5 Steps to Protect Your Home

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2020 has been nothing short of 'once in a generation' - a massive pandemic outbreak, mass unemployment, and protests in almost every state. Add to this the usual threat of home invasions and burglary, and it's easy to see why the average person feels a little overwhelmed.

While things might seem beyond your control, there are specific steps you as a citizen can take to make your home, your property, and your loved ones more secure in times of uncertainty.

The first thing to do is to understand the scale of the problem. According to the most recent Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics from the FBI, there are nearly 2.5 million burglaries every year, of which almost 70% are home invasions or break-ins. Do the math, and it works up to one robbery every 13 seconds - a staggering statistic. Unfortunately, the police are really only able to solve around 13% of those crimes due to a lack of a witness or any physical evidence.

Stats & Figures

Let’s dive deeper and look at some more statistics on home invasions and burglaries: 

1. Most break-ins happen during the day, between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm. Logically, this is when most folks are either at work or running errands, leaving their homes pretty much empty. 

1. Contrary to what we see in the movies, a far smaller percentage of break-ins happen at night. While the cover of darkness does offer some security to the intruders, there is a far higher chance of confrontation as the homeowners are more likely to be home. 

1. Nearly 83% of homes in the US do not have some form of home security system installed. Needless to say, these homes are the ones that are prime targets and are 300% more likely to be burglarized. 

1. 95% of all home invasions and burglaries need some sort of forceful entry like breaking a window, picking a lock, or kicking open a door. 

1. The tools most often used to gain entry are small objects like a screwdriver or a hammer. Easily concealed under clothing, these everyday items are tough to trace. 

Who is committing these crimes though? A study by UNC Charlotte on the habits and motivations of burglars found that: 

1. Most burglars are males under the age of 25. 

1. Nearly 85% of break-ins are not the work of professional thieves and are often the result of poverty and hunger. While this might be heartbreaking to consider, it still doesn't mean that you should leave your home and belongings unprotected. 

1. 83% of burglars who were eventually caught by police admitted to first 'scoping out the house' to see if an alarm system was installed. 60% said that they would look for another target if they saw a home security system was present.

1. 61% of burglaries didn't involve a weapon. So although a firearm is most certainly a deterrent, it is most often called into use when the attacker is already inside the home, something that can definitely be avoided. 

1. Low to middle-class homes were the most targeted since they are most likely to not have security systems installed. 

How safe are you?

Most of us would like to think we live in a relatively safe neighborhood, but if you’ve ever wondered just how safe your town or neighborhood is, take a look at the table below. We’ve compiled a list of the top towns and counties across New England, with the information sourced from data aggregator neighborhoodscout.com. We’ll be updating this section regularly, and if your town isn’t ranking all that well in terms of safety, maybe it’s time to get in touch with one of the top home security system companies in Massachusetts.

Your Protection Options

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Ok, so enough bad news and grim statistics. Let's look at the 5 things you can do to protect your home. 

Here we go. 

Step #1: Use technology to protect your blind side

Home surveillance systems have improved a great deal over the years. While it is very possible to find one that best suits your home and your budget, what follows are a few of the essentials we believe are necessary: 

• Lean on home automation security systems to give you that added edge. Things like a video doorbell camera and exterior motion sensors and lights can provide you a sense of security of knowing what is outside without going outside. 

• Most thieves and intruders prefer non-violent methods like picking a lock to enter your home rather than busting a door down or breaking a window, which is sure to attract attention. Nip this option in the bud by looking at inexpensive digital or smart locks, which are extremely difficult to break. 

• Lastly, and most importantly, invest in a reliable home security system. These days, you can get alarm systems that serve various functions and can be easily controlled remotely or through your smartphone. 

• Make sure that the option you choose integrates all the different devices on your premises and includes PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) cameras. Nothing can solve a burglary or home-invasion case faster than actual video evidence of the crime and the perpetrators. 

Step #2: Make Your Home Intrusion Proof

• Thieves and burglars love houses with large amounts of unkempt bushes, hedges, or other structures near the windows or front door. It gives them a place to hide. Keep it to a minimum. 

• Despite what you see in the movies, a solid front door is tough to kick-in. An ideal combination is a metal door, or one with a thick wooden core, paired with a solid deadbolt. Take it one step further by installing a heavy-duty strike plate with screws embedded into the frame. 

• If your home comes with sliding doors or windows, include a dowel or board into the track to prevent it from moving when unlocked. 

• Install exterior lighting to eliminate dark and shady spots. There shouldn't be any spot on your property that you cannot see easily. Removing the hiding spots makes it that much harder for someone to try and break into your home. 

• Get a dog, the bigger, the better. Research has shown that nearly 50% of burglars are wary of breaking into a house where a dog is present. Plus, they're great fun to have around as well : )

Step #3: Keep things locked

• Keep most windows locked at night or when you're out of the house. If one must be kept open for ventilation, make sure it’s not more than 4 inches high. 

• Lock your entryway or porch as the first line of defense. 

• If you've moved into the house recently or are renting, spend that extra time and effort (and money) to change the locks. You might as well keep the door wide open if you're not sure who, other than you, has the keys to the locks. 

• Review the many access points that your home has and keep them locked whenever possible. This includes the garage door as well as the many windows and even the chimney. Never take any access point for granted. 

• Make sure your Wi-Fi network is password protected. An open system can easily indicate to would-be criminals that the owner isn't too clued into security. 

Step #4: Be part of the community

• Unless you're living in an isolated part of the country, where your nearest neighbor is miles away, make an active effort to be a part of your community. 

• Making friends with your neighbors is a great way to keep your home secure when traveling or at work. 

• Give a trusted neighbor a spare key as well as the code to an alarm system (if installed). If you're travelling and something goes wrong, they should have the means to help. 

• Start a neighborhood watch program with the power to make changes to the community you live in. This could be as simple as making sure streetlights are working or speaking to the local law enforcement agency to have regular patrols in your area. Whatever route you choose, a collective approach to safety is always the best defense. 

Step #5: Be prepared

• A quick home security tip - make a list of all the valuable items in your home, and take a photo of every room that clearly shows the valuables in each (television, stereo, etc.)

• In the event of a burglary, reporting what is stolen to the police is much easier when you have photographic proof or evidence of an item being stolen. 

• Speak to your home insurance or renter’s insurance agent. Find out what is covered in the contract in the event of a burglary or a home invasion. Too often, we see homeowners left out in the cold because of some technicality in the contract they failed to understand or read.