There are more than 2 million burglaries in the U.S. each year, and this statistic understandably makes many homeowners nervous. Fortunately, there are several prevention techniques that can be used to reduce the likelihood that your home will be targeted. However, it is important to remember that even the best security system in the world can fail. Therefore, you should consider using multiple prevention tactics, and it is also vital to contact the police immediately if you experience a break-in.
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Break-In Prevention Techniques
Theft and break-ins are serious crimes. According to Kevin DeVore MN lawyer, whose practice areas include theft, "theft can be classified as a felony, gross misdemeanor, or misdemeanor depending on the value of the stolen item." No matter the worth of the stolen item or items, however, being the victim of robbery can leave one feeling helpless and anxious. It's an invasion no one wants to experience, and one we all want to prevent. Unfortunately, it is impossible to truly know how effective a specific break-in prevention technique is. After all, the conditions that impact each break-in are different, and each criminal will be scared off by different things. In other words, there is no foolproof method for deterring a criminal, but police believe that certain steps can help prevent a break-in.
Ways to Deter a Criminal
1. Leaving the Lights On - This tip can be useful if a criminal has not been canvassing your neighborhood. However, it can backfire if the burglar decides to keep an eye on your house. After all, if they notice that the same lights are on for several days in a row, they might decide that you are simply on vacation and move forward with their plans to break-in. To help avoid this issue, you should put your lights on a timer to make things look more natural.
2. Having an Attack Dog on the Premises - A vicious dog will definitely make a break-in more difficult, and this will prevent some criminals from targeting specific homes. However, if the burglar really wants to enter your house, there are ways for them to incapacitate the dog. Therefore, you should never rely on a dog as your sole source of protection.
3. Installing a Home Security System - The best possible way to prevent a break-in is to install a home security system. These systems will make it almost impossible for a criminal to gain access to your home without notifying the monitoring company. It is important to understand that a power outage will leave your home unprotected unless the system is backed up by a generator. Additionally, you will need to ensure that the alarm is on at all times.
4. Leaving a TV On - This technique is similar to leaving the lights on, but it does provide noise and light, and this combination can work as an additional deterrent. Sadly, the success rate of a TV is probably not much higher than a light because this ruse will be easily detected if the burglar watches your house for more than a few hours.
Using at least one of the tips listed above is a good way to prevent the majority of burglaries from happening, but it is still possible that a criminal will stake out your home for long enough to find an easy window of opportunity. Therefore, it is always best to install a home security system, and you should also keep your eyes open at all times for suspicious individuals.
About Author: Savannah Bobo is a freelance author and blog contributor from northern Georgia who writes about these legal issues to help home owners and victims of break-in crime. Kevin DeVore MN lawyer is an attorney experienced in defending those accused of theft, from motor vehicle and mail theft, to burglary. In Minnesota and many other states, theft can be classified as a felony, gross misdemeanor, or misdemeanor depending on the stolen item's value.