When it comes to home security, your yard is your first line of defense. Though many burglars do come in through the front door, it is believed that about half come in through some other entrance, typically a door or window on the side or back of the home. In most cases, burglaries are crimes of opportunity. If your home does not look welcoming to a burglar, he will likely pass it on in favor of a less protected house. Therefore, the more effort you take to make your yard unwelcoming to criminals, the safer you will be.

Designing your yard to thwart home invasion attempts doesn’t have to mean making it uninviting for those who are actually invited to enjoy your yard with you. It just means paying attention to how your landscaping could be improved, and how simple devices can dramatically affect the security of your home.

The first layer of home security is the landscaping of your yard, but this is one of the factors most overlooked by those looking to improve their home security. Burglars like to break in with privacy. Their ideal target is a home with tall trees or shrubs shielding side windows from being viewed from the street or from your neighbor’s house. Trim your shrubbery, or consider replacing it with thorned varieties such as roses. Prune trees so that they cannot be used as a ladder to the second story, and move trellises away from the walls of your home. Install outdoor lighting so that burglars can’t use the cover of darkness to their advantage.

It’s even better for burglars if a home has a fence installed on that side of the yard. Even though a fence might make you feel more secure, it also makes burglars feel more secure breaking in, so this risk must be weighed against the benefits of fence installation. Outdoor lighting can mitigate some of these drawbacks, with the added benefit of helping you to enjoy your backyard after dark.

Besides your landscaping choices, your lawncare routines also provide helpful clues to burglars. An unkempt lawn signals that the homeowners have been away for some time. If you don’t have the time to mow your lawn or are going on vacation, hire a lawncare service to handle this important task.

Another important tool that many homeowners inadvertently provide burglars is the means to break into the home. Do you use landscaping stones that are large enough to break a window? Do you leave crowbars, ladders, or other tools in a shed in the backyard? Lock up these tools when they’re not in use so that they can’t be used against you.

Finally, did you know that the signage around your home can have a significant impact on your safety? For starters, make sure your house numbers can be seen easily from the street so that police and emergency services can find you quickly. This may require replacing your current numbers with large, reflective house numbers, or trimming plants that are obscuring your current sign. Also, place security system signs in your yard or on doors and windows within view of the street. Even if you don’t actually have an alarm system in place (though you should), signs that are purportedly from a security company will make burglars avoid your home in favor of a less protected target.

Author Bio: Resist Attack has a full range of TASER devices to keep you and your family safe. Also check for expandable batons

Category: Home Management
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