If we’re talking about home security, we’re going out on a limb to say that most people could probably use an upgrade on their properties.
It can be easy to get into the mindset of assuming your house and your neighborhood are safe, and that you don’t need to do anything as far as home security.
But that could be a dangerous assumption. All it takes is a few minutes to walk around your house and note the potential weak points that burglars could exploit if they really wanted to get inside to steal things.
Of course, one of the best moves you could make would be to check out the various home security systems on the market today. These alarm systems deter crime while also actively alerting you of crimes taking place on your property.
But aside from those systems, you could, right now, be making some serious mistakes in your home security, and you might come to regret those one day.
Here are three of those mistakes, and why you should avoid making them.
Not Caring to Lock Doors and Windows
Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you know everyone and where you felt safe and have done so for years. And so maybe you feel comfortable leaving your doors and windows unlocked at night or when you head out to the store.
However, keep in mind that it isn’t so much your next-door neighbor who’s going to try to rob your house. It’s someone from somewhere else who saw evidence that your house might be a good target for burgling.
What are some of that evidence? Unlocked doors and windows. If you go out and leave your windows open, even second-floor windows, you could be inviting trouble. And leaving your doors unlocked is simply a thing of the past. Just don’t do it.
Not Having Your Mail Stopped when You’re Away
Another sign thieves look for to tell that no one’s home is mail that’s piled up in the mailbox or on the porch. In the old days, it may have been fine to go away for a week and just let your mail go until you return.
But times have changed, and it’s a bit harder to trust strangers today. You never know who could be driving by to see which houses have a lot of mail outside. Those are the ones that it’s easy to rob since likely no one is home.
However, the fix is quite easy: when you’re planning a getaway, make one of your to-do items to stop your mail with the postal service. They’ll hold onto it for your specified dates and deliver it all when you return. This way, no one will know whether you’re away or not, and you’ll have that peace of mind.
Telling the World You’re about to Leave Home
Listen, it’s 2021. We get it. Everyone and their mother and their cat is on social media, and most people use it to announce their plans to the world. Social media is a useful tool that way. It lets you connect with those who don’t live near you.
But social media becomes dangerous if you use it to announce plans to the world, particularly those involving you leaving your home for an extended period. If you don’t have a private profile, and a would-be burglar catches wind of your plans, and maybe knows how to find you, you may have made a costly mistake.
Thinking of your home security, it might be better not to announce your plans on social media, but rather to wait until you return home to start posting those pictures of you at the cabin. Refer to the fact that these pictures took place in the past, so anyone out there who sees will know you’ve returned.
That’s just being smart, and it could keep you safe.
