How to Help Protect Your Home From Invasion: Tips for Stopping Burglars

On average, 3.7 million homes are broken into each year. When an intruder enters your home, they don't just take your belongings -- they also rob you of your sense of security. 

Don't let this be you.

Here, you'll learn how to protect your home from invasion including tips on recognizing and deterring burglars and other ways to keep your home and family safe.

Securing the Exterior of Your Home to Help Deter Burglars

When you think of how to protect your home from invasion, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Probably a quality home security system -- and you're not wrong.

Securing the exterior of your home is the first line of defense against burglars. While installing a security system is one way of doing this, there are other steps to reinforce your safety.

Take a Walk Around Your Property and Think Like a Burglar

Aside from outdoor barbecues or mowing the grass, how often do you really look at the exterior of your home? This is the first place to start when protecting your home from break-ins.

Walk the perimeter of your house and look for any areas of weakness. Think like a burglar. Look for any easy-access points, low windows, unlocked doors, or high shrubs you could hide behind.​

Take a look inside your windows. Do you have an unobstructed view of televisions, stereo equipment, and other expensive items? If you can see them, so can intruders. 

Avoid enticing burglars with expensive electronics in plain sight. Try hanging shades or curtains that conceal your home's interior and store expensive items in a safe place or lockbox. 

Covered windows and doors also make it difficult for burglars to survey the interior of your home and plan entry.

Don't forget about your expensive outdoor items also. Grills, bicycles, and machinery should be safely stored in the garage or a locked shed. 

Keep Shrubbery Neatly Trimmed to Help Cut Down on Intruder Hiding Spots

No, this tip isn't to enhance your home's curb appeal (although it might do that too!). Overgrown shrubs and bushes around your home offer protective cover for suspected intruders.

Eliminate any potential hiding spots by keeping shrubs and bushes trimmed and low to the ground. The less opportunity for burglars to take cover, the more likely they'll be caught in the act or deterred from even trying to break-in.

If you live in a two-story home, keep tree limbs trimmed back and away from the house. Burglars aren't too proud to scale a tree to gain access to a second-story window. 

Use lights to deter burglars

The more light around your home, the better. Intruders thrive on darkness. They're much less likely to enter a home with lots of outdoor lighting. 

Deter burglars by keeping your front porch light on, installing a lamppost, and encouraging your neighborhood to install street lights. Motion sensor outdoor lights are another great way to protect your home from unwanted visitors. 

Motion sensor lighting outside your home stops burglars in their tracks. Mount motion sensor lights in the corners and entrances of your home and garage. 

From the street, your home might look like an easy target, but as soon as the intruder steps foot on your property, the motion sensor light will make them think twice.

Home Security Facts: Do lights actually deter burglars?

Use Technology to Keep an Eye on Things at Home

Security cameras and video surveillance equipment are two of the easiest ways to keep the exterior of your home protected. The mere sight of cameras is often enough to help deter burglars.

In the event that a home invasion does occur, video surveillance can provide the evidence needed to help prosecute the intruders. Video surveillance allows you to keep an eye on your home even when you're not there.

Day and nighttime lenses make viewing easy in daylight and in the dark. Similar to motion-activated lights, ADT cameras are motion activated and start recording the minute they sense movement.

Add another layer of protection with a video doorbell camera that allows you to not only see who's at your door but also communicate with them. This is the perfect way to help detect and deter intruders and people trying to steal your packages. 

This helps you feel safe even when you're inside your home, too. If you're alone and someone is knocking at the front door, check your camera to confirm you know them before answering. This also works well when leaving older children at home alone.

Smart Home Connection: Devices that work with the ADT Mobile App.

Securing the Interior

Now that we’ve helped secure the outside of your home, it's time to look inside. 

Lock Your Door and Windows

While this might seem like a no-brainer, homeowners aren't always diligent about keeping doors and windows locked. Sometimes, we get complacent after living somewhere for a long period of time. People believe their neighborhoods are safe or take the attitude, "It won't happen to me".

When it comes to preventing a home invasion, it's better to be safe than sorry. Always lock your doors and windows at night and whenever you're away from the house.

Smart door locks make it convenient to lock your doors from virtually anywhere, at any time. You also receive alerts when the status of your door lock has changed, notifying you of a breach in security.

If you have a garage, be sure to keep the entry door locked. A locked exterior garage door isn't enough to prevent a burglar from gaining access to your home. 

Invest in a Safe or Lockbox

In the worst-case scenario, a burglar might make it past your exterior security. If this happens, you want to ensure that the interior of your home is as safe and secure as possible. 

Store all valuable items in a safe or lockbox. If the safe isn't large and too heavy to move, consider buying a wall-mounted one or bolting it to the floor. In many cases, intruders will simply take the safe with them!

Be sure to keep the keys or passcode in a separate, safe location only shared with trusted family members.

Motion and Door Sensors

Equipping the interior of your home with motion and door sensors helps guarantee you receive an alert the minute someone enters or exits the home.

When it comes to protecting your home against an invasion, you're most concerned with keeping unwanted visitors out. Install door sensors on all exits and entrances. These devices will ring each time the entryway is used.

This is ideal for homeowners with small children or a pool. You will hear the door sensor anytime an exterior door is opened. You can also add sensors to windows for added protection. 

When your home security system is activated, door sensors will not only sound when an entry is made but will also trip the alarm, alerting you and the local authorities. 

Motion sensors are a little different and sound an alarm when they detect movement inside your home. This helps keep your family safe both at home and while you're away.

Not only do motion sensors detect movement but body heat as well, making them the perfect protection against even the sneakiest of intruders. This offers peace of mind when you're at work or away on vacation, as well. You'll receive instant notification when any unauthorized movement occurs. 

ADT-monitored door and motion sensors are connected to your home's security panel as well, giving you 24/7 access.

Help Protect Yourself and Your Family

You can install a great security system to help protect your home from an invasion, but if you're not aware of your surroundings, you're still in danger.

Here are a few tips for keeping yourself protected both in and outside your home.

Check and Double-Check Your Home's Entry Points

It's easy to forget or neglect to lock your doors and windows. Regardless of how far you're going or for how long, always leave your home securely locked when you're not there.​

The same holds true for your security system. All too often people feel false security in simply having a system in place. When you fail to arm the system, you're at risk for home invasion and burglary.

Befriend Your Neighbor

Two sets of eyes are better than one. Talk to your neighbors about keeping an eye on things when you're not home. Ask them to call you or the local authorities if they detect any suspicious activity.

If you plan to be away for a long period of time, ask your neighbor to collect your mail and newspapers, shovel your walkway, and bring in your garbage cans. All of these might seem like insignificant chores, but it helps your home appear "lived in", preventing burglars from preying on an empty house.

Don't Tell People You're Going Away

Speaking of going on vacation, avoid advertising your trip. As tempting as it may be, don't post pictures of your vacation on social media until you return home. 

Seasoned burglars use this information to target empty houses. 

Knowing How to Help Protect Your Home From Invasion Starts With You

Knowledge is power when learning how to protect your home from invasion. The more aware you are of your surroundings, the better prepared you are to prevent an invasion.

Investing in home security equipment helps give you both peace of mind and control over the safety of your home and family. It may even save you money on homeowners insurance! 

Don't live another day in fear. Check out our package options here to find the perfect security system for your needs.

Sources:

https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/ascii/vdhb.txt

https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/landscaping-and-hardscaping/10-curb-appeal-tips-from-the-pros-pictures