Homes and places of business are often more vulnerable to burglars than their owners realize. In the space of an hour or two, a formerly solid feeling of safety and security can be shattered by a single criminal.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to make any residential or commercial structure more resistant and less attractive to burglars. The following five tactics are among the most effective at forcing burglars to look elsewhere, and those tools are also accessible to property owners.
1. Reinforce the Glass
Contrary to what many suppose, burglars tend to prefer isolated, sheltered windows to doors that stand exposed to the surroundings. Any window can become a means of unauthorized entry for a burglar if it can be accessed and broken.
Adding a Security Glass treatment to existing windows and glass doors is a proven way to make things more difficult for burglars. Particularly because such products tend to be very affordable, there will often be no more cost-effective burglar-proofing tool.
Films that make glass far more resistant to breakage can provide other benefits, as well. As a result, many security-conscious property owners find them to be good ways to get started.
2. Upgrade the Locks
Most door locks are designed to resist casual attempts at breaking in and not much else. The average residential door lock can be forced open almost instantly or simply picked by a moderately skilled thief.
Stouter locks that take more time to bypass can improve the security of a building significantly. Switching to electronic locks that integrate with a building’s security system is another popular option. Even when a lock can still be defeated in various ways, making it more difficult to do so can prevent a home or place of business from suffering a burglary.
3. Improve the Lighting
Burglars are generally most vulnerable when they are trying to enter or leave buildings without being detected. Shadows work in criminals’ favor in such situations, so doing away with them can help protect a structure and its contents.
Even when it might not be desirable or appropriate to have floodlights burning all night, motion sensors can be used to trigger them when needed. Burglars who notice even dormant lights arranged around a building will tend to look for other targets.
4. Add Noisy Alarms
Silent alarms have their places, but loud, obvious ones are often more effective. A shrill, deafening alarm set to trigger when a window or door is opened can easily encourage a burglar to turn around and look elsewhere.
It will not always even be necessary to install relatively expensive alarms that integrate with security systems. Simple, old-fashioned alarms that rely on mechanical switches can provide just as much security, in many cases.
5. Get Some Security Cameras
Burglars typically strive to get in and out of targeted buildings without being noticed. That becomes a lot more challenging when conspicuously placed security cameras are constantly recording.
In addition to encouraging burglars to look elsewhere, security cameras will often improve the odds of identifying a perpetrator after a break-in has happened. Some insurance companies will even offer discounts to residential or commercial customers who have them installed.
Taking a Strong Stand Against Burglars
Although there are other options, many property owners find that these five burglar-proofing tools are both accessible and effective. Just how much effort it will be wise to expend protecting a building from burglars will depend on the specifics of the situation. In just about every case, though, home and business owners who are at all concerned about the burglary should find that there are some appealing ways of making it less likely.
