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Simple Steps to Ensure Your Home’s Security and Safety
5 things we can all easily do.
Jenny Brown
09.26.22

Simple Steps to Ensure Your Home’s Security and Safety

A home invasion is a nightmare for most homeowners, who crave comfort and safety in their private spaces. Rates of violent crime are plummeting, and the number of burglaries is tapering off in most cities, as well — but that doesn’t mean homeowners should let their guard down.

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It is as important as ever to utilize strategies for home safety and security, and fortunately, some of the most effective strategies are also some of the simplest to implement.

Don’t Rely on Dogs

Dog people often claim to feel safer in the presence of their four-legged friends, but the truth is that dogs do little to make a home more secure.

Some dogs may make noise when an intruder first enters a property, but dogs also tend to make noise when their owners come home, when they see squirrels out their windows or when they want to go for a walk.

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Suffice it to say that neighbors are unlikely to respond in any way when they hear a barking dog. What’s more, many experienced intruders know how to befriend dogs — even the most highly trained security hounds.

Homeowners can and should welcome dogs into their homes as companions, but they might do better to invest in a home security system for safety and security. Plus, there are major benefits to home insurance with a security system, which isn’t usually true for furry friends.

Use Door and Window Locks

It might seem obvious that homeowners interested in home security should lock their doors and windows — and yet, so many homeowners neglect to use their door and window locks. Security experts advocate keeping at least two locks on every exterior door and ensuring that both locks are used at all times.

Homeowners should also make sure that there are no easy ways to undo the locks from the outside, such as by breaking a nearby window or by reaching through a mail flap. It is relatively easy to install additional locks on doors, and if a house has older windows that were not made with locks, aftermarket locks are available.

Cover Windows

Just as regular people might pass by stores and glance through the windows to determine whether they should step inside, intruders often window shop, peering through the windows of homes to see what different properties have to offer.

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Because trespassing is a high-risk crime, most intruders won’t bother entering a property until they know they can get away with something valuable. Thus, by placing coverings on windows and hiding evidence of valuables kept inside, homeowners can dissuade most intruders from attacking their property.

Similarly, homeowners should avoid advertising their possessions through empty product boxes in the trash or large numbers of home deliveries.

Hide Common Burglary Tools

Many intruders use items from around the home to assist them in their illegal exploits. To make it more difficult for intruders, homeowners should try to hide common tools in unconventional locations.

For example, many burglars place items like brooms or mops against front doors to alert them when homeowners return. They might also use screwdrivers and hammers to break into locked cabinets or cause unnecessary property damage.

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Homeowners should make tools like these more difficult to access, so intruders will waste time looking for them.

Document Possessions

The best home insurance policies will cover any significant losses experienced during a home invasion and burglary — but only if a homeowner has proof of the loss. Thus, it is wise to take the time to document one’s home with pictures to demonstrate ownership of key possessions.

At least once per year, homeowners should take pictures of every room in their home from multiple angles. Items that cannot be photographed, like important documents, should be stored in waterproof, fireproof safes hidden around the home and kept locked.

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Sometimes, a homeowner can do everything right in securing their property — and they might still experience a home invasion.

Still, taking the above steps to improve the safety of a home will prevent home intruders from getting away with all valuable items, and it should more quickly return a homeowner’s peace of mind, allowing them to find security and satisfaction in their home.

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