6 Break-In Proofing Measures You Can Take During Extended Absences

6 Break-In Proofing Measures You Can Take During Extended Absences

Are you going to be absent from your house soon and want to stop thieves from breaking in and burglarizing your residence?

Try to think as they would think. You will then discover all kinds of tricks you can use to make your property an unappealing target.

“I Don’t See Why I Wouldn’t Break Into that One…”

Your residence will always be less tempting to burglars if it seems well protected. Surveillance cameras, alarm system or bars on the windows are effective tools, especially when their use is displayed with stickers and signs. Beware of dummy security measures, however. Experienced criminals know all about home security and can easily identify knockoffs and cheap systems that are in fact ineffective.

 

“This House Seems Abandoned. A Great Target.”

Firstly, if the potential intruder never notices that you are away, the risk of a break-in significantly goes down. Piled up mail that is not picked up, a snowed-up driveway and no footprints, and lights that are always turned off are all clues that no one is home.

You know how to plan a pleasant trip, so take steps to make sure you don’t ruin your holiday by returning to a smashed door or broken window and ransacked rooms.

 

“I Know They Aren’t Home; They’ve Told Everyone Online!”

In this digital age, a lot of information is available online. Badly intentioned people can discover your address, find your name, gain access to your internet accounts, and so read what you publish. That is why it is recommended that you wait to have come back home before you start sharing the details of your absence. Send a group email, but no social media posts which anyone could see, letting the cat out of the bag (even if the posts are reserved to “friends”).

“There Might be a Key Beneath the Door Mat!”

Be creative if you must keep a concealed spare key for your front door on hand. Obvious and therefore unsafe options like the mailbox or a flowerpot make it easy for even the least enterprising housebreaker to enter your residence in a few seconds. Instead, give a spare to a friend or family member, or store it in a locked car.

 

 “I Hate Getting Scratched!”

Here’s a straightforward tip if your house has low windows: plant thorny bushes! In fact, ensuring access points are hindered by painful obstacles may just convince the burglar to move on to their next target instead. Plus, if you have surveillance cameras, you can enjoy a laugh over the recording of them stuck in the landscaping. 

“I Can Quickly Sell this TV and Stereo System!”

Moreover, don’t forget that in a thief’s mind, your windows are like a storefront display! If possible, arrange your most prized belongings in each room in such a manner that they aren’t on show for shopping criminals.  

Or, thanks to smart home systems, install programmable shutters or blinds that are open in the daytime, but that close at night at the same time as the indoor lights are preset to come on, all at the usual hours. This way, your house will appear occupied even when you are absent all while avoiding robbers’ prying eyes.

 

One final piece of advice: if you plan on being away for a very long period, give your keys to a friend or family member who can stop by every now and then. They can also check that the roof hasn’t suddenly started leaking, for example. Your residence should still be protected even when you aren’t there!

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

A leader in the real estate industry since 1982, the RE/MAX network brings together the most efficient brokers.