The main idea behind urban home security is a concept called "target hardening", which is used by law enforcement agencies to describe the process by which a home or business is made less attractive or "harder" for criminals to attack.
The following suggestions can help to increase the "hardness" of a home to encourage criminals to find other targets. Ideally, a whole block or neighbourhood can implement these measures, which will have the effect of an overall crime decrease.
Clean up Outside
A clean, tidy yard gives the impression that the owner of the home is attentive and knows what is going on outside. As well, a tidy yard gives the owner the ability to notice if something is out of place - a dirty yard will attract both thieves and scavengers.
Similarly, it is a good idea to remove any large bushes or trees which would provide a hiding place for someone looking to break in. As well, any places where a criminal could climb up to the second level of a house should be removed - for example, a large tree branch near an upstairs window.
Invest in Window Bars
Any home which has a basement-level window will benefit from the addition of security bars. Even if the bars themselves are not of the highest quality, the appearance of bars will deter all but the most determined criminal – the average thief is looking for the easiest target to strike, and bars will make the crime that much more difficult.
Alarm the House
Investing in a decent alarm system can make a world of difference both to piece of mind and to limiting potential for criminal activity at a home, but there are two important things to note when it comes to alarms. First, make sure that the alarm company is on the straight and narrow. A reputable company should have a website, be able to provide references to other clients, and be knowledgeable about any technology being put into a home.
Second, an alarm system is about deterrence. An alarm sticker in a home’s window will often cause a criminal to simply bypass the home in favour of an easier target. Should the criminal still attempt to break in the alarm will not stop their entry, but will scare them off. In both cases, it will have been worth the price.
Light it up
Whether it is a lamp or light on within the home, or a permanent set of motion or low-intensity lights outside of a home, lighting can make a difference in security. Since in many modern suburbs homes are built quite close together, criminals depend on both silence and darkness to help them accomplish their aims. A well-lit home will put them off, because of the higher potential to be discovered by neighbours or other passers-by.
Be Visible
The more people that are out and about in a neighbourhood, at any time of day, the less criminals will be attracted to it. Too many communities have streets where people do not know their neighbours, and spend most of their time inside their houses. This is perfect for a thief. Ideally, neighbours should talk to one another, and spend time outside in the neighbourhood. If a thief sees that there are constantly people coming and going on a particular cul-de-sac, and all of the neighbours are looking out for one another, a crime will be much harder to commit.
While no amount of target hardening will make a home completely impervious to criminal activity, simple steps such as the ones mentioned above can have a pronounced impact on the amount of crime both at a single location, and in a larger area if adopted by multiple homes.
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