Who has never been afraid of someone breaking into their house? This feeling of insecurity is becoming more and more noticeable as the number of burglaries increases. Along with the summer vacations, the Christmas vacations are one of the most critical times. Let’s take a look at some tips to keep thieves from breaking into your home. There are many misconceptions circulating about burglaries. 86% of burglaries occur during the day, not at night, and one-third occur in the presence of the occupants. 75% take place on weekdays and not on weekends. It is the main residences that are attacked, and the most common points of attack are the front door and French windows. The most coveted items are computers, tablets, but also jewelry and bicycles. Let’s be vigilant!

Aluminum foil to protect against burglaries

It may sound strange, but a simple roll of aluminum foil can help you protect yourself. When you leave the house or go to bed, wrap aluminum foil around the outside handle of your door and make sure it doesn’t crumple too much. This trick will let you know if someone has tried to break into your home. In fact, all you have to do is watch the sheet to see if it is wrinkled. This means that someone has pushed the handle to try to break into your house. Moreover, if you are at home, you may be alerted by the sound caused by the crumpling of paper. In addition, the mere sight of the paper on the handle can deter thugs, who generally prefer to give up if something seems suspicious or unusual to them.

To reinforce the signal, especially at night, you can place a pot or cup on the inside handle that will come crashing down when an intruder activates the handle. It’s a scenario worthy of the movie “Mom, I Missed the Plane,” but one that could thwart intrusion attempts. This technique is also very useful when you sleep in a hotel room.

Some tips to avoid burglary

If you don’t have an alarm or video surveillance system, there are other simple and effective ways to protect yourself. Here are some deterrent tips that you should apply to feel safe:

  • Deter intruders: Don’t leave anything visible in your yard or patio that might indicate you have interesting things to steal. Don’t hesitate to put up fake signs indicating that your house is under surveillance. Keep your valuables, check book and cash in a safe.
  • Secure your openings: Make sure your doors, windows and blinds or shutters are properly closed with quality locks. Don’t hide your key under the doormat or under a flowerpot. Avoid sleeping with open windows, especially on the first floor.
  • Make sure you have good lighting: darkness makes it easier for thieves, it gives them all the freedom to break in unnoticed. Therefore, a well-lit exterior is important. The ideal is the presence detector lamps, which immediately turn on when someone approaches. This is one of the best ways to deter burglars, and at a lower cost.
  • Block the passage: It can be interesting to have things in your garden or in front of your openings that could make it difficult for criminals to pass or even cause noise. For example, the chairs of a garden furniture or deterrent thorn plantings.
  • A good neighborhood network: It is very important to know your neighbors well and involve them in monitoring your home, especially if you are going on vacation. When you travel, ask them not only to feed the cat and water the plants, but also to lift your mailbox, open the shutters and turn on the lights to simulate a presence.
  • Beware of social networks: you cannot help but share everything on Instagram or Facebook, but you should know that these platforms are a treasure trove of information for thugs. They serve as tracking tools and allow you to know which homes are unattended. Don’t say too much when you’re away and post your photos offline when you return.  The same goes for your answering machine!

So you just need to have the right reflexes to secure your home. But if you still can’t sleep easy, don’t hesitate to take advantage of all the new surveillance technologies like networked alarms, cameras and other highly efficient smart locks.Your peace of mind is priceless.