Prevent a break-in at your house with off-putting
strategies sure to assist in keeping thieves at bay
Coming home
to find your house has been burgled can be traumatic, and when the burglary
occurs when you’re home it can be downright frightening. Deterring would-be
thieves is easier than you think if you look at your house from their point of
view.
These simple
tips will make a burglar quickly dismiss your house as a potential target and
keep right on walking. And if they do try to break in? You’ll be ready.
Look at
your second storey through a thief’s eyes
If you have a two-storey house – or are designing one – don’t make it easy for thieves to enter through an upstairs balcony door or window. External pipework, louvres and staggered brickwork can all be scaled by a motivated thief, as can carports, adjoining fences and awnings. Be sure to lock garages and sheds, too, so ladders and tools are out of sight – you want to hinder crooks, not help them.
If you have a two-storey house – or are designing one – don’t make it easy for thieves to enter through an upstairs balcony door or window. External pipework, louvres and staggered brickwork can all be scaled by a motivated thief, as can carports, adjoining fences and awnings. Be sure to lock garages and sheds, too, so ladders and tools are out of sight – you want to hinder crooks, not help them.
Secure
those sliding doors
Sliding doors may let in abundant light, but they can also be a common way for thieves to get in. Opt for toughened glass if you’re at the installation stage, install key-operated locks and make sure the doors can’t be lifted off their tracks. If it does seem possible, position a length of dowel at the top of the door so it can’t be lifted out of the bottom track. Another length of dowel slotted in to prevent the door sliding open will also provide extra protection at night or when you go out.
Sliding doors may let in abundant light, but they can also be a common way for thieves to get in. Opt for toughened glass if you’re at the installation stage, install key-operated locks and make sure the doors can’t be lifted off their tracks. If it does seem possible, position a length of dowel at the top of the door so it can’t be lifted out of the bottom track. Another length of dowel slotted in to prevent the door sliding open will also provide extra protection at night or when you go out.
Keep your
garden in check
keeping hedges trimmed and bushes under control will help deter crooks. Aim to keep shrubbery below window level – otherwise, you’re providing just the cover someone needs to make breaking in easier.
keeping hedges trimmed and bushes under control will help deter crooks. Aim to keep shrubbery below window level – otherwise, you’re providing just the cover someone needs to make breaking in easier.
Don’t let
burglars know you’re on holidays
It’s tempting to shut up your house like a fortress when you go away, but doing so can be a red flag to a potential burglar that you’re out of town. Leave curtains and blinds as you would when you are home, and have a neighbour collect your mail and any deliveries. Installing timers on your inside and outside lights could be a wise investment, too.
It’s tempting to shut up your house like a fortress when you go away, but doing so can be a red flag to a potential burglar that you’re out of town. Leave curtains and blinds as you would when you are home, and have a neighbour collect your mail and any deliveries. Installing timers on your inside and outside lights could be a wise investment, too.
Make a
new best friend
Dogs have been shown to be more effective deterrents than burglar alarms. It doesn’t matter if yours is more likely to lick thieves to death than bite them – it’s the unknown that will prevent a break-in from taking place.
Dogs have been shown to be more effective deterrents than burglar alarms. It doesn’t matter if yours is more likely to lick thieves to death than bite them – it’s the unknown that will prevent a break-in from taking place.
Open up
your house to the street
A front entry that’s visible from the street is less attractive to burglars, so factor that in to the design of any new house. A home with a walled front garden, on the other hand, creates the perfect hiding spot for burglars to break in without fear of being seen from passers-by. If you don’t like the idea of people being able to see in, but would still like to deter burglars, set your home back from the street, if possible. A semi-private front yard will still deter intruders.
A front entry that’s visible from the street is less attractive to burglars, so factor that in to the design of any new house. A home with a walled front garden, on the other hand, creates the perfect hiding spot for burglars to break in without fear of being seen from passers-by. If you don’t like the idea of people being able to see in, but would still like to deter burglars, set your home back from the street, if possible. A semi-private front yard will still deter intruders.
Use
lighting to put them off
Lighting up your home like a Christmas tree isn’t necessary, but install some security sensors at the front, side and rear of your house to deter anyone who might be creeping around in the dark looking for easy access points.
