You now know most of the weaknesses or blind spots around your house but even with this complementary knowledge, the problem does not end there. Did you know for instance that in the U.S. a burglar breaks into a home and burglarizes an average of $1,725 every time? It is a very serious concern. In 2005 alone, a total of over 2 million cases of burglary took place in that country. At Smarter Security, we study these trends, understand them and employ every trick in the book to combat them because the burglaries that happen elsewhere are also rife in Australia, albeit on a smaller scale.
The most disturbing aspect of these burglaries is that the homes involved were considered safe. They had sturdy locks, neighbours, moat, dogs, alarm systems, window bars and what not! Yet, the burglaries still took place. Why? We and other safety analysts believe that most of these homes have safety flaws. Furthermore, burglars are experts at identifying these flaws and using them to their advantage. Some of the flaws are readily apparent, while others are more hidden and as with all hidden things that stimulate curiosity, so too are burglars drawn to these hidden flaws. But take heart! All is not lost because they can easily be solved. We will discuss a few of these hidden weaknesses:
- In our haste to tell friends and family members of an impending and exciting vacation abroad in Venice, we overlook the safety connotations. This is now very easy to do. We have the computer and messages fly in an out at dazzling speeds on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google + and numerous other social media. We forget that we are not alone and the message we send out can become ammunition for burglars. Unless you have very proactive neighbours, it would be wise to keep your whereabouts intact and certainly well away from the internet.
- Admit that burglars know more about their trade than you know about thwarting them and get yourself thinking that probably, the safest place for a spare key is not under the doormat but safely in the possession of two or more neighbours. In this day and age, one can never be too careful.
- Insinuate yourself into the burglar’s psyche. Be aware that his/her priority is not being caught and therefore detection is anathema to their purpose. Darkness is still a favourite for cover so lighting up your house and adjoining grounds is the right panacea for this weakness. To burglars, lights mean that people are in the house and this means detection and the ability to call for help. The last thing a burglar wants. Very bright lights out the front and the back are your first line of defence.
- If a burglar gets past the lights without being seen, the next line of defence is the entry point. The doors must be absolutely solid, made of hardwood or iron to withstand brute force and still stand. The door plating must be heavy duty with four 3 inch screws solidly embedding it into the hardwood frame. You cannot afford to be stingy on the type of door you order. If you are abroad on vacation, and burglars succeed in passing the lights undetected, a sturdy door and heavy duty lock frame can still keep them out.
As experts on house safety, we can help you complement your personal efforts in securing the safety of your house with our automated surveillance system if you so desire. If you do, ring us now on 03 8513 0479 and we will assist you in making your house a burglar proof abode.