As you continue to take full advantage of your yard during these summer/fall months, it is important to be mindful of the many risks that can come from being a homeowner. There are some serious vulnerabilities that can come from the most unexpected of places when it comes to your home, including unlocked windows and doors—which account for a whopping 30% of all burglaries. For those without homeowners insurance, this is a major mistake.
Gone is the image of some ski-masked intruder forcing open a door with a convoluted-looking skeleton key: something as simple as actually locking your house could make the world of difference. And while you might lock your doors almost always, windows are often overlooked by well-intentioned homeowners. Having an open window visible from the street is practically an invitation to would-be miscreants, and screens are useless at keeping out anything larger than a housefly.
Here are some quick tips on ways to keep your home and property secure from theft or burglary that any homeowner can and should take care to do.
- Make sure your lock can stand the test of a forced entry—get a deadbolt or otherwise strong lock. Do your research to select one that can hold up against lock-pick techniques or drills.
- Keep your windows locked! This cannot be overstated enough. If you happen to have windows without secure locking mechanisms, shell out the difference to get them installed.
- Keep quiet about going away. Do not tell all your neighbors you are leaving—but do ask one trusted neighbor to keep an eye on the house, or pick up your mail, packages and newspapers if you have been unable to stop them. You can stagger your lights on timers, and use motion-activated outdoor lighting.
- Avoid announcing travel plans on social media sites where you reach a wide audience. You may trust your friends, but information put online can easily end up in the wrong hands.
- Keep your valuables hidden well, and not in the bedroom. This is the first spot thieves search to find anything of value, and if well-hidden elsewhere, they may not spend the time looking or be able to discover the pieces.
- Get to know your neighbors and form a Neighborhood Watch coalition, building both trust in the community, as well as accountability on all ends to look out for each other.
- Keep valuables out of sight from windows, off the seats in your car, and out of your backyard. Leaving expensive bicycles, grills, or GPS devices where all can see them provides an easy temptation for potential thieves.
Even when you do everything right, there is still the possibility that someone will wish you harm and break into your home. For full protection, consider getting home insurance with a company you can trust to have your best interests at heart. For a free quote from us at Berliner-Gelfand, give us a call today at 203-367-7704. You’ll be glad that you did.