Chicago Home and Lifestyles – 5 tips to keep burglars from choosing your house

Nowadays, it doesn’t really matter what type of neighborhood you live in. Middle and even lower-income neighborhoods are just as likely to be robbed as high-income! So here are a few tips on keeping our homes safe from burglars.

Keep dogs. A dog, especially a large noisy one, can be a deterrent to most thieves. Burglars are attempting to get in and out very quickly. Most will tend to go on to the next house rather than deal with a dog that may bite them or is a loud barker. 

Use alarms. An alarm system is always good. There are so many types of alarms available you can pick one that suits your lifestyle. Display signs and stickers that indicate you have an alarm and put them on the front and back of your home. Invest in extras like alarms that go off when the glass is broken and cameras. A study shows that 60% of incarcerated burglars admit to being deterred by an alarm system.

Prioritize privacy. Keep the interior of your home private. Windowed front doors are beautiful, but criminals love them as well as windows with no shades, curtains or blinds. Burglars can look in and see valuables or people present. They can also see if your alarm is set, as the controls are usually right inside the door. Keep windows shuttered and leave some lights on as they may indicate people in the home. Burglars don’t want to run into anyone. 

Ask for help from neighbors. Keep your property looking as if you are home even when on vacation. Mail stuffed in a mailbox is a good indication that no one is home, as is newspapers piling up. Have a neighbor pick up the mail and ask them to keep an eye on your property. Keep the lawn mowed and walkways clear in the winter. 

Keep your valuables out of the bedroom. Burglars want to spend as little time in the house as possible. 5-7 minutes is the norm. They typically head right to the bedroom looking through closets and drawers. Keep valuables like jewelry elsewhere like the attic, garage or even in the ceiling. If they can’t find any valuables quickly, they may just move on. 

So do a check on your home to make it as much of a deterrent as possible to burglars. Be safe!

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago