By Steve Adcock, The Shooting Channel

Our homes are our fortresses, the place where we relax and find comfort.  Nobody likes to think of their home as a place that is vulnerable to a home invasion. People expect their homes to be safe, and that expectation can sometimes lead to points of weaknesses that people forget about.  From locking doors and being observant, to keeping firearms and alarming your home, use these seven techniques to properly secure your home from would-be criminals.

1. Lock your doors

This should go without saying, but criminals gain access to homes simply by turning the door knob more times than you would probably care to admit (nearly a third of break-ins in 2006 were “no forced” entries).  An unlocked door (including the door that leads into your home from your garage) is the easiest way to enable a home invasion.  Keep your doors (including garage doors) closed and locked, and use strong, quality deadbolt locks.  If you like fresh air, consider a metal security screen that will allow air in but keep out unwanted visitors and obscure the view into your home.

2. Keep your blinds closed and windows locked

We all like natural sunlight in our homes, but remember that when your blinds are open, the potential criminal (disguised as a postman, delivery person, sales person, or someone out for an evening walk) can easily see into your home. An opened blind or curtain will allow a criminal to eyeball many of your expensive niceties like; big screen TVs, stereos, gaming systems and more.  When you are not at home, keep your blinds closed to prevent someone from looking in, and of course, make sure that your windows are securely locked. Even your upstairs windows or doors!

3. Keep property lights on and well-maintained

Criminals love the night, and for good reason.  Darkness obscures their movements and allows them closer access to your property without being seen.  Property lights are a great way to improve the security of your home by making it tougher for a criminal to approach your home unnoticed.  Focus on illuminating entrance points to your home such as; front doors and garages or any balconies that your home may have. Consider placing lamps inside of your home, by your windows.  Installing motion sensor lights are a legitimate way to keep your electric bills down, but may not keep a criminal from attempting to burglarize your home until the lights come on.

4. Own a gun and know how to use it

No gun owner wants to be forced to use their firearm to fend off an attacker, but defensive gun use in the United States, although largely unreported, is an effective means to protect you and your family.  It is important that gun owners train consistently with their firearm, and that all adults within the household know how to use the gun effectively.  Do not rely on a single person to be the one that shoots.  If that person gets hurt in the attack, or is away from the house at the time, the other adult(s) need to know how to use the weapon to properly defend them and their families.  Do not take this responsibility lightly.  Attend defensive training schools and be prepared to know what to do and how to react if an intruder gains access into your home.

Next, steps 5, 6 & 7

5. Pay attention to workers and work trucks around your neighborhood 

Criminals are savvy, and some may even work fulltime jobs as construction workers or other manual labor or service type jobs, in order to gain entry into people’s homes.  For example, remember the guy who cleaned your carpets last year?  Did he happen to notice your $2000 television sitting in your living room?  Or, did you notice him unlock one of your windows, allowing him or his “acquaintances” to gain access to the home later on?

Disguised as legitimate maintenance workers, criminals do their homework.  They look for nice, expensive and tasteful belongings that might

indicate a lucrative collection of electronics inside the house.  Things like your expensive Mercedes or BMW in the driveway, yard toys and even well-maintained landscaping can indicate to a criminal that you have money and belongings that are worthy to steal.

6. Regularly collect your newspapers, fliers and mail

Often ignored, the pile of newspapers and fliers outside of your home indicates to criminals that you either are away from your home, or lazy enough to leave your doors and windows unlocked (or both), which encourages more focus on your home.  Clever criminals might even place a flier in your mailbox or on your front door and take notice of how long it takes you to remove it.  The longer it takes, the greater the likelihood of a potential attack.  Be sure to collect these items from your yard and door to make the next criminal believe that you’re on top of things, responsible and pro-active in your own life.

7. Have an alarm system installed

Alarm systems are effective ways to keep criminals from attempting to break into your home provided you stick a sign in your front yard that tells a would-be criminal that your home is protected.  Not only does it deter criminals, but it often

gives you the homeowner, a peace of mind knowing that your home is protected at every entrance (including windows).  If you have a two-story home, don’t forget to alarm the second story windows as well.  Ladders are lighter and easier to carry than ever these days, especially for criminals that arm themselves with work trucks.  Do not ignore your upstairs windows.

The theme to protecting your home from the next invasion is being pro-active.  Taking the basic step of locking your doors and windows is essential, but do not overlook the threat that service workers in your neighborhood play in their ability to enter homes and scope out places that they would like to return to that night.  Walk around your home and think like a criminal.  Inspect the entrance ways and dark areas on your property that you think a criminal might choose to hide in.  Do not give would-be criminals a reason to focus on your property.  Clean up after yourself, secure your home and train yourself to be your family’s best level of protection.

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