Think that locking the front door and closing the windows before going to bed or leaving for work for the day is enough to keep intruders out? Think again! Unfortunately, as technology becomes more advanced, so do the skills of career criminals like robbers or other types of predators or intruders.
With the internet out there, you have many opportunities to learn about protecting your home.
However, criminals also have opportunities to learn more about their craft and how to pick or break through certain window and door locks with ease.
In order to more effectively protect your home, take a look over some of these common home security weak points.
Could any apply to your home? If so, it may be time to take action! The Garage.
While the garage may be attached or a separate unit from the rest of the home, it can still be a risk to your overall home security.
When a garage is attached, it is a big security risk because if the doors and windows are not locked just as well as those in the rest of the home, it can be an easy point of entry for any intruder.
It is also unlikely that your family has more than a simple lock on any doors or windows going between the home and the garage, meaning it would be easy for an intruder with even a little of experience to get inside.
An attached garage can be just as big of a risk because it is like where things like spare keys, tools, ladders and other handy gadgets that could make a break in a whole lot easier are stored.
Treat the garage like an extension of the home instead of leaving it a weak point by emphasizing strong door and window locks, and possibly even fitting it with a home alarm system! Out Buildings.
If your property has out buildings like sheds or barns, just like the above detached garage situation, there can be lots of goodies waiting for the burglar who thinks to take advantage of them.
Make your property, not just your front door, 100% secure by always closing and locking out building doors and windows.
Spare Keys.
Leaving a spare key around might help you get in when you forget yours at work or somehow accidentally leave them inside.
However, they might also let a criminal in without you knowing it.
Most residential burglaries occur during the day, when the intruder has lots of time to figure out a way in and out without being seen, and while carrying out the maximum number of items.
Any burglar or other intruder with a little bit of experience knows how helpful it can be to watch a targeted house before attempting an intrusion.
Anyone who sees you retrieve a spare key and return it just once has an automatic entrance pass into your home.
Would you trust everyone on your street with a spare key to your front door? If the answer is 'no,' then you may want to consider a more modern alternative like installing a fingerprint accessible lock on at least one door on your home.
Such locks can be programmed to allow several people access, meaning you'll never be locked out of the house again!