Can Thieves Get Near Your Home Without Being Seen?

For most homes, perimeter defenses like walls and fences are of little use. Most people assume that the next line of defense is doors and windows, but there is something that comes first. It's based on the simple fact that thieves want to do their work where no one can see them. This means you want to make sure the outside of your home is well lit - especially at any potential points of entry. Good lighting also showcases the home in a way that makes it more attractive. Of course, having a gazillion lights on all night can get expensive and may in some cases interfere with a good night's sleep, so many people hook up a number of outside lights to motion detectors. These inexpensive devices can be set up to turn on whenever something moves near it. Most of these lights have light sensors, so that they don't turn on during daylight hours and waste energy. The motion detectors are adjustable so that something small like a squirrel or bird won't set them off. Most are also equipped with timers that turn the light off again after a few minutes.

Another factor in visibility is shrubs and, ironically, fences. Anything that allows a thief to work on penetrating a door or window while remaining hidden from neighbors is a problem. Putting yourself in the burglar's shoes, which house would you rob: the one with the hidden rear door or the one with the well-lit exposed rear door?

One often overlooked dimension to burglary detection and prevention is the role of neighbors. Programs like Neighborhood Watch and many less structured cooperative security arrangements have been effective. At its most simple level, neighborhood security is just a matter of making it explicitly clear to your neighbors that you'd like them to report any suspicious activity to you or the police. There have been many instances where burglaries were witnessed but the observer wasn't certain a crime was in progress and didn't want to bother anyone with what might have been a wild goose chase. If your neighbor shows initiative in checking out a suspicious situation, thank them. Even if the concern was unfounded, never kid them for being paranoid. Next time, their intervention may be well founded and save your property or your life.
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