How to Prevent Home Burglaries

The U.S. had more than 839,000 burglaries in 2023, according to data from the FBI. See what steps you can take to secure your home against break-ins.

Jessica Martel
Written byJessica Martel
Jessica Martel
Jessica Martel

Jessica is a freelance writer, professional researcher, and mother of two rambunctious little boys. She specializes in personal finance, women and money, and financial literacy. Jessica is fascinated by the psychology of money and what drives people to make important financial decisions. She holds a Masters of Science degree in Cognitive Research Psychology.

Jessica has been a contributor at Insurify since July 2023.

Chris Schafer
Edited byChris Schafer
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Updated December 10, 2024

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The consequences of a home burglary reach far beyond lost possessions. When an intruder enters your home, it can leave you feeling stressed out, scared, and uncomfortable in your own home. Your homeowners insurance might also increase if you file a claim related to the break-in.

Many insurers offer discounts to homeowners who take proactive steps to decrease their risk of a burglary. Installing deadbolts on your doors or a home security system can often reduce your premiums.

Here are some tips on how to make your home more secure.

How common are home burglaries?

Recent data from the FBI reveals 839,563 burglaries happened in the U.S. in 2023.[1]

While you might assume most burglaries take place under the cloak of darkness, over the past five years, the majority of residential burglaries have occurred in the daytime. The most commonly stolen items include money, consumable goods, clothing and furs, vehicles, household goods, and other miscellaneous products. This can lead to a sense of loss and an effect on your home insurance.

Fortunately, you can take several measures to prevent your home from becoming a statistic.

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Securing your home’s exterior against burglars

Your home’s exterior is the first line of defense against a burglar. Visible security measures can help slow down or deter burglars.

Research shows that many thieves will go elsewhere if it takes more than four or five minutes to get into your home.[2] Doing simple things like locking your doors and windows and turning on your security system at night and before you leave can prevent your home from being an easy target.

Here are some things that can help secure your home’s exterior against burglars.

Door locks for safety

Deadbolt locks are one of the best ways to protect your home against burglaries. When purchasing a deadbolt, check if it’s pick-resistant. This can help prevent a burglar from lockpicking or opening the lock with something other than the key. When installing the deadbolt lock, add a strike plate with at least three-inch screws.

Having strong exterior doors and door frames made of metal or solid hardwood is another way to secure the outside of your home.

Avoid decorative glass doors or windows, as they’re easy for burglars to break through.

Window locks and bars

While you might remember to lock your doors, many people forget to close or shut their windows, making them a primary point of entry for thieves.[3] Any time you’re away from home, make sure you close and lock your windows.

If you live on the ground floor of an apartment or have basement-level windows, consider adding metal bars or grillwork. If the window is in a bedroom, make sure it complies with fire codes and is easy for you to open in an emergency.

To reinforce windows without adding bars, you can use window security films that help strengthen the glass.

Alarm systems

A security system can deter burglars and provide an immediate alert if someone tries to enter your home.

A study by the University of North Carolina surveyed more than 400 incarcerated burglars on their decisions to burglarize a house. The respondents said that seeing alarm signs, dog signs, or outdoor security cameras were effective deterrents.[4]

The majority (83%) also said that before attempting to burglarize a house, they’d try to determine if an alarm was present. Sixty percent said they’d go elsewhere if they noticed an on-site alarm.

Good to Know

If you’re thinking about installing an alarm system, you have different types to consider. A monitored system will automatically notify emergency services if someone breaks into your house. An unmonitored system relies on you to address any alerts, which may be an issue if you aren’t home.

Improving safety with lighting

Having a well-lit home is a known deterrent to criminals. Research shows that areas with better lighting can reduce the amount of crime.[5]

More lighting can also signal to burglars that the home is occupied, making it less appealing. But leaving a single porch light or small light on all night can signal to criminals that you’re not home. If you want to make it look like you’re around, it’s better to turn on multiple lights.

Outdoor lighting

When installing outdoor lighting, aim to illuminate key entrances, pathways, and driveways so you leave nowhere for burglars to hide. Ensuring your interior garage lights come on automatically when the garage door opens can help shine a light on any unwanted activity.

Floodlights are another good exterior option that provide a lot of bright light. If you’re worried that they’re too bright, you can purchase dimmable bulbs to adjust them to your preference.

Motion-activated lights

Adding motion-sensor lights can illuminate your home’s exterior, even when you aren’t around. Having a bright light pop on unexpectedly can act as a deterrent to an unsuspecting thief.

