If you have never been robbed, consider yourself lucky. And if you have a security system, also that is a good thing. But other than that, how do you know it won’t happen in the future? That all depends on whether or not your house is likely to become robbed. If you have a security alarm, all it can take is for it to either cut out or you to forget to set it when you go out.
A burglar could be watching your property carefully if your house has 14 signs of it being an easy robbing target. What are those signs? Let’s go over that now.
You Locking Your Front Door When You Are Out
Most people do lock their front doors when they leave their homes to even run a simple errand. However, for those who forget to lock their doors or purposely don’t do it if they are only going to be gone for a few minutes are leaving their homes in a vulnerable position. Again, burglars are watching your property carefully.
You Don’t Lock Your Back Or Side Door
You may be focused on the idea of just locking your front door but the fact of the matter is that burglars are watching you anyway. They may see that you are locking your front door, but they will still try getting into your home by your side or back door. And homeowners often forget to lock those. When you are leaving your home, make sure all of your doors are locked.
Leaving Packages On Your Porch
Many people allow companies such as Amazon, FedEx, UPS, or even the mail service to leave packages on the porch and don’t tell them that signing is necessary. The fact of the matter is, you want to make a request for them to only deliver a package when you are home to sign for it. It can always be picked up at a local UPS store, for example, or the driver will attempt to deliver your package again if you are not home the first time. That is because anyone can steal your packages that they see on your front porch. This is a problem that is happening more and more.
Keeping Your Garage Door Open
When you leave your home, you always want to shut the garage door. Even if you lock the door to your home, thieves can still look in your garage and find things of value to steal. Especially if you use your garage for general storage in addition to a place where you keep your cars stored. Always keep your garage door shut when you are not home and at night as well.
Not Having Ample Lighting Around Your Home
This is not an issue for obvious reasons during the day, but at night, you want to make sure that you have lighting on. Sure, it will cause the electricity rates to go higher, but not by much since using electricity is cheaper at night. But if there isn’t enough lighting around your property, burglars attempting to get into your home will not be seen by your neighbors or anyone else. If burglars know that there is a lot of lighting around your home that can make them visible, then they are less likely to see your house as a target.
Your Garbage
You don’t care if anyone takes your garbage but thieves can have a look through it to see what type of possessions you may have. If you have empty pill bottles, then that will make them keep an eye on your home if they have a drug addiction. This means they will want to find an opportunity to rob your house just to find drugs.
If they find old fancy electronics in the garbage, then they will also want to find an opportunity to break in to see what other things you have. Keep your garbage in a sealed container that is not obvious to potential thieves. It is best to take your garbage out first thing in the morning before collection instead of the night before for this reason as well.
Your Windows Are Down Too Far
If your windows are down too far, then that gives burglars an opportunity to break-in. You may want to open your windows overnight for fresh air to come in from the outside. However, you don’t need to put your windows down for more than two inches for that. Be mindful of how far you lower your windows.
Your Windows Are Old
If your windows are over 15 years old, then they need to be replaced. Yes, it is expensive but your house being robbed is going to cost you even more, and that also depends on what your home insurance covers. Either way, it will cost you more stress. Burglars know what to look for in old windows and that makes your home a target right there.
Your Door Needs To Be Replaced
An old door that is older than 15 years old can easily be taken down and it does not matter if you lock it – old doors are not secure as they lose their sturdiness over time. If you have not replaced your doors for a long time, then it is time to upgrade them.
Your Front Yard
If your front yard is filling up with papers and ads, that is a sure sign that you are not home and you are away on holiday. Also, if it is unkempt as the grass is long and the weeds are up, that is also a sign burglars look for. Ask your neighbors to pick up papers and ads if you go away, and if you have a landscaper who keeps your property kept, make sure they work while you are gone.
Your Mailbox
If you don’t have a community mailbox and you have mail delivered to you directly, a full mailbox screams at burglars that your home is a target since you are away. Ask a neighbor to take in your mail or you can notify the postal service to hold your mail during a specified time.
Your Social Media Posts
It is tempting to let the world know online that you are going on vacation. You will also want to share pictures of your destination as you are enjoying your holiday. But that is never a good idea. If you tell your connections that you are away on vacation, then someone will see it as an opportunity to break-in. You are best to not say anything at all, then when you return home, you can share your vacation pictures.
Your Landscaping
You may think that growing very tall bushes will keep your home hidden, but that does not happen. Burglars see tall bushes as an opportunity for hiding in your property and not being seen by anyone as they attempt to break into your home. Always keep your bushes short and trimmed. Large and tall landscaping will only make your property vulnerable!
Your Security Alarm Is Old And Outdated
You have a security alarm! Great. That is helpful in keeping burglars at bay. But the fact of the matter is, if your security system and codes have not been updated every few years, then your home is not going to be protected. Many burglars are good hackers and they can easily hack your codes. They also can disarm your system. You need your security system upgraded at the times when the company recommends them.
There is a good chance that you have been keeping your home vulnerable for one reason or another. You will want to have a check around your home to see what areas need to be changed and upgraded. Stay safe! And keep your home safe.