Lighting up your home like a Christmas tree isn’t necessary, but install some security sensors at the front, side and rear of your house to deter anyone who might be creeping around in the dark looking for easy access points.
Be a bit
clever about hiding places
Under the door mat and pot plant by the front door will be the first places burglars will look for your spare key. Inside the house, your sock drawer is an obvious place to hide jewellery. Why not hollow out a book or keep your valuables in an ice cube tray, or an empty tin in the pantry instead. As for the spare key, consider hiding it at your trusted neighbour’s house and getting them to hide theirs at yours.
Under the door mat and pot plant by the front door will be the first places burglars will look for your spare key. Inside the house, your sock drawer is an obvious place to hide jewellery. Why not hollow out a book or keep your valuables in an ice cube tray, or an empty tin in the pantry instead. As for the spare key, consider hiding it at your trusted neighbour’s house and getting them to hide theirs at yours.
Make
windows less of a target
Windows are usually ridiculously easy to break into, but if locks are in place they become less attractive for a burglar (they don’t want to cut themselves on broken glass, and they hope to be able to get goods out of the house easily once they’ve gathered their spoils). Security film and fine mesh for windows is also widely available.
Windows are usually ridiculously easy to break into, but if locks are in place they become less attractive for a burglar (they don’t want to cut themselves on broken glass, and they hope to be able to get goods out of the house easily once they’ve gathered their spoils). Security film and fine mesh for windows is also widely available.
Build in
an additional barrier
Security doors needn’t be eyesores. If you’re looking to increase security on an existing home, there are security doors to suit every style. Look for one built to Australian Standards if you really want to keep burglars at bay – cheaper versions can be easy to kick in or dismantle. Security screen doors are also a great way to increase the airflow through a home in safety; spur-of-the-moment break-ins are all too common through open front doors while people are home.
Security doors needn’t be eyesores. If you’re looking to increase security on an existing home, there are security doors to suit every style. Look for one built to Australian Standards if you really want to keep burglars at bay – cheaper versions can be easy to kick in or dismantle. Security screen doors are also a great way to increase the airflow through a home in safety; spur-of-the-moment break-ins are all too common through open front doors while people are home.
Invite
the neighbours over
Getting to know your neighbours can prove mutually beneficial. You keep an eye on their house, they keep an eye on yours. Keep the community spirit alive with regular get-togethers and let your neighbours know when you’re going to be away.
Getting to know your neighbours can prove mutually beneficial. You keep an eye on their house, they keep an eye on yours. Keep the community spirit alive with regular get-togethers and let your neighbours know when you’re going to be away.
Stop them
at the front door
A front door that allows you to see who’s knocking before you open it can be a smart security measure. If you can hear as well as see them through a security system a would-be burglar is likely to just keep walking. A cheaper option is getting a chain installed on the inside of your door so you can part-way open it but still maintain control. Hire a locksmith for this job to ensure the chain has a strong hold.
A front door that allows you to see who’s knocking before you open it can be a smart security measure. If you can hear as well as see them through a security system a would-be burglar is likely to just keep walking. A cheaper option is getting a chain installed on the inside of your door so you can part-way open it but still maintain control. Hire a locksmith for this job to ensure the chain has a strong hold.
Deny
access to your property
Keep side and back gates in good condition and be sure to install (and use) locks. Thieves will often seek to break in at the rear or side doors and windows, but are less likely to if they have to get through a tall gate first. If you have a growling dog on the other side of the gate, so much the better.
Keep side and back gates in good condition and be sure to install (and use) locks. Thieves will often seek to break in at the rear or side doors and windows, but are less likely to if they have to get through a tall gate first. If you have a growling dog on the other side of the gate, so much the better.
Feel safe
at home
Many break-ins take place while people – and their wallets – are home. An alarm system you can set while you’re sleeping can provide peace of mind – there are a wide range of heat, movement and vibration sensors and cameras that can detect intruders. If you’re worried about pets setting off the alarm, don’t be – most security systems can tell the difference between a pet and a human.
Many break-ins take place while people – and their wallets – are home. An alarm system you can set while you’re sleeping can provide peace of mind – there are a wide range of heat, movement and vibration sensors and cameras that can detect intruders. If you’re worried about pets setting off the alarm, don’t be – most security systems can tell the difference between a pet and a human.
