By The Home8 Team

A house in your neighborhood was just burglarized and you’re in shock. You may be worried that your home will become the next target, and your family and belongings are in danger. Here are 7 ways to fortify your home defenses against invasions and burglaries:

1. Get Motion-Activated Lighting

Motion-activated lights will help guard your home at night. Entrances and dark corners around your home are perfect locations to add motion-activated lights. Position the lights high enough so that no one can simply disable them by reaching up and unscrewing the bulb. These lights switch on once motion is detected. Scare off potential intruders before they even reach your doors or windows.

2. Reinforce Windows

First-floor windows are the second most popular entry point for burglars. Traditional window glass is fragile and can be broken with a single impact. However, you can upgrade your windows with laminated glass, also known as safety glass. It is constructed with a layer of vinyl between two sheets of regular glass. Breaking safety glass would require a burglar to strike the same spot multiple times, thereby creating a great deal of noise in the process. As a result, the burglar is more likely to give up breaking into your home.

3. Install a Home Security System

A home security system is an effective deterrent against intruders. In fact, 60% of burglars would seek an alternative target upon discovering the presence of an alarm or cameras¹. The Home8 Video-Verified Security Alarm System includes not only an alarm and indoor camera, but also a motion sensor and door/window sensors. You and your family will be able to collaboratively monitor your home and receive video alerts when emergencies happen. Once the break-in is confirmed, users may call the police within the Home8 App for a prioritized response. Invest in a security system that will not only act as a deterrent, but can also catch the perpetrator.

4. Trim Your Shrubs Regularly

Tall, unkempt shrubs are signals to thieves that you have perfect hiding spots outside your home. Don’t make it that easy for them: routinely trim the shrubs around house entrances and walkways to a height no taller than your knees. With no place to hide while attempting to force entry into your home, the thief may well abandon his target. The same can be said about trees around your house. Pruning the first seven feet of tree branches will prevent cat burglars from climbing into your second-story window. Moreover, it will give you better visibility of your yard, streets and neighbors. Without a doubt, defensive landscaping tactics are a natural and effective way to deter potential invaders.

5. Get a Smart Plug

Indoor lights connected into a smart plug will allow you to control your home lighting from your smartphone. When away from home for long periods of time you can have the lights turn on to give the impression that someone is home. The Home8 Smart Plug would be a great choice, especially since the smart plug features “schedules.” The add-on smart plug will allow up to six schedules that automatically turn “on” or “off” devices attached to it. Having indoor lights controlled through a schedule instead of being on all night will give your house the appearance of being occupied.

6. Join Your Neighborhood Watch

Joining a Neighborhood Watch program provides the opportunity to get to know other families in your neighborhood, and gain knowledge about crime prevention. Together with your neighbors you can request the local police department to hold meetings on how to recognize a burglary in progress, how to identify a suspicious person, what to do in an emergency, and more. This camaraderie is like having another set of eyes and ears in your neighborhood to look out for each other, not just your own family. Don’t worry if your neighborhood doesn’t have a Neighborhood Watch program, you can always learn how to start one yourself!

7. Evaluate Your Home’s Vulnerabilities

Put yourself in the shoes of a burglar and scout out the weaknesses of your home from the outside, during both day and night. Survey if your windows can be pried open or if your door locks are loose enough to slam through. Notice if any expensive items can be seen from the windows and, if so, remove them from sight. You might even execute a “mock” break-in to check for vulnerabilities.

Many people wait until their home has a break-in before taking any action to improve their security. Don’t be one of those people. Start implementing these strategies now before it’s too late. Please share this blog with your neighbors and read our other blogs for additional security tips.

¹Kuhns, Joseph B. Understanding Decisions to Burglarize from the Offender’s Perspective. Charlotte: University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Print.