When we think of burglars, visions of men with stockings crammed over their heads, clad in black-and-white striped shirts sneaking about darkened alleys come to mind. But, burglars like these only occupy the realms of cartoons and movies. In actuality, many burglars are dressed in plain clothes and target residential neighborhoods rather than harassing banks.

These unscrupulous creeps could strike your home at anytime. But, there are ways to keep them from viewing your home as a tempting target. Affordable Locksmith of Texas has assembled simple steps to burglar-proof your home in the Woodlands.

Get To Know Your Neighbors

You probably thought our list might be a page-long sales pitch for our residential locksmith services, but the fact is that there are many ways to burglar-proof your home don’t involve adding new locks. Instead, go introduce yourself to your neighbors on either side of you, and across the street. Get to know them a little bit, so when you go on vacation, or a long business trip, you can ask them to keep an eye on your home while you’re out. Many times, a burglar’s efforts are thwarted by a noisy neighbor asking what they’re doing with your new TV.

Get A Dog

A dog is a great way to deter a burglar from breaking into your home. While a great big dog with sharp teeth is always a plus, even your noble beagle can keep your home safe. Thieves are less concerned with being attacked by a dog than they are about the dog alerting someone to their presence. Having a dog in the home, or even in the backyard is like having a fuzzy alarm system.

Take Care Of Your Landscaping

Mowing the lawn does much more than just keeping your HOA happy. It can also keep potential burglars away. Home maintenance is an obvious way to telegraph to thieves that the home is occupied and used on a regular basis. If the outside of your home looks uncared for, or poorly maintained, it may suggest that no one is home, making your house a target for break-ins. Staying on top of your yard work also reduces the number of hiding spaces a burglar has around your home. You’ll want to trim back bushes and trees that can give a thief a place to hide, or a way to climb up to your second- and third-floor windows.

Keep Your Home Well-lit

The inside and outside of your home can be utilized to combat potential break-ins. If you’re going out for the evening, turn on a few lights in a few rooms to make it look as if they’re occupied. If you’re leaving for an extended period, say on vacation, it might be worth investing in an automatic timer that turns lights on and off throughout the house at different times. This provides the illusion that someone is moving throughout the home on a regular basis.

The outside of your home should be well-lit as well. Burglars like the element of surprise, and can use the shadows of night to commit their loathsome crimes. Deny them this cover, and have flood lights installed near the entry ways into your home. You’ll want these lights to be powerful enough that your neighbors could see a suspicious figure that has suddenly been illuminated. Even better is installing a motion sensor on these lights, which creates a spot-light effect, letting potential criminals know they’ve been spotted.

Lock Your Doors And Windows

This step should be an obvious one, but one that a surprising number of people forget to do. Nearly a third of all burglars enter a home through an unlocked door or window. Locks may not prevent a determined criminal from entering your home, but they may slow them down, and make them a less appealing target.

Upgrade Your Locks

Like most everything in your home, your locks can wear out over time. The tumblers and cylinders in the lock might wear down, or become loose, making it easier for your locks to be picked. You can rekey, or even change your locks to add a new layer of security to your home. You should inspect and upgrade the locks on your doors and windows.

If you’re looking for a home security solution, why not give the locksmiths at Affordable Locksmith of Texas a call? With more than 13 years of experience, we’ve helped countless homes in the Woodland’s areas improve the security of their homes. Schedule your locksmith services today!