Protecting Your Home from Burglary: How to Safeguard Your Personal Possessions | By Jordan Frankel

Protecting your home from burglary is a crucial aspect of maintaining safety and peace of mind. Many people overlook the possibility of a break-in until it happens to them. Imagine a criminal invading your space and stealing personal items like your computer, filled with emails, photos, and private data. The thought alone is unsettling, but the reality can be devastating.

This article explores essential strategies for protecting your home from burglary, including tips to secure your belongings, strengthen entry points, and prepare for the unexpected. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to safeguard your possessions and reduce the risk of becoming a burglary victim.

What Burglars Target in a Home

Home burglaries often result in the loss of deeply personal and irreplaceable items. According to Jordan Frankel, a home security expert and Vice President of Global Security Experts, the emotional impact of losing personal items often outweighs the financial loss. Burglars commonly steal the following:

• Computers, Tablets, and Smartphones: These devices store sensitive personal data, such as banking information and cherished family photos. Losing them to a criminal can lead to identity theft and emotional distress.
• Wallets and Purses: Even though many people carry these items with them, burglars often strike at night while residents are asleep, quickly grabbing wallets, cash, and credit cards.
• Personal Documents: Birth certificates, tax records, and bank statements are valuable to criminals for identity theft. Losing these documents can cause long-term financial and emotional harm.

It’s often after a burglary that homeowners recognize the importance of securing their personal possessions. However, it’s far better to plan ahead and protect your belongings now rather than regret it later.

Home Burglary Prevention Tips

Protecting your home from burglary involves taking steps to deter criminals and secure your property. Here are practical burglary protection tips to help secure your possessions:

Strengthen Entry Points

1. Install Heavy-Duty Locks: Upgrade to high-quality deadbolts for all exterior doors.
2. Use a Security Door Brace: These devices reinforce doors against forced entry and are easy to install. To see how effective these devices are, check out this demonstration of the OnGARD Security Door brace in action.
3. Reinforce Glass Windows: Apply security-grade window film to make windows a lot harder to break through.

Leverage Technology

1. Invest in a Home Alarm System: An active alarm system alerts you and authorities when a break-in occurs and can scare off intruders.
2. Install Surveillance Cameras: Cameras provide real-time monitoring and a deterrent effect. Place them at entry points and visible areas around your property.
3. Use Smart Lighting: Motion-sensor lights can illuminate potential hiding spots, making your home less appealing to burglars.

Secure Personal Documents and Valuables

1. Store Items in a Safe: Use a heavy-duty safe bolted to the floor or wall for storing documents, jewelry, and small electronics.
2. Mark Your Valuables: Engrave initials or a unique identifier onto items like laptops and TVs to make them easier to recover if stolen.
3. Create an Inventory: Keep a detailed record of your possessions, including photos and receipts, to aid in recovery and insurance claims.

Practice Smart Habits

1. Lock Doors and Windows: Always lock your doors and windows, even when you’re home.
2. Limit Visibility: Close blinds and curtains at night to prevent burglars from seeing into your home.
3. Be Cautious with Social Media: Avoid posting about travel plans or expensive purchases, which could alert criminals to your absence or wealth.

What to Do If a Burglary Happens

Even with the best precautions, no home is entirely immune to burglary. If your home is burglarized, take the following steps:

1. Call the Police Immediately: Do not enter your home if you suspect a burglary has occurred. Wait for law enforcement to clear the area.
2. Document the Scene: Take photos of the damage and make a list of stolen items to provide to the police and your insurance company.
3. Contact Your Insurance Provider: File a claim as soon as possible, using your inventory list and photos as evidence.
4. Seek Emotional Support: Experiencing a burglary can be traumatic. Reach out to friends, family, or a counselor to help process your emotions.

Why Planning Ahead Matters

Planning ahead not only protects your possessions but also provides peace of mind. By taking proactive measures, you make your home less appealing to criminals and better equipped to handle potential threats. Here are some additional strategies to enhance your home security plan:

1. Join a Neighborhood Watch Program: Working with neighbors creates a community-wide deterrent against crime.
2. Conduct Routine Security Assessments: Regularly inspect your home for vulnerabilities, such as broken locks or overgrown shrubs that could hide intruders.
3. Educate Your Family: Ensure everyone in your household understands the importance of home security and knows what to do in an emergency.

Balancing Prevention and Preparedness

Protecting your home from burglary requires a layered approach to home security. Combining physical deterrents, technological tools, and smart habits makes it more challenging for criminals to target your home. Additionally, preparing for the worst-case scenario ensures you’re ready to respond effectively if a burglary occurs.

By implementing the tips above, you can better protect your possessions and safeguard your peace of mind. Remember, the key to home burglary prevention is thinking ahead and taking action today to secure what matters most.