As the sun sets and darkness falls, the chances of burglary increase. A burglary can be a terrifying experience, and no one wants to face this terrifying experience.
While it’s impossible to guarantee your safety, you can do a few things to deter burglars at night.
In this blog post, I’ll show you some simple yet effective ways to make your home less attractive to burglars after dark.
Whether you live in a quiet neighborhood or a busy street, these tips will help keep you and your loved ones safe while you sleep.
Assess the Vulnerability of Your Home
Finding your home’s weak points is the first thing to do to secure your house from burglars. When you know the point of vulnerability of your house, you can take the necessary steps to secure it.
I have taken these steps to find the weak spots in my house. Let’s take a look at them:
Identify Entry Points
One of the best things you can do to deter burglars at night is to identify the entry points they might use. Check your doors and windows to make sure they are secure. You can invest in security cameras to monitor any activity.
You can also cover key entry points and mount cameras out of easy reach to deter tampering. If you have a backdoor entry point in your house, make sure they are well secured.
Securing the common entry points of your home is a big relief because burglars mostly use the common entry points to invade.
Mark The Areas With Low Visibility
If you’re looking for ways to deter burglars at night, one of the most effective methods is to mark the areas with low visibility.
Burglars like to operate in the dark, where they are less likely to be seen by neighbors or passersby.
You can install bright lights in those dark areas and make it harder for burglars to approach your home undetected.
If there is any area in your house compound that you cannot monitor from inside, you can cover them with security cameras to watch over those blind spots.
Mark The Potential Hiding Spots
You can mark potential hiding spots around your property. Burglars often mark houses to see if anyone is home.
You can mark bushes and trees as potential hiding spots to deter burglars from even attempting to break in.
Additionally, make sure to keep your hedges trimmed back below your windows. Don’t give burglars any easy hiding spots. You must make your home a well-lit nightmare for potential criminals.
Tips to Deter Burglars at Night
As a family person, I always prefer the security of my family and my house in the first place. So, I have been looking to secure my house from intruders, especially at night.
Here are some tips that I follow to deter burglars at night:
Install Motion Activated Flood Lights
You can install motion-activated floodlights outside your home to increase your home security and deter burglars at night.
These lights turn on automatically when they detect movement, making it difficult for potential intruders to remain unseen. This powerful illumination will spotlight any suspicious activity and alert you and your neighbors about potential trouble.
When you know that your property is well-protected, you can have peace of your mind. You can enjoy a safer home and a brighter outdoor environment with motion-activated flood lights.
Pretending to be Home to Deter Burglars
One of the easiest and most effective ways to deter burglars is to pretend that someone is home!
Even if you’re out of town, you can create the illusion of activity with a few simple tricks. For example, you could leave a TV or radio playing in the background or set up smart lights that turn on and off at random intervals. In this case, you can use a smart plug to control your any light remotely using your mobile phone.
Another great idea is to ask a trusted neighbor or friend to stop by and check on your house every now and then.
By taking these precautions, you’ll send the burglars a clear message that your house is not an easy target.
So, next time you plan to leave for a few days, make sure to put on a show and pretend that you’re still there!
Closing Garage Doors and Securing Windows
This may seem like an obvious solution, but you must lock all your exterior doors and windows, including any access points between your garage and the rest of your home.
You can also secure your garage windows with tinted security film or cover them with curtains to prevent potential thieves from peering in and targeting your belongings.
I have installed door alarm sensors and secure locks on all my entry points, such as deadbolts. In that way, I have secured the way in through my garage.
With these simple precautions, you can make your garage and home safer and less attractive to burglars.
You can check my list of top smart locks for your outdoor gate or garage.
Install a Security System
Installing a security system is one of the best ways to secure your home from burglars at night. Burglars are less likely to target homes that have visible security cameras and alarm systems.
That’s because they know that someone might be watching them, and the risk of getting caught is much higher. For example, you could install a CCTV camera system outside your home and put up stickers of the security camera brand.
You can also set a burglar alarm system with a security camera that will sound if someone tries to break in. It may seem like a big investment, but it’s worth it to keep your home and your family safe.
Plant Thorny Bushes Strategically Around Your House
You can use plants as a security measure for your home. It may come as a surprise, but strategically planting thorny, spiky, dense bushes or hedging can create an effective barrier for intruders from entering your property at night.
Prickly hedges like gorse, berberis, pyracantha, blackthorn, or hawthorn look decorative and visually appealing, and they also help to prevent burglars from breaking in through vulnerable ground-floor windows.
By using barrier plants as hedges around the perimeter of your property, you can significantly increase your home’s security without compromising on aesthetics.
You can plant thorny rose bushes in front of your windows or strategically place giant rhubarb to create a prickly border around your property.
Avoid plants that could block your windows and serve as ladders, and opt for landscape rocks instead of beautiful bark around your home.
Get a Watch Dog
A watchdog can deter burglars from entering your home at night. One of my friends has been using a watchdog for several years and can assure you they are excellent protectors.
The sound of their barking can alert you when someone is approaching your house and deter burglars from invading.
On the other hand, the presence of a canine companion will provide you with a sense of security and comfort.
My friend currently using the STI Rex Plus Electronic Watchdog. It is versatile and provides an excellent way to deter burglars. It will meet your needs without the annoying problems of owning a real dog.
Additional Precautions
Here are some additional precautions that you could also follow to deter burglars at night:
Don’t Leave Spare Keys Outside
If you’re looking to deter burglars at night, here’s a friendly piece of advice from me: never leave spare keys outside your home.
Burglars are experts at finding key hiding spots, even the most creative ones. You can look for a safer alternative, like a concealed combination lockbox, or leave a spare key to a trusted neighbor.
Know Your Neighbors
If you know your neighbors and have a better understanding of them, it’s not just about being friendly; it can also help keep your home safe from burglars.
Burglars can check out homes beforehand by pretending as visitors. Notifying your neighbors of any suspicious activities and keeping a record of any abnormal behaviors can help prevent burglaries in your area.
Don’t Post Your Vacation Plans on Social Media
I am sharing some advice I learned from my personal experience. If you’re going on vacation anytime soon, please don’t post your plans on social media.
It may seem harmless to let your followers know you’re heading out for a sunny getaway, but it can actually give burglars an open invitation to your empty home. It’s like handing them the keys!
I know it’s natural to want to share exciting news with friends and family, but it’s best to keep that information private. You can tell those you trust about your trip plans.
Conclusion
There you have it, some effective ways to deter burglars at night and give you and your family the peace of mind you deserve. Remember, prevention is better than cure, so take action now to secure your home.
Thanks for reading my tips on how to deter burglars at night. I hope you found them helpful in securing your home and keeping your family safe.
Remember, a few simple adjustments can make a big difference in making your home less appealing to burglars. Stay safe!
