Most burglaries are an act of desperation.  So unless you’re hiding a Picasso in your home, the bad guys aren’t going to spend a lot of time planning the break-in.

One thing is for sure, though, criminals are especially good at discerning - in a blink - which home is more vulnerable than the others.  They are simply looking for a quick and easy in and out.  

In fact, burglaries typically last less than 3 minutes. Most thieves will go straight to the master bedroom - because that’s where the gun is - and the master bathroom for the jewelry and prescriptions.

Fortunately, there are few things you can do right away to prevent your home from becoming an easy target and to discourage the burglar from even trying:

1. Make it look like someone is home.  Leave the lights on, leave the TV on, play music, park a car in front, etc.  Also, be sure to retrieve the newspapers and the mail.
   

2. Keep the doors and windows locked.  This is a no-brainer, but many times we become complacent and forget to lock it up, especially when we are home.  It’s not uncommon for the perpetrator to quietly walk around the house, gently testing the windows and doors, trying to find the one that was left unlocked.  Let’s not make it easy for him.
   

3. Put a security alarm sign in the front.  We want it to be unobstructed and visible to anyone driving by.  If you don’t have an alarm, you can buy a sign on Amazon. True, alarms will not stop all burglaries, but if the sign dissuades at least one bad buy from trying, then it has done its job.
   

4. Install security cameras.  Be sure they are visible, too.  It’s just another one of those signals that stack up and say, “This house may not be worth the trouble. Let’s move onto the next home…”  Security cameras are also a great way to keep eyes on what is happening outside your home, enabling you to react more quickly to potential threats.
   

5. Light it up when dark.  The bad guys are like cockroaches; they hate the light because they don’t want to get caught.  For this reason, use bright lights for all doors, entryways and pathways.  It will allow both you and your neighbors to see what’s going on outside your home.
   

6. Add a ‘Beware of Dog’ sign.  Again, the best security is layered security.  We want to create friction every step of the way.  And if a simple beware of dog sign works, then we definitely want it.  You can get one at Amazon or Home Depot.
   

7. Lock the side gate.  The more barriers, the better.   If someone wants to get into the backyard and commit a crime, he or she will first have to climb over that fence.  Just the act of anyone climbing over the fence will make your neighbors suspicious - which is a good thing.
   

8. Lock the circuit breaker box. It’s an easy thing to do and will make it much harder for anyone to turn off the power to your home.  No power means no internet, which means no security cameras.  And it could also mean your security alarm becomes inoperative.

The above list will give you a really good head start on securing your home.  We are a big advocate for security solutions that are sensible and prudent. Taking action today to prevent problems tomorrow.

James Kerr is Founder & CEO of Boss Security Screens. You can reach him at (702) 637-0255 and online at BossSecurityScreens.com.