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Most burglaries are unplanned, meaning that burglars are usually taking advantage of an opportunity presented to them. This means they pick simple targets, without great risk. Do you want to give them that opportunity? If your answer is no then there are a few things you should do to make that effort to protect your home.
Landscaping
If you want to make your home safer then it is a great idea to start in your yard. A simple bit of landscaping change here could be enough to deter any potential burglar. The aim is not to go overboard, but simply to make it that much harder to get in and out of your home quickly. They don't want to be caught, so don't make this easier for them by surrounding your home by hedges or plants that hide them perfectly.
The best place to start is by trimming your shrubbery in a way that leaves your doors and windows clearly visible to your neighbors and passersby. Although you may not want to let go of your privacy, this is one of the best ways to deter burglars. You should also trim any trees that could be used as ladders towards higher floors.
Think about the location of all of your plants and shrubs. If near the sidewalk then make sure they are no taller than a couple of feet. The further away you get from the sidewalk the higher you can plant them, but not so tall that they provide any cover for burglars. You should also make sure that plants do not cover windows.
You might also want to think about your lawn. Did you realize that leaving your lawn uncut gives burglars the "welcome" sign by telling them
that the house has not been occupied? Do something about this by trimming the lawn regularly.
You can also create more protection by using gravel, as the sound will alert you when intruders are present. You can also try to plant thorny plants near windows and by fences as a way to protect your home without going to lengths such as using barbed wire.
Make Exit Difficult
You want to make sure that burglars will not be able to get a speedy exit, as this will allow you more chance of catching them out. One way to do this is by using fences which can make the transportation of larger items more difficult, as long as you keep your gates locked.
If you store tools or ladders then you should keep these out of reach, as they could potentially be used by the burglars or stolen if they are valuable. It is useful to chain your ladder to the garage wall in order to keep it secure.
Your House Number
It is useful to make sure your house number is clearly visible, as this will help the police do their work faster in the event of any emergency. To do this you should use reflective material for the numbers, as well as bold colors that are clearly visible. Make sure no plants cover the number.
When using methods such as these, bear in mind the above principles of keeping your house visible to the neighbors. The key is to get a good balance between deterring through the use of fences, whilst also allowing neighbors to keep an eye on the property. If you take some care in this area then your house will become much less of a risk to burglars.
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