While burglaries tend to happen in the summer months when windows get left open or homeowners leave for vacation, it's still important to be mindful during winter. All the more so as days get shorter and potential intruders can take advantage of increased darkness.
To keep your household safe and protected, consider the following tips on how to burglar-proof your home this winter:
- Upgrade to a locked mailbox
- Install exterior motion detectors
- Automate interior lighting
- Keep snow shoveled and landscaping clean
- Invest in a home security system
Criminals love an easy target. If you make it even the slightest bit more difficult to trespass your home, you could avoid falling victim to a burglary altogether.
Ackerman Security is Atlanta's trusted leader in home security protection. For peace of mind that your home is safeguarded against burglaries, theft, and more, call us at 800.552.1111 or schedule an instant security quote online.
Upgrade to a locked mailbox
With the holiday season upon us, burglars know that people will be sending cards and packages filled with gift cards and presents. If your mailbox is left unlocked, you risk someone stealing your precious valuables— without even entering your home to do it!
To stop burglars from stealing your mail, make sure that you have a locked mailbox. This way, only you and a trusted mail delivery worker can access it.
You can purchase a simple mailbox lock for less than $10 at your local hardware. Or, you can upgrade to a pre-built locked mailbox for around $100-$500. Although it might seem like a lot of money to spend, the cost of someone stealing your mail (and potentially your identity!) could be far more.
Install exterior motion detectors
Burglars rely on darkness to sneak around your home, looking for points of entry. But when an unexpected motion light comes on to illuminate their activities, they'll be quickly deterred. Otherwise, they might be seen by you, a neighbor, or an onlooker.
To keep burglars away during dark winter months, we recommend installing motion-detecting lights around the exterior of your property.
Key areas include:
- Around the garage
- Along walkways in your front yard
- On the sides of your house
- Above ground floor windows and doors
- In trees, especially if you have a large property
Criminals are looking for the path of least resistance. If you have motion lights installed, they'll probably move on to a house without them.
Automate interior lighting
Smart lighting isn't just convenient— it also keeps your home safe. When lights are on, burglars will assume that you're home. And if you're home, you could catch them attempting to break in and then call the police.
During the winter, when there are fewer sunlight hours, it's a good idea to automate your home's interior lights so that they come on when it gets dark. This way, lights will be on even if you're not home.
Lamp timers cost around $10-$15 and will trigger certain lamps to come on and off at set times. Or, you can invest in a home lighting automation system that seamlessly coordinates all of your home's lighting for simplicity and peace of mind.
At Ackerman, we offer a range of home automation services, including smart lighting controls. To learn more, visit our home automation services page.
Keep snow shoveled and landscaping clean
By keeping snow shoveled and landscaping clean, it signals two things to burglars:
- You're home and paying attention
- There aren't places to hide
Again, burglars are looking for an easy target. If they see unshoveled snow, they'll assume you're not home. And if your bushes are overgrown, they can hide from view while surveilling break-in points.
As a conscious homeowner, you want to make it difficult for burglars. This starts on the exterior of your home before someone even thinks about stepping onto your property.
Through basic snow and landscaping effort, you'll keep walkways safe for the family and gain peace of mind that burglars are less interested.
Invest in a home security system
Last but not least, it pays to invest in a home security system. With alarm monitoring protection, the moment an intruder attempts to invade your home, the alarm will sound and the police will be notified.
If you're away on a winter vacation, this could make all the difference between coming back to a ravaged home and stolen belongings— or a single broken window.
Moreover, home security systems often come with video surveillance. This means that in the event your home is burglarized, law enforcement can use security footage to help recover whatever was stolen.
Don't leave your home security to chance.
For year-round protection against burglaries, call Ackerman at 800.552.1111 or schedule an instant security quote online today. One of our security experts will provide a free on-site assessment with the best security system options for your needs and budget. In North America, we're the only security company that offers a no-theft guarantee!