The statistics are clear: when it starts to get dark earlier in autumn, the number of burglaries increases. So the danger is greatest from October to January. But don’t panic. If you pay attention to a few little things, you’ll make life difficult for burglars.
The best protection against burglary – fear of discovery
Despite the police’s educational work, there are still many myths about the burglary. For example, there is nothing to be gained from oneself or that burglaries mainly occur at night.
The statistics say otherwise. Burglars strike quickly and silently. As a rule, they enter houses “armed” with only a few tools during the day while the residents are out of the house. There is something of value in every home. And entry is via any unsecured building opening, which can be cracked quickly without additional tools.
You will certainly not achieve 100% burglary protection in a typical residential building. However, a few tips can help make your home unattractive to burglars. The important thing is that it must simply take too long to get in or the risk of being discovered is very high.
High risk of burglary: windows and patio doors on the ground floor
Unlike what you see on television or in the cinema, more than 80% of burglaries are committed by so-called opportunistic thieves. That is, they plan to break in but have not scouted a fixed object to do so, and they do not carry around any special equipment for breaking in. Instead, they want to get into the house as quickly and undetected as possible and strike when they feel that there is no danger of being discovered. To get started, choose windows or patio doors on the ground floor or basement, as these usually offer little resistance.
You can pry it open with a standard screwdriver without significant damage, hit it near the handle or pierce the seal and then open it with the handle.
Our expert tip:
Secure your windows and terrace doors with unique mechanical and tested security technology. And have them professionally installed. In addition, you should always close windows and doors, even if you will be away for a short time, or even better, lock them.
The target of attack: House, apartment, or garage doors
Whether it’s a house entrance, cellar, or garage – all doors offer a chance for burglars to get into the house. For this reason, burglary protection should also be started at this point. It doesn’t matter whether it’s about resistance classes or profile cylinders – the most important thing is that you keep doors locked and lock them behind you when you leave the house or apartment.
If the target object is an apartment building, burglars try to break indirectly through the front door in over 35% of cases. If this is only drawn, this can even be done quickly with a credit card. The most important tip at this point: don’t allow anyone access to the house if they do not want to come directly to you. Once the burglar is in the stairwell, he can calmly check where the break-in can be successful.
When thinking about burglary protection measures, most people forget the side entrances, such as cellar doors or the garage door. It makes sense to secure these, too, although this is quite difficult with garage doors. However, if the garage has access to the house, it should at least be secured just as well as the front door.
Burglary made easy: entry aids at the house
Homeowners often think leaving an open window or balcony door open on the first floor isn’t such a bad thing. But the higher up you go, the less likely burglars will bother.
But be careful: Garbage cans, garden furniture, or other climbing facilities at the house and balcony doors and windows on the first floor are no longer safe. You can quickly climb onto the balcony on the first floor via rainwater downpipes, plant trellis, or even the carport.
Underestimated consequences – your own four walls are no longer safe
Home contents insurance will cover material damage and may also cover the cost of repairing any damage that has occurred.
Therefore, it is advisable to have your own house (or your apartment) checked by an expert for weak points.
Our expert tip:
Doors do not always have to be completely replaced if you want to increase burglary protection. There is also the option of retrofitting. Cylinder locks, protective fittings, or a latch lock can often be retrofitted. Get in touch with an expert Locksmith Tampa and get advice.
