Whether you believe crime is going up or going down, we can all agree that it’s a good idea to keep your home and family safe from intruders, especially robbers and burglars. Here in the greater Phoenix area, especially if you’re gone during the summer, you want to keep your home secure. We don’t have a high property crime rate compared to most places, but that doesn’t mean you should have a false sense of security and ignore the basics. That’s why we’ve come up with this list of seven tips to make your Phoenix, AZ home more secure.
- Don’t post your vacation plans on social media: These days most of us are on social media, especially Facebook. It’s a great way to stay in touch with friends and family. It can be tempting to announce upcoming vacations and photos while we’re on vacation, but that just alerts potential thieves that a house will be empty and when. Professionals will pull up in a moving van or furniture delivery truck and clean your home out while you’re away. Wait until you return to post those vacation pictures.
- Make friends with your neighbors: Do you know your neighbors? Now more and more, people socialize on the internet but never speak to the people that live right next door or across the street. That’s a mistake. Start talking to the people who live near you, and form a community. Give your spare keys to trusted neighbors instead of hiding one on your property. A hidden key is easily findable by criminals. Furthermore, a neighbor can watch out for suspicious people and out of the ordinary vehicles parked in the driveway and alert police when you’re at work or on vacation.
- Lights: Consider installing motion detectors or timers to keep your home lit up at night. You might think that a well-lit house makes it easier for burglars to see to break in, but actually, it means that others can see them trying to force their way into your home and makes them feel vulnerable. They’ll skip your house in favor of a dark home where they won’t be observed. Criminals don’t want to be seen.
- Dogs and kids: Robbers don’t want any loud noises going off while they’re stealing from you. If you leave obvious signs in your yard like toys that show you have a dog and/or children, they’re likely to pass your house by in favor of a dog free or kid-free house. Post a beware of dog sign on a fence or in a window even if your dog is friendly. Even a small dog is a deterrent to thieves.
- No hiding places: Keep trees, bushes, shrubs near doors and windows trimmed, or better yet, don’t plant them there or anywhere it would be easy for a burglar to hide. Remember criminals don’t want anyone to see them trying to break into your home. Don’t make it easy for them.
- Secure Doors and windows: Make sure doors and window have good locks on them. However, even with the best locks installed, a window can be broken with a large rock and a door can be kicked in. A high-quality security screen door and security windows add a virtually impenetrable layer that makes your doors and windows burglar proof. If they have steel screens instead of low-quality screens, they can’t be cut through. As long as you always lock them when you leave and at night, they will keep most criminals out.
- Security System: Because keeping your Phoenix, AZ home secure is a multi-layered process, installing an alarm system in your home is also a great idea in case a thief gets through all your other security measures. You can decide if you want to post their signs or find more generic alarm system warning signs in case they know how to disarm the name brand systems. If you have security doors and windows installed, your alarm should never go off unless your cat accidentally trips it, but if a forgetful teenager doesn’t lock the door, then they come in handy.
There’s no way to completely secure your home. The idea is to make your house unattractive to burglars by making it tough to break into so they’ll skip your home and choose someone else’s. If everybody in your neighborhood or development utilizes these tips, criminals might skip your area entirely. Share this article with your friends and neighbors so they can make their properties safer too.
Comment below with your home security tips and contact us today with any questions about security doors and windows you might have. Plus don’t forget to come see us at the Phoenix Home and Garden Show this month, April 28-30.