When we leave for vacation, the last thing we want to worry about is whether or not our homes and belongings are secure. Burglar proofing is not always as simple as paying thousands of dollars for a high tech security system. Not everyone can afford to pay that kind of money for their peace of mind. Fortunately, there are a number of things that you can do to burglar proof your home on a budget so that you can enjoy that vacation without worrying about security.
1. Enlist the help of your neighbors - If you are comfortable and familiar with a trusted neighbor, then have them collect your newspapers, put your trash out on the curb, and park their car at your home a couple of times while you are gone. These actions will tell potential burglars that somebody is around, and will keep the property at least appearing active.
2. Put a stop delivery on your mail - This is huge, as an overflowing mailbox is a big green light to burglars.
3. Get a timer for some electronic items inside the house - You can purchase these timers for a song at most any hardware store, and they will turn your lights, stereo, television, and radio on and off at the times you choose. The best times to have them on are around mid afternoon, and during the evening.
4. Buy a few sirens for the doors and windows - These little sirens make big noise when they go off. Radio Shack sells them cheaply, and they are a simple contact installation. One side goes on either side of the door or window frame. If the door or window opens, the siren goes off. The noise these things make will send the burglar running most of the time and they are a wonderful substitute for high priced security.
5. Take extremely valuable things to storage, or leave them with a trusted friend - If you own anything of extreme value, then take the extra time to leave it with somebody you trust while you are gone. Sometimes this is not practical, but for those things that are, it is an easy solution. Crime is only a problem when you present an opportunity for the most part.
6. Clear all hedges, bushes, and trees from entry points - This is a good idea regardless of your vacation status. Ground floor windows, doors, and even basements are entry points that should not be hidden from clear view. Trim those bushes and hedges so that burglars are in the open if they attempt a break in.
7. Get a guard dog - Again, this is not always practical, but studies show that a house with a dog is less likely to be broken into. Period. Of course, you will then need someone to let the dog out and feed your little pooch while on vacation, but it is better than being burglarized.
8. Have someone stay at the house - This is not as bad as it is made out to be. If you have a trusted family member, have them take a little mini vacation at your home while you do the same. It is also an option to try if you have no people that you really trust around the neighborhood.
9. Insert a block in your sliding glass door - If you have a sliding glass door, this is almost a necessity. These doors are notoriously easy to break into, and a simple two by four or other fitted stick can help immensely. There are some wonderful products on the market that you can buy as well to slide into the track.
10. Post an alarm sign anyway - Regardless of whether you have an alarm system or not, post a sign as though you do. These signs are far from a complete deterrent, but a large number of burglars will bypass a house simply because of the sign. Their are lazy burglars out there, just like anybody else. Every burglar you can deter increases your chances of safety.
Image credited to wikipedia user Agpvtr
