The old saying “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” may be true, but it isn’t necessarily something that applies to every situation. Just as we often judge individuals by the way that they look, thieves also judge homes based on the way that they look from the street. Many thieves go about “casing” homes in order to figure out: 1) if a home is worth breaking into, 2) how easy it would be to break into, 3) whether or not they can get away without being seen.

If you watch the nature channel, you’ve undoubtedly seen lions and tigers stalking through the jungle, eyeing their prey. Thieves aren’t much different. They stalk through neighborhoods and communities in search of prey. So what exactly are they looking for? Ideally, they’re looking for a property that tells them that there are things of value inside. In addition to that, they are also looking for a property that looks easy to break into. Thieves know that homes that look like they contain valuable possessions often mean that the owners have taken security precautions, which can present more of a challenge.

So, how do thieves gauge whether your house makes a good target, just from driving past it? One of the first things they look for is how well the home has been cared for. They use the “broken window theory”: if there is a broken window on a home or building, then the building must not be cared for. Likewise, if a home is in even a moderate state of disrepair, it announces to thieves that there is probably very little security in place. For that matter, the front door may not even be locked. Hence, it’s probably worth breaking into the home just in case there’s something of value inside, even if the thief doesn’t think the homeowners are wealthy people.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, too much security may attract the wrong kind of attention as well. While it’s certainly important to protect your home – even if you think you don’t own anything worth stealing – is there such a thing as too much security? A multitude of high-tech cameras, plus burglar bars and a barking dog, combine to form an interesting picture of the home. Together, they work as a sort of announcement that there is something of value inside. Though all of these security measures are enough to deter an opportunistic thief, they may make your home more attractive to a professional thief looking for a big payout.

So what’s the best solution? Keep your home in repair, promptly replacing anything that breaks or becomes worn out. Tend to your yard and pay attention to how your home looks to the neighbors. A well lit home also prevents theft, because it increases the chances that the thief will be seen breaking in. Install appropriate security devices around the home, but don’t make it seem as though you are trying to build a maximum-security prison.

Author Bio: Resist Attack has a full range of TASER devices to keep you and your family safe. Also check for current specials on a home hidden camera

Category: Home Management
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