items
- Photos of Locations Inside your Home with Valuables
Conclusion
There are other common home security mistakes that people make that can lead to burglaries. Some other security mistakes are leaving valuables in visible places and leaving the garage door unlocked. It is extremely important to study all potential risks and eliminate them.
People sometimes think: “It won’t happen to me!”. “My neighborhood is safe.” When it comes to the security of your home, it is better to stick to the adage “Better safe than sorry.” In the end, peace of mind is one of the most precious things to feel and share with your loved ones.
