According to the Florida Statistical Analysis Center, the state of Florida saw over 70,000 burglaries in 2018 with Broward and Palm Beach Counties accounting for at least 10,000 of them. While these numbers may feel intimidating, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your home and family safe.
Landscaping & Hiding Spots
Make sure your landscaping doesn’t offer any hiding spots, meaning be sure to keep your shrubbery and bushes trimmed neatly so you can easily spot something that shouldn’t be there. Another great tip is to plant prickly bushes and plants underneath windows to deter any burglar from sneaking in. Consider all points of entry of the house. You can also add “noisy landscape” – having loose rocks around adds another level of protection around the house, as no burglar wants to get caught.
Lighting
Lights, even if they provide little light, can deter bunglers from entering your home. Motion-sensing floodlights are great to have installed to track any unwanted visitor outside your home. Providing lights around points of entry in the home can also help your neighbors to notice any strange situation as well.
Windows
Many burglars may try to scout out their targets ahead of time – if you’re not in a room or not at home, it may help protect your home to close your blinds and curtains. If they can’t see what you have inside, the burglar may decide there’s nothing valuable enough for them for the risk and move along.
Toys
Expensive toys all over the yard might tell a potential burglar that you have the money to buy toys, but not the time to pick them up. This may tip them off that even if you have an alarm system, you may not care to turn it on.
Trash & Recycling
If a burglar is planning their target in advance, they may go through your trash to get some insight on what you own. But sure to tear up any papers with finances written down and break down any boxes of new purchases. You don’t want to give them any ideas on what to look for.
Buildup of Mail
If you’re going away, it’s really important to have a neighbor collect your mail for you. This prevents burglars from snooping in on your home.
Alarm System
For maximum security in your home, you can install alarm and monitoring systems. These systems can be installed in your home wirelessly, are easy to maintain, and are available with All Florida Alarms. There are systems that have motion detection (but your pet won’t set it off) and camera systems with the latest technology. No matter how many points of entry you have and what type of home you have, there is an alarm for you.
