
How safe is your home? Certain things can leave you more susceptible to break-ins and theft. Do you know what to look out for?
We’ve compiled the top 50 ways your home is vulnerable to theft:
- Your home does not have a video surveillance system
- You don’t have adequate outdoor lighting installed at your home
- Your front door does not have a deadbolt
- Unlocked doors
- Unlocked gates
- Unlocked garage doors
- Open garage doors
- Open windows
- Unlocked windows
- Unlocked storage sheds
- Unsecured screen or storm doors
- Doors, windows or gates are in disrepair
- Overgrown landscaping
- Poorly-lit basement stairs
- Your patio door does not have a strong metal rod placed in the track for reinforcement
- You did not reinforce your French doors with top and bottom deadbolts or a security bar
- You let newspapers and mail pile up when you are away
- You announce on social media that you are on vacation
- You post vacation pics on social media
- You leave notes on the front door
- You don’t have a home surveillance sign in your yard, or in your windows
- An unlit front or back yard
- You leave valuables in plain view
- You leave a garage door opener in your car in plain sight
- Deliveries are left on the porch, patio or other location outside your home
- Boxes of big ticket items are in your outdoor trash bin
- Empty garbage cans are left on the street for days at a time
- Not having your interior or exterior lights set on a timer to go on when you are not home
- Leaving a spare key under the door mat
- Not changing the locks when you move into a new home
- Tall bushes in front of windows
- Uncaged air conditioners
- You have a predictable routine
- Lawn equipment left in the back yard
- An unlocked vehicle in the driveway
- Leaving your door unlocked when you leave your house to get the mail or other “quick” errand
- You live in a non-gated community
- Your home has low fences that are easy to climb over
- A neighborhood without a lot of activity
- Your home address is not easily readable
- Your big screen TV is easily seen from an open window
- You live in a high crime neighborhood
- You don’t have a neighborhood watch
- You blab to everyone when you won’t be home
- You have an in-window air conditioner
- You open the door to solicitors without knowing who is at the door
- You don’t acknowledge you are home if someone rings the bell
- You don’t prescreen service providers or domestic help
- You give out spare home keys to multiple people
- Your home address is programmed into your car’s GPS
If you’re interested in learning how to use video surveillance to protect your family and property from break-ins and burglary, try our 6-part series, 6 Steps To Your Perfect Video Security System.
About The Author: Supercircuits Team
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