Has your Albuquerque home ever been invaded? We hope not. And if so, we can only imagine what a horrible experience it was. It’s not only about losing material possessions. There’s also a loss of security and peace of mind.
The good news is that there are some basic things you can do to your home to help you feel more secure. Here we will focus on the things you can do to the outside of your home to increase your security.
Walk around the exterior of your home and scout out its weaknesses.
Think like a burglar and look around the outside of your home for weak points that can help someone gain unwanted access. If a window looks like it can easily be pried open, a thief will definitely be able to come to the same conclusion.
Also, while you walk around your home, take note of anything expensive that can be seen through the windows. Of course, you can’t keep everything out of sight, but you can make small adjustments that can help hide the more expensive items.
Keep shrubbery around entrances and walkways trimmed.
Thieves succeed by hiding themselves. So don’t help them hide. A thief may only need a few moments of concealment to make an entry. Either remove the shrubs from windows and doors, or plant thorny shrubs to make it painful and difficult to hide.
Build a fence.
It’s a security measure as old as civilization. If you don’t have one already, installing a fence can be an excellent way to keep unwanted visitors off your property. Open chain-link or ornamental metal fencing tend to be preferable and are ideally secured into concrete to prevent lifting. You might prefer the privacy of a solid fence, but they can also offer a hiding place for thieves. You can better secure them by having sharp pointed tops or, if you don’t mind a rough look, check out the cost of barbed wire fencing.
Stow expensive items like grills, cars, and bikes in the garage.
You might not want to roll out your expensive grill every time you use it, but it can also be a temptation for thieves. The same goes for bikes and cars, if you have the space in your garage to store them.
Use curtains on garage and basement windows.
If your garage door and basement has windows, put up some curtains to hide your things. Storing valuable items in your garage or basement only goes so far if they can be easily seen.
Install motion sensor lighting.
The last thing a thief wants is to be in the spotlight. Installing motion detection lights can put that crook in the limelight before they even get to the door. Make sure to focus on entrances and dark corners.
Get to know your neighbors.
Crime tends to be lower in tight-knit communities because neighbors are more likely to look out for each other and can easily spot a stranger. Your neighbors can be one of your best assets in home crime prevention because they offer extra eyes and an outside perspective. Plus if they have a different work or school schedule from yours, they might be around during the day when you’re away and can alert you to any suspicious activity that may occur in your absence.
These tips don’t cover every possible step you can take to deter crime in your home, but it’s a good place to start to reduce your chance of being robbed.
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