10 free of cost home safety hacks to avoid theft and intrusion

What worse than coming home from a vacation to a broken window/door? Answer: Missing valuables from your home. Sounds like a horror story, isn’t it? To prevent this from happening, you have to be extra cautious while leaving your home empty. We’re not saying that you shouldn’t leave your house unattended at all. But before you walk away, make sure that you double or triple check the security arrangements. Installing a high-end security system at home can be expensive for some people. Thus, we have penned down some free of cost home safety hacks to keep your home intrusion-proof.

Don’t brag about your vacation and whereabouts on social media

Do you know what you’re doing while bragging about your exotic vacation on social media? You’re actually tipping off some potential thieves that your house is unattended right now. Most of the thieves keep their prying eyes on a property and make their move when the residents are away.

Don’t keep your spare keys in your porch/garden

Most of the people keep their spare keys below a doormat or inside a planter for emergencies. But before you leave your house for a vacation, keep that spare keys inside. Or you can hand over the spare key to your neighbour or friend whom you trust. Usually, spare keys become an easy way in for the thieves.

Install smart lights in your home  

This might cost you a thousand bucks but it’s worth the money spent. These smart lights can be turned on remotely or have timer. You can set a timer for the sunset while you’re away. This way, intruders can be tricked that the house is not empty. Auto turn-on lights in the porch are a great way to scare the thieves away. The miscreants will be shocked to see themselves standing in bright light as they try to unlock the doors. It will also alert the neighbours who know that you’re away.

Hang ‘Beware of Dogs’ board on your gates

Even if you don’t own a dog, hang a board saying, ‘Beware of Dogs’. Thieves don’t dare to enter a house inhabited by a vicious dog. You can also install a fake dog bark alarm on your doors to scare away the thieves.

Don’t throw the boxes of priced possessions in open

Why to inform the thieves about the expensive products you buy? By throwing the packaging in the open, you’re shouting out to the world that you’ve just brought something that’s worth stealing. Break down the packaging and throw it with your garbage bag.

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Ask neighbours or friends to collect your mails from the doorway

The first sign that a house is empty is the pile of mails and documents lying on the door. Don’t let these mails get accumulated. Ask your neighbours to collect your mails and newspapers every day. If you don’t have an amicable neighbour, call up the newspaper boy and ask him not to deliver at your home for few days.

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Close the blinds or curtains before you leave home

Don’t make this glaring mistake while leaving your house unattended. Close all the curtains and blinds before leaving. If possible, install window films to avoid anyone peeping inside the house from outside. Keep a metal rod in between the sliding doors to keep them from being forced open.

The best way however to keep your home safe from burglary and intrusion is to install motion-detecting cameras in your main entrance. There are many companies that are dealing with home security systems including intruder alarm, digital door locks and a video doorbell. Aided by a security and surveillance system and these home safety hacks, you can prevent untoward incidents in your vicinity.