No one wants to think about their house getting broken into, but it’s probably more common than you think. Home burglaries happen in the U.S. every 25.7 seconds, research shows, but there are some steps you can take to protect your home and yourself. According to home security experts, knowing where someone is most likely to break in is important, and it turns out, there’s one place the bad guys tend to target first.
So, what spot do they try first? The front door leads the list, with a third (34%) of home burglars entering that way. And the reason is simple - it’s the easiest way to get in. According to research from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors:
- 81% of burglars enter through the first floor
- 34% go in through the front door
- 23% enter through a first-floor window
- 22% get in through the back door
- 9% enter through the garage
- 4% get in through the basement, another 4% enter through an unlocked entrance
- 2% go in through a storage area and 2% enter anywhere on the second floor
Research reveals that about 42% of people leave their doors and windows unlocked when they’re home, but that’s not the only home security concern. To reduce your risk of a burglary:
- Avoid hiding spare keys - Burglars know to look under mats or in flowerpots.
- Move valuables away from windows - Leaving them near first-floor windows makes them tempting targets for smash and grabs.
- Make your home look occupied and lived in - Burglars may be less likely to break in if they think someone is home.
- Add sensors and security systems - Door sensors, window sensors and glass-break sensors can all help protect your home, and so can security systems with 24/7 monitoring, video surveillance and instant alerts.
Source: Huff Post