Burglar Hot Spots

By: Sean Hattaway

Burglars gain entry either through the front door or through a window. These are the two most popular spots, making them “burglar hot spots�. As a homeowner, it is up to you to take responsibility for your home’s protection and your family’s safety. Along with having an alarm system installed, you can add to your home security system by ensuring that the house’s “hot spots� are covered.

The first place you want to check is your front door. For starters, never leave your door unlocked. We all want to believe that we live in a safe world. However, when burglaries occur every 11 seconds, with 70 percent of the burglars breaking in through the front door, you don’t want to give them any encouragement. Always lock the doors. This goes for any other doors leading to the outside.

To beef up security at the front door you can install additional locks. Deadbolts are always a good option. It may also help to install a chain lock here too. When someone knocks on the door, you can unlock the deadbolt and leave the chain lock in place to see who’s at the front door. Better yet, peep holes work nicely if you want to see who is at your door. Also, if your door has glass panes, you may want to consider getting rid of them. A burglar can smash through the glass and get inside quickly.

Windows, particularly those on the first floor, are the other “burglar hot spot� where burglars gain entry. To tighten security around the windows, you can install window bars, security windows and laminates. Sliding glass doors are another target for a break-in. You can increase security by using a wooden pole in the track to prevent it from being opened as well as a key lock at the top of the door.

Window bars are designed to keep burglars out. You can even select a design to match with a fence or other decorative aspects of the outside of the house. Laminates are another way to go. They can deter burglars since some of them are very difficult to puncture. The window may splinter, but otherwise they hold up nicely and will prevent a forced entry. If you really feel that you want to keep your windows open, be sure that your alarm system has sensors for the windows. That way, if an intruder attempts to get inside and they open the window further than it was already open, it will trigger the alarm.

Next Article- Burglary Statistics