A 2024 Guide to Securing & Protecting Your Home

Key Considerations for Securing Your Home

Home security is critical. Fortunately, measures such as video and doorbell cameras could be playing a role in the decreasing rates of residential burglaries and other crimes. For example, residential burglaries in select cities were 3.8% lower on average from January to June 2023 versus the same timeframe in 2022. They represent an overall decline since 2019.

Still, a burglary occurs about every 15 to 30 seconds, depending on the data source. There’s a lot of information on home security in cyberspace, sometimes too much. This guide is a good starting point for homeowners and renters to learn about the basics of protecting their homes without getting overwhelmed. We touch on areas such as smart home technology and property maintenance to deter burglars.

Unfortunately, burglaries are not the only things that pose dangers to a home. Fire is a major safety threat, so the guide addresses that, too. First, let’s delve into the thought process of a burglar.

Understanding the Mind of a Burglar

Let's take a look at how these thieves’ minds work.

Having good security cameras around your home will deter most burglars. However, a few inmates serving time for burglary told KGW News in Portland, Oregon, that cameras can indicate loot inside the home. The takeaway: Cameras are just one piece of the puzzle. Don’t rely on them alone to keep your valuables safe, and incorporate alarms into your security system. They get burglars to leave right quick.

Time, sound, and visibility are three main factors to consider. Some questions to ask yourself include:

• Are my doors locked (and double-locked if possible) at the main entrance?
• Are my other doors locked?
• Are my windows shut all the way?
• Is my property well lit at night?
• Can I see any of my valuables from outside on the street?
• Are there areas in my neighborhood that could offer cover or leverage for a criminal to break in easily?
• Does my routine make it easy for a thief to know the best time to enter?

Most of the burglars who corresponded with KGW News said they broke in through unlocked doors or windows. The items that interested them most included cash, credit cards, jewelry, electronics, guns, and collectibles. One inmate wrote about driving through upper-class neighborhoods looking for closed window blinds with the porch light on. Almost all the burglars agreed that having a car in the driveway deters break-ins.

Common burglary deterrents:

• Security cameras
• Alarms going off
• Someone answering the door
• Radio and TV noises
• Good lighting
• Trimmed bushes and trees
• Extra car in the driveway
• Big, loud dogs
• Bars on windows and doors
• Good neighbor relationships

Common burglary “aids”:

• Unlocked windows and doors
• Big fences
• Overgrown trees
• Cheap doors
• Old window frames
• Reserved neighborhood
• Residents with predictable routines

“Mind of a Burglar” Resources:

Interested in learning more about burglars, what they do, and why they do what they do? Check out the following resources:

• Psychology Today – Discover how your house looks through the eyes of a burglar.
• Science Daily – Burglars reveal all in a crime study.
• Reader’s Digest – Find out what burglars aren’t telling you.

How to Secure Your Home

The financial and emotional toll of a home invasion or burglary can be a lot to take on. For many of us, that’s the time we begin looking into ways to secure our home.

The good news is, there’s a lot you can do now, and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Adding security cameras is one popular option; another is setting up a more robust security or alarm system. You don’t have to choose one or the other, either. A typical system contains a selection of sensors and cameras, customized to fit your home and any security goals you want to achieve.

But there are other things you can do to protect your home and family from various threats. Here are some measures you can take to prevent burglaries.

What are some things I can do to prevent burglaries?

Identifying Valuables & Maintaining Your Home

Maintaining your home is an important aspect in preventing burglary. At the same time, it’s smart to plan ahead in case your valuables do get stolen.

To do this, you want to:

Write your last name somewhere on valuables so that they can be identified if stolen. If space allows, add your state abbreviation and driver’s license number, assuming it is different from your Social Security number. If it is not, request a new license with an unique number.

Take detailed pictures of items, especially those you can't write on.

Keep an updated record of your valuables. This record might include model, type, serial number, fair market value, and proof of purchase, to name a few considerations.

Replace broken windows, locks, and doors as soon as possible.

Fix broken fences and locks as soon as possible.

Keep loose rocks away from the property to avoid vandalism and break-ins.

Keep your home in good condition. Mow the lawn, rake the leaves, clean litter, etc., to indicate that your home is lived in and not being neglected.

Make sure that your house number is clearly visible from the street so that police can find your home easily.

How Can I Keep My Home Safe While I Am on Vacation?

Before you leave, check that everything in your home is in working condition. This includes your locks, security cameras, alarms, and doors. If you don’t already have an alarm or home security system, now is a good time to get some home security cameras or even a video doorbell camera so you can keep an eye on things while you are away.

You can also take advantage of smart home technology that lets you control lighting, music, blinds and much more from afar. Switch the lights and TVs on at random times to create the impression you are home. Move the blinds up and down on occasion to foil would-be burglars. Many systems even let you communicate with people who are inside your home (but only if you want to!). Digital assistants in conjunction with programs such as Alexa Guard even listen for breaking glass, carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors, and notify you when these triggers occur.

“While You're Away” Resources:

Looking for more ways to keep your home safe while you are on vacation? Consider the following resources:

• Smarter Travel – Get some tips on how to protect yourself and your home while you are away.
• Wikihow – How to protect your home while you're away (with pictures).

What Do I Do In the Event I Get Robbed?

Hopefully, you never get burgled, but plan as if you might. Keep an updated list of your valuables so you can submit it quickly if necessary. If you come home and the door is unlocked or open, and things look out of place, leave everything as is and call the police right away. Never confront burglars, but if you spot them, take a good look at what they're wearing, what they look like, and what they have taken out of the house. Since someone may have had access to your personal information, monitor your identity for at least a year. Follow these steps to minimize the fallout if a burglar does steal your identity.

Home Security Technology

Keeping your home safe is a lot easier now than it used to be. For example, smart home technology lets you set triggers such as time of day, motion or the behavior of another device. No matter where you are, it’s possible to keep an eye on occurrences inside and around your home, and be notified when someone breaks in. You can also remotely control locks, lights, music, yard sprinklers and much more. If you’re new to this type of technology, it may be less overwhelming to start with a smart home speaker such as the Amazon Echo Dot and a couple of compatible devices. However, it’s pretty easy to set up an ecosystem of linked security devices. Some systems require professional monitoring, but many do not.

Home Security Technology Resources:

• Best DIY Home Security Systems – Get your system up and running in 30 minutes or less, regardless of your experience with tools.
• Find the Best Home Security System – We've tested all of the systems out there and only picked the top ones that is a great choice for most people.

Creating a Home Fire Defense Plan

Home security is not just about keeping burglars away. Protecting your home from fire is critical, too. For example, you should store valuables and important documents in fire-resistant safes and boxes. They are not fireproof, but UL ratings of one hour at 1,700 °F indicate that a safe should do its job well. Other simple but essential steps to take include:

• Install smoke detectors in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends testing detectors at least once a month and replacing batteries once or twice a year.
• Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years old or older, or that do not sound when you test them.
• Consider a monitored fire alarm system so that firefighters can be alerted right away.
• Create a home fire escape plan with two escape routes from every room. Account for household members with disabilities or special needs.
• Review escape plans and conduct drills at least twice a year.
• Store belongings away from any heaters.
• Don't leave stoves, toasters, and ovens unattended.
• Keep your local fire station's contact information handy.
• Put fire extinguishers on each level of your home and especially in the kitchen since more than half of all home fires begin there.
• Keep your kitchen clutter-free, especially around the stove.
• Double check that stoves and ovens are turned off before you leave home.
• Be extra thorough when extinguishing candles and cigarettes. Always blow candles out if they are not in use.