Burglars, Home Security, and Break-Ins: What to Know

No one expects a burglar to come sneaking onto their property, but many break-ins happen every year just in Arizona alone. If you want to better protect your family, home, and belongings, act against potential criminals now. If you would like to learn more about burglars and home security, keep reading.

What Attracts Burglars?

Burglars are often attracted to homes that may contain high-value items like jewelry and electronics, cash, and medications. Of course, burglars are also picky about the types of houses they choose. They often want a house that looks easy to sneak in and out of without anyone catching or spotting them.

Burglars also like homes with lots of bushes and hedges. These give the criminal a perfect barrier to hide while trying to figure out how to get inside the home.

Another thing that attracts burglars is if they know you are away from home. Unfortunately, many signs can indicate you aren't home, including a dark house, piled-up mail, missing cars, and photos of your vacation online.

How Can You Deter Burglars?

Start by making your yard brighter. A great way to do this is with a motion-detection light. These lights come in many forms, but they all turn on as soon as they sense motion. This can be enough to scare away a criminal, even if you aren't home.

You can also install fences, but wrought-iron and chain-link fences may be better than privacy fences. First, wrought-iron and chain-link fences are hard to climb (especially if the wrought-iron fence has spikes on top), and second, neighbors can see right through the fence so they will know if someone tries to sneak in your yard.

Also, you can install a security system to help deter burglars. However, your best bet is with outdoor cameras. A security system may scare someone away, but if they are good and fast enough, they might get away without getting caught. Cameras will catch the person in action so the police can clearly identify the criminal.

Cameras are also a great option for when you're not at home. Some allow you to see who's at the door and talk with the person at the door from your phone. Even if you're miles away, you can answer the door, making the potential criminal believe someone is home.

What Should You Do After a Break-In?

If someone broke into your home, the first step is to determine how they entered so you can fix it. If they came in via an unlocked window or door, you may not have to change much except how often you lock up the house. However, if the burglar broke down the door, you may need a new door and lock. Even if the door is intact, replace the lock because it may now be compromised.

If you really want to protect your home, consider a smart door lock. These allow you to unlock the door with your phone. They are harder to break into than traditional locks. They also allow you to monitor when the door opens, so you receive alerts about any unauthorized users.

If the criminal came in via the garage, you may have a garage security issue, such as a broken lock. In some cases, people's automatic garage door openers are at the same frequency as yours. If this is the case, they can open it right up with the push of a button if it isn't locked. Fix these issues so this doesn't happen again.

A secure home is a safe home, so stop attracting potential criminals to yours. You can better protect your home and family in so many ways. For more information, contact us at Phoenix Access Control today.