Protecting Your Home from Theft

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

12 Feb 2009 12:29 PM

This past summer, there were a number of thefts to homes in our area. Fortunately, the thieves were caught when someone in one of the neighborhoods noticed a person that she did not recognize. Her quick alert to the police put the thieves out of business.

After talking to the thieves, the police learned some interesting information. In each of the thefts, the homes were not broken into. The thieves simply walked into the home, either through the front door, the back door or a garage. Furthermore, the police said that the thieves had specifically targeted our area because it was considered a safe area, "and people don't usually lock their doors." In fact, the thieves traveled from out of state for their stealing spree.

To protect your home, you obviously want to keep your front doors locked. Here are some other tips that you can use.

Keep your garage doors closed and locked even when you are at home. This will protect valuable property in your home and may even prevent someone from entering the main part of your house. Having curtains, blinds or shades on the windows will prevent thieves from seeing your belongings inside.

Keep track of your keys, including those you may give to neighbors or relatives. Don't place spare keys under a doormat, under or in a flowerpot or on a window ledge. Thieves know to look in those locations for a spare key.

Keep any landscaping that is close to the house trimmed. Trees and bushes can provide cover to thieves from the neighbors. Low limbs may even provide a way for a thief to climb into your home's second story window.

Keep your home well-lighted and thieves will avoid it. Your porch, your yard, and all entrances to your home should have good lighting.

I read somewhere that burglars enter a home every 15 seconds. That is a pretty scary statistic. Make sure that you take precautions so that your home isn't one that gets targeted.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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