How to Avoid a Repeat Burglary

Odds are that if you have been the victim of a home burglary one time, you are more likely to be burgled a second time. Usually, the second crime is committed by the same person who committed the first because he believes that if he was able to get in one time without being caught, he will be able to get in a second time as well. He already knows your houses floor plan and he will guess that you are most likely going to replace the items he took the first time after you receive an insurance settlement.

In fact, the burglar can reasonably assume that the items he took will be replaced by items of equal or greater value, since it is likely that technology has advanced since you last purchased those items. For this reason, burglars actually relish returning to a previous crime scene. However, this does not need to happen. If you have been the victim of burglary once, you must take action to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

To begin with, review your home security plan. If you don’t already have one, install a home security system as quickly as possible. This is the single best action you can take to increase your home’s safety. Make sure you choose a system that comes with off-site monitoring because you want your home monitored by a third-party whenever you can’t be there yourself to do it. It costs a little each month, but the peace of mind is well worth the cost.

Next, make sure all of your door and window locks are of good quality and meet the minimum requirements for proper security. For instance, your deadbolts should have at least a 1-inch throw on them so they can’t be kicked in as easily.

Your yard and home should be well-lit with motion-activated security lights. These are lights that only come on when someone or something enters your yard, which saves energy and makes it more obvious to you and your neighbors that something is going on that might not be welcome. Light is the enemy of burglars since they never want to do their crimes in light. Therefore, the lighter your yard and home are, the more secure you will be.

Finally, add surveillance cameras to your home security system. Even if they don’t actually work, they are a fantastic deterrent to would-be criminals. No burglar wants to be caught and cameras increase the odds that they will be. Most likely they will pass your home up for one that is an easier target.