Mounting the lights out of easy reach can also help prevent a burglar from covering the lights or removing them.

Before installing motion lights, prepare yourself for the odd false alarm. A heavy windstorm, your neighbor’s cat, or a teenager sneaking around after curfew can trigger them to turn on.

Smart lighting systems

A smart light is one that connects with another device wirelessly. The advantage of smart lighting systems is you can control them from a mobile device when you’re away from your home. If you want to make it look like someone is around, simply flick on the kitchen, living room, and patio lights, and then turn them off when you would typically go to sleep to mimic your regular patterns.

You might also want to integrate your smart lighting system with your security system. For instance, you might have a light turn on when a camera senses movement near your home.

Landscaping and yard maintenance for home security

While you might enjoy the privacy that your tall bushes, trees, or fence provide, so can a burglar. These features make it easier for a thief to avoid being seen and getting caught on your property. Burglars are drawn to homes that are private and not visible to neighbors or people on the street.

By making a few updates to your landscaping and yard maintenance, you can help improve the security of your home.

Bushes and trees

Aim to trim bushes and trees that are near your doors to make these entry points more visible to your neighbors and people on the street. If you have trees that extend to windows on a second floor, keep them trimmed to prevent burglars from climbing them to gain entry.

Fencing and gates

Burglars want to get in and out of a house as quickly as possible. Fences and gates can act as a physical barrier and a psychological deterrent. Ensuring fences and gates are secured with proper locks can make it more difficult for burglars to escape from your home while carrying larger items.

Leverage technology for home security

Using technology such as a home security system is one of the most effective ways to deter and detect a home burglary. Cameras and alarm systems, paired with other security measures such as exterior lighting and deadbolts, can help create more barriers and deterrents for thieves. 

Integrating lighting with motion sensors, cameras, and an alarm can also help create a comprehensive security system that can stop thieves and notify you and the proper authorities when something goes wrong.

Surveillance cameras

The purpose of surveillance cameras is to help monitor your property and record videos that you can use to catch a burglar. Cameras can also act as a deterrent if a burglar wants to avoid being caught on tape.

Installing cameras so they’re visible to potential thieves can also help protect your property as most burglars want to avoid cameras and alarm systems altogether.

Smart-home technology

Thanks to technological advancements, you can use smart security products to monitor and protect your home from anywhere.

With smart locks, you can remotely lock and unlock your doors to let trusted people in and keep burglars out. Smart cameras allow you to monitor your home and can alert you if there’s suspicious activity. Smart lights can make it look like you’re home when you’re not.

While smart-home technology effectively protects your home, it’s more expensive than installing a deadbolt or nailing a window shut. To keep costs down, you might choose to implement smart technologies over time instead of all at once.

Keeping your home safe while you’re on vacation

Vacation homes typically cost more to insure because insurers view them as higher risk due to frequent vacancies. The same goes for an unoccupied home. Your home becomes more susceptible to vandalism and theft when you’re not around. That is why it’s important to make sure you have adequate home security measures in place before you go on vacation.

Here are some things you can do to prevent your home from being an easy target.

Make your home look occupied

To make your home look lived in while you’re away, you can use automatic timers or smart lights to turn lights on and off in your home. Ask a neighbor or hire someone to keep up with mowing your lawn or shoveling snow. You can also have someone pick up your mail regularly and remove any packages from your doorstep.

Finally, let a trusted neighbor know you’re going away so they can watch for unusual behavior around your property.

Don’t advertise on social media

Advertising your vacation on social media raises your risk of burglary. Posting that you’re away can let thieves know that your house is empty, making it an easy target. While it’s tempting to share your beach or European vacation photos online, try to refrain until you’re home or only share with select friends and family members.

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When homeowners insurance covers burglaries

Your homeowners insurance can help cover losses from a burglary.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/100x100/32ed42213e/personal-property.svg

    Personal property coverage

    Personal property coverage — also known as contents coverage — can cover your personal belongings if someone steals them. 

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/150x150/2954edc862/types-of-houses-96x96-orange_023-house.svg

    Dwelling coverage

    Dwelling coverage can pay for doors or windows that a burglar may damage due to forced entry.

But your homeowners insurance typically won’t cover a burglary if it occurs when your home is vacant. If you plan to leave your house empty for an extended period, you might consider vacant home insurance.

If someone breaks into your house and you need to file a claim, make sure you document the damages by taking pictures or videos with a camera or your phone. Some insurance companies will also require a police report.

Many insurance companies reward homeowners who take measures to lower their risk of burglaries by offering them discounts. If you’re thinking about installing an alarm system or deadