Residential Crime Education: Key Knowledge to Protect Your Home | By Jordan Frankel
In the United States, a home is burglarized every 22 seconds, and too often, these crimes could have been prevented with a bit of residential crime education. Understanding how burglars operate and the steps needed to secure your property can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a target.
The more you learn about residential crime, the better equipped you are to protect yourself and your home. By applying effective crime prevention tips and making simple adjustments, you can keep your family and property safe. Here’s what home security expert Jordan Frankel, Vice President of Global Security Experts, Inc., believes is essential to know.
An important part of residential crime education is knowing the facts. Each year, the FBI compiles and publishes crime data in its Uniform Crime Report (UCR), which offers a comprehensive look at crime trends across the U.S. According to the UCR’s data for 2017:
Though recent years show a slight decline in burglaries, largely due to increased awareness and home security advancements, it’s crucial not to let your guard down. Residential crimes still affect millions, and many occur simply because residents lack a solid home security plan.
A crucial part of residential crime education is seeing things from a criminal’s perspective. Most intruders want an easy entry and quick exit without being seen or caught. Here’s what to consider:
Knowing how intruders approach their crimes can help you take proactive steps to secure these vulnerable entry points.
To apply residential crime education effectively, it’s important to perform a home security assessment and then create a crime prevention plan. This plan can reduce the likelihood of your home becoming a target for burglars.
To start, walk around the perimeter of your property both during the day and at night. Look for weaknesses in your home security:
Once you’ve identified vulnerable areas, use this knowledge to create a home security plan that deters and prevents intruders. Since most residential crimes occur through doors and windows, fortify these areas first. Key home security tips include:
Residential crime education is a powerful tool for reducing your risk of burglary or home invasion. But learning about crime prevention only helps if you take action. By implementing the home security measures discussed here, you’ll increase the safety of your home and gain peace of mind knowing you’ve taken steps to protect what matters most.
Don’t wait to become part of the next residential crime statistic. Start applying what you’ve learned today and make your home a less appealing target for criminals.