Keeping the burglar away from your home

When a friend told me that her house had been robbed, and that the thieves had entered through the roof, I was dumbfounded. They had removed the tiles, and entered through the ceiling. That is just how determined people get to break into a home.

That home is where the heart is no coincidence. After all, it is our place of shelter, a place we share with our family and in so doing, regard it as a safe haven. Safe being the operative word, you want to keep it that way, and here are a few ways you can do this.

House keys
Where you keep the house keys should not be taken for granted. If you keep them in plain sight then you may as well leave your door open for the burglars to come in. “This is the mistake most people make. Anyone who comes into the house will know where you keep the keys, making it easy for those who would like to duplicate them and rob your house,” James Hussein of KK Security comments.

The locks, the doors, the windows
“I reached home after a difficult day only to find my lock hanging out of the door, and my living room almost empty,” Susan Nkwanzi says. She was angry of course but at the back of her mind she knew that the blame lay partly on her. She noticed that her lock was a little loose, and could easily be yanked out of the door. She meant to have it replaced but she never got around to it.

This is a lesson for us. Get strong locks that are not easy to break, and when you notice that one of your locks is becoming weak, or rusted, have it fixed immediately.

Also pay attention to the type of doors on your house. If they are made of steel, it should be strong steel, if you go for wood, go for the hardwood types, and of course the lock should be strong. The same applies to the windows. Fortify these with some burglar proof bars in the frames.

The compound
That tree that you are not cutting short could make a good ladder for anyone who wants to climb into your compound fence, especially if it is growing very close to the And the hedges or bushes that you are not trimming, those would make a perfect hiding place. So get this fixed by indulging in some good landscaping. You will have a neat compound and a safe home to boot.

Extra rooms
Rooms like the garage or the store, which are part of the main house, should not be ignored as they would make perfect entry points for anyone trying to reach your house. So, make sure the windows in these rooms are closed before you leave the house, or go to bed. We have heard many stories about burglars who entered the house through the garage so do not ignore them.

The neighbours?
Do you know the people who stay behind that fence next to yours? Or even the one who stays next door? If you do not, make it a point to know them. You do not have to become bosom buddies with them but maintain at least a cordial relationship with them because they can be the eyes and ears who will notice when there is anything suspicious happening at your house.

Valuables
Do not put anything valuable in plain view as this will attract thieves. For example keeping the laptop next to window is like putting out a sign, “please steal me”. And once they get into the house to get that laptop, their eyes will land on other things that they might like, and who is to stop them from doing as they like? No one, that’s who. So go on and tuck those valuables in a place where they cannot be seen.

Security guards and dogs
There are many security companies in the country who provide guards for as long as you need them. You can get one for either the whole day or half of it (day or night), depending on your security needs, and your budget.

As you choose the company, first do a little research on its reputation. Now I am not saying you hire a research firm for this. You can do it on your own through word of mouth. Ask some of your friends what they know about the company, and how good their guards are. Are they the type that sleep the night away? Are they alert?

Beside the guards, you can also have a dog in your home. If they are not trained as guard dogs, at least thy can create a ruckus with loud barking when their environment is interrupted. Or you can have guard dogs for hire. KK Security provides dogs overnight which are trained to stay alert.

Alarms
If you live in an apartment where having a guard is not feasible, you can install an alarm in your house. And when you do, do not forget to activate it when you are leaving the house, or at night when you go to bed.

Stay alert
And at the end of the day, it all boils down to you staying alert. Only you can notice anything out of the ordinary as you pull up at the gate, or as you walk toward your door. If you have even the smallest inkling that something is wrong, then alert a neighbour or someone who can help you. Do not ignore it since you do not want to be another statistic of someone who was robbed, or worse murdered in their home.