Top 10 Ways Burglars Enter Your Home

You hear about burglaries in the news and think it won’t happen to you. Unfortunately, anyone can have their home broken into by burglars. Burglars enter homes in a number of ways, using tools or their own physical force to break a door or window. They may have had their eyes set on a home from the get-go, but if the metal door can’t be kicked in or if the reinforced glass can’t be broken, they may be out of luck and move on to another house. Burglars want to get in and get out of a home as fast as they can, so the more secure your entrances are the greater the chance they’ll give up. Whether you have a home security system installed or put deadbolt locks on all of your doors, every security measure you take will make your home a force not to be reckoned with. Here are the top 10 ways burglars enter your home:

1. The Front Door: The most common way burglars enter your home is through the front door. Burglars are prepared to knock down doors, pick the lock or break the glass and unlock it from the inside. Many times, front doors are not strong enough to withstand a lot of pressure and can be kicked in if weak strike plates are used for the locks. To make your front door as sturdy as it can be, make sure it has strong locks and strong strike plates. Metal doors are best, followed by solid, thick wood doors. It’s in your best interest to install a deadbolt as an added deterrent against burglars. Also, keep a light on near the front door entrance when you’re not home to make it look like you are.
2. The Back Door: The back door is another popular entrance for burglars who are trying to stay hidden and want easy access in and out of the house. The back door offers more cover from witnesses and lets them go about their business undetected. Therefore, it’s very important that your back door be just as strong as you front door. The back door should be made of metal or solid wood and have strong locks and strike plates.
3. The Garage: The garage can be a prime spot for burglars to enter your home. Even if you close your garage door, the interior doors leading into your home may not be secure. The garage door should always be closed when you’re not home, but the door leading into your home should be reinforced with heavy-duty deadbolt locks and strong strike plates, as well as replace hollow-panel doors with solid wood or metal doors.
4. Windows: Burglars like to enter homes through windows because they are often unlocked and easy to break-in to. Window seal and casings can become rotten or loose after years of wear and tear, which makes it that much easier for a burglar to shake the window and pop the lock out of place. Also, unlocked windows or ones with loose top frames can be removed, exposing the screen, which can be cut or usually kicked in. It’s important to keep your windows as secure as possible, using strong locks, secure frames and install reinforced glass that’s hard to penetrate. Always lock your windows and keep a close eye on their condition.
5. Sliding Glass Doors: Sliding glass doors can be a prime spot for burglars to enter your home, especially when it is poorly protected. Old sliding doors may not be very secure because the locks can be picked easily and the door can be lifted out of the track. There are several ways to secure your sliding glass doors, such as adding auxiliary patio door locks or installing screws into the track above the sliding door frame to keep the door from being lifted off the track. You can also wedge a wooden dowel in the bottom track when the sliding glass door is closed and locked. This will prevent the door from being opened if a burglar manages to unlock it.
6. Spare Key: Leaving a spare key outside of the house is a great idea for emergencies or when you get locked out, but it can also be used by burglars if it’s not well hidden. Hiding a spare key under the doormat or a nearby flower pot can be easily discovered by a burglar. If a burglar gets ahold of your house key, he or she can just let themselves in and not leave any trace of a break-in. Not to mention, they could make a copy of your key. If you’re going to keep a spare key around, be sure you’ve hidden it in a safe spot that only you and your family know about. It’s also a good idea to leave a spare key with a trusted neighbor, so they can get in if there’s an emergency or if you need it.
7. Basement: The basement can be a vulnerable spot for burglars to enter your home. Basement windows are usually different from standard windows, so they may need additional locks and reinforcement. You might want to consider installing burglar bars over the windows to make it harder for burglars to enter.
8. Second Floor: The second floor is not the most desirable entrance for burglars because they could be spotted by neighbors or fall and hurt themselves, but there is a small percentage of them who prefer to go upstairs first. To avoid a second story break-in, make sure that your windows are properly secured with strong locks, and don’t leave ladders out that a burglar could use to climb up to the second floor.
9. Storage Area: Storage areas are popular spots for burglars to enter a home. Not only do storage spaces have valuable items a burglar would love to steal, but it also gives an intruder easy access into your home. Just like a garage and every other entrance, storage areas should be reinforced with sturdy doors and windows and deadbolt locks to make it harder for burglars to break-in.
10. Unlocked Entrance: If your doors, windows, garage or any entrance is unlocked, you are putting yourself at greater risk for burglary. Leaving an entrance unlocked is an open invitation for a burglar to come right in it happens in cars and it happens in houses. Simply locking your door when you’re not home can keep intruders out because they will have to break-in and may not have the time or tools to do so. It’s one simple and necessary step to protect your home and yourself from intruders.   (source: homealarmmonitoring)

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