Your home is a castle. And although you’ll probably want to think twice before digging a moat or heaving boiling oil up onto your roof, you should still do everything in your power to defend it. The sad fact is that break-ins occur all the time. In the United States, a break-in occurs every 14.6 seconds. That means that if you have something worth stealing, then chances are that someone out there wants to steal it. But short of turning your home into a futuristic fortress of laser sensors and robot sentinels, how can you secure your home against unwanted visitors? Here are some simple things you can do to discourage break-ins, and about how much money each method will cost you.
1. Rig the Door
If you live in an apartment complex, then you get to enjoy the double stress of being surrounded by people you don’t trust, and not being able to do much about it. Seriously, any major security features you add to your apartment will either violate your rental agreement or—at the very least—get left behind when your lease expires. The good news is that most burglars enter directly through the front door. That means that if you can secure your main entrance, you’ll be less likely to get robbed. So beef up your door defenses. Check the door itself to make sure that the hinges are secure and lack rust. Check the door frame for rotted wood or cracks. If you see problems here, you should be able to get your landlord to fix them for free. If not, then invest in some repairs (hinges: $15-$30, door frames and jams: $50-$100). Install and use a deadbolt (Approx. $50), and never leave a spare key outside where a criminal could find it. Small magnetic contact alarms can be purchased at most home supply stores ($5-$10). These attach to the inside of the door and the frame and emit an ear-piercing shriek when one side breaks contact from the other (such as when the door is opened). Sure, you’ll need to get really good at reaching in and disarming it whenever you come in through the front, but that shouldn’t be too difficult if you know where the alarm is. A criminal would most likely hear the shriek and run for it.
2. Make it Look Like Someone is Home
Most burglars are as disinterested in meeting you as you are in meeting them. As such, they would prefer to do their business in your home when you are not. So, do whatever you can to make it look like someone is home during the day. Consider leaving the television or radio on when you’re gone, or installing a timer (approx. $10) to turn them on and off throughout the day. Alternately, if you have a car that you’re going to be leaving at home, park it in the driveway rather than in the garage. Install motion-sensor lights on your front porch ($20-$50). Ask a neighbor or friend to collect your mail and newspaper if you plan on leaving home for an extended period of time. Heck, you could even get a cardboard cutout of yourself made at a local copy store (approx. $70) and place it somewhere that can be seen from outside.
3. Play to Their Fears
If you have a dog that’s going to be home during the day, don’t hide the fact. Burglars have classically avoided guard dogs, and will probably look for an easier target if they see an outside food dish ($3-$10) or a doghouse ($50-$100). If you don’t have a dog, consider placing a sign near your door that indicates otherwise (Approx. $5). You can also give the impression of electronic security without actually having any. Fake surveillance cameras ($15-$40) and digital key-pads (approx. $10) would probably be enough to scare away all but the most daring thief. Naturally, to be really safe, you should invest in an actual electronic home security system. But even if you find yourself with only a few extra dollars to put towards your castle’s defenses, you can still do a lot to discourage potential break-ins. The boiling oil, however, should probably be the last defense.
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