Spring is here, and as temperatures rise, so does the risk of home burglaries. Did you know a burglary occurs once every 30 seconds in the U.S? According to statistics from the FBI, 3,000 burglaries happen in a single day. This means that break-ins and burglaries are the most mentioned property crimes nationwide. Moreover, you can expect to incur an average loss of $3,000 if your home is burgled. But the monetary implications of having your house burgled are also accompanied by emotional turmoil.

While some items can be replaced, a survey conducted showed that out of 700 people who have experienced burglaries, half of them had lost valuable items that we irreplaceable. To help you avoid being a victim of this heinous and inconvenient crime, we have provided you with several ways to keep your home secure this spring.

Keep up on Landscaping

An unkempt yard with high grass and weeds might make a burglar think the property is vacant. Any trees or shrubs near the house should be trimmed so that it isn’t easy for burglars to hide. However, few homeowners realize the role that landscaping plays in obtaining a secure house. The measures that you take to landscape the side, front, and backyard can impact your home’s vulnerability as well as its appeal to potential burglars.

An overgrown yard is one of the signs of a potentially vulnerable property. Other examples include lack of lighting or shrubbery that obscures the view of your front door. While security measures cannot guarantee the complete safety of your home, there are preventative measures that you can take that go beyond locking windows and bolting your doors. There are many ways to keep your home secure this spring just by keeping up on your landscaping.

You need to limit potential hiding spots that burglars can use. Ensure that you trim your bushes and that you do not place any features in a way that may create convenient hiding spots. While mazes and hedges are a great addition to your backyard garden, you may consider designing them in a way that makes it difficult for burglars to hide.

Consider adding features like patio curtains to give you the ideal security while you enjoy the warm spring weather in the evenings. Or you could add natural privacy screens such as vines or thorny bushes to give you privacy from your neighbors and discourage burglars simultaneously.

Adequate yard maintenance enhances your yard’s aesthetic appearance while helping you improve your security. It is an essential element of home security. If you cannot do it yourself, you can contact a tree pruning service to do the maintenance for you.

Check your Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

This is a great time to spring into action and monitor your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. To avoid potential disaster, maintain your detectors and change their batteries. You may need a smoke detector installation if your current one can’t be maintained anymore.

Having working alarms can save lives. The Consumer Product Safety Commission have provided the following tips for your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home if you have a double story.
• Replace your smoke alarm batteries.
• Monitor your kitchen when you are cooking.
• Know where the exits are in case you need to escape in an emergency.
• Create a safety plan and practice it with your family.
• Replace old smoke alarms.

You should also test all your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at least once a month to ensure that they are working. When your clocks spring forward to daylight saving time, you should make sure that you have followed all the important ways to keep your home secure this spring.

Keep Windows Locked

In the spring, you’re probably keeping your windows open more frequently. If you’re not home, make sure you close and lock windows, especially ones that are easily accessible from the patio or deck. Each year when temperatures start to rise, the police see an increase in burglary reports across the country.

Keeping windows open at night is a sure way to get burglars to target your home when you are asleep. However, there are safer ways to have your windows open if you cannot sleep through the night with them closed.

• If possible, only open the windows that will be inaccessible from the outside.
• Assess the level of security that you will need if you keep that window open.
• Sometimes, you may have to lock your windows fully.
• Add windows with secondary lock measures. Ideally, the ones with narrow ventilation gaps.
• Install child lock safety measures for your children’s windows.
• For maximum security, install security controls on your windows to open them throughout the night.

If you are not at home during the day, you keep your blinds closed. This will not only keep burglars from seeing what’s inside, but it’ll help keep your energy costs low as well.

Don’t Publicize When You’re On Vacation

It might be tempting to post your vacation plans and pictures all over social media — it’s also a surefire way to let thieves know you aren’t home. If you’re going to be away for an extended period, make it look like you’re still home with help from neighbors. Ask your neighbors to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity, and have them bring your tote to the curb for garbage collection, so it looks like you’re home. You never know who is watching your social media. As a result, you should avoid sending an unintentional open invitation to thieves to rob your home while you’re on vacation.

Ensuring that everything stays locked up and your blinds are closed will also help to prevent anyone from gaining easy entry to your home. However, do not switch off your lights before you leave. This is a sure sign that there is nobody home. If you can afford to install motion detector lights this spring, do so. Smart lighting is convenient, and you can control it while you are on vacation.

Keep Garage and Shed Locked

Not only does your garage hold valuable tools and equipment, but it also gives a thief easy access to your home. Many homeowners do not invest in the security of their garage or shed the same way that they do their home. The most common security measure that they use is an easily breakable lock or padlock that does not provide sufficient protection.

Consequently, this is generally the first place that burglars will try to gain access. In springtime, you are more prone to spending more time in your garage, and in some cases, you may overlook its security measures. However, ways to keep your home secure this spring should include ensuring that your garage is adequately secured.

You can start by contacting a professional who conducts residential garage door repairs to assess the status of your garage door. Checking if your insurance covers all the contents in your garage is another significant consideration to make while you are implementing security measures for your garage and shed. You may have to consider buying a replacement door if it has been damaged.

Keep Your Car Locked in the Driveway

In the springtime, you’re likely parking your car outside instead of your garage. Always remember to keep your doors locked and never keep any valuables inside or visible. Reports from former burglars also suggest that they were most likely to be put off to try and break a car windshield if a car was parked in the driveway.

If you park your car in the driveway, you need to always consider the different ways to keep your home secure this spring. Always make sure it is locked, even if you think your neighborhood is safe. Never leave valuables, like jewelry, your wallet, purse, or phone in your car. Also try to park in a well-lit area.

Double Check Door Locks

Springtime is the best time to visit friends and have impromptu activities that last well into the evenings. This is why it is so important to familiarize yourself with ways to keep your home secure this spring. Each year, more than 30% of American burglaries are filed as unlawful entries. This means that burglars do not require force to enter homes as open windows, unlocked doors, and garages are the common entry points.

When you don’t check your home entry points, you make it susceptible to break-ins that can result in serious problems. It is always important to ensure that everything stays locked. Double-check your locks before you head out. Even if you are stepping out for an hour, always double-check every entry point. If you have any problems with your locks or suspect that they have been tampered with, call your local locksmith company to have it checked out.

Make Sure Your Plumbing Works

Oftentimes when people leave their house for an extended period of time, they forget about their plumbing. Sure you always need to keep your house looking nice and unsusceptible to danger from the outside, but what about the inside? You can have a perfect lawn and security system that deters intruders, but what about your plumbing? That’s right, you may need to hire a plumber when danger strikes. You could go away for the whole winter and forget to put antifreeze in your pipes. Now imagine coming back to your home, only to turn on your water and immediately have your pipes burst. When you have water spraying everywhere all over your home, you’ll wish you got in contact with a plumber for maintenance ahead of time. A plumber will be able to look at your piping system and figure out various issues at the source, saving you lots of time and money in the long run. They can also ensure everything else, like your hot water header and faucets, are running the way that they should. Call one today to get started!

The Bottom Line

Knowing all the effective ways to keep your home secure this spring is very crucial. You will rest assured and have peace of mind knowing that your home is safe from any potential burglaries. Living in the most secure neighborhood does not guarantee that you will be safe from falling victim to criminal activity. Always secure your home as if there is a high probability of a burglary occurring. Even though the most recent crime data published by the FBI suggest that burglaries are on the decline, it is always important to stay proactive and reactive to ensure that you know how to protect your home from a burglary.