Home Security Tips - Thinking like a Thief

You may have noticed that the use of security systems, surveillance cameras, security guards and even 'under-cover' security personnel has increased dramatically in malls and even small mom-and-pop and convenience stores. Since all these are businesses that have to be profitable to remain open you pretty much have to figure that the surveillance and security measures are cost effective - that theft losses are reduced substantially simply through discouraging theft. The first of our home security tips is simple enough though many don't seem to believe it. Doing something to improve security is worth the effort and cost and discouraging theft is probably the single most cost effective approach.

With it getting harder to rip off stores, what is a thief going to do? Burglary is an ever popular choice and they are probably out there seeing how well your home qualifies as an easy target. While movies always seem to have clever and technically sophisticated thieves, reality is quite different. Most burglars are lazy, highly adverse to risk and want an easy target that won't involve much effort.

As a sort of upside down approach to home security tips, lets think about what some of the primary features of a good target are. Having some marketable items to steal is one. These days this probably means almost any house, but being able to see into the house can nail down a target if, for example, computers or other electronics can be seen from the outside.

Easy access and, particularly, possible break in points that are hidden from view are attractive features. High bushes or shrubs that can hide the burglar while working on a door or a window make a delightful, burglar friendly bonus. An absence of easily seen security features such as signs or decals for security companies or the NRA, motion sensor lights or surveillance cameras are also inviting. Dogs are not popular with thieves, at least ones in homes they want to rob, so the absence of any indications of a dog can increase a home's burglar popularity quotient. Interestingly, National Rifle Association membership stickers or signs seem to drop a home's popularity. The possible problem here is that if a burglar can be certain no one is in there with a gun waiting to blow him away, then that NRA signage pretty strongly suggest there are rifles and or hand guns inside which are attractive items for thieves.

You'll notice that most of these items are simple to verify without being obvious or doing anything particularly suspicious. Look at your home from this viewpoint and see how it rates as a potential target. Less than 20 percent of US homes have any protection against burglary except insurance. A few simple steps can reduce your home's apparent vulnerability. Start by eliminating any concealment provided by bushes and trees. especially near entry points. Next, make certain that valuable and easily portable items such as stereos, TVs, etc., are not visible from the outside. Signs and window decals, whether true or not, reduce your home's attractiveness to criminals. Motion sensor lights and a dummy security camera are inexpensive and an added negative.

The home security tips discussed here are primarily ones which will make it more likely that a burglar will decide to move on to a different and presumably easier target. So, while these steps do provide a level of enhanced home security, you should also consider further steps to make your home more secure and more difficult to break into easily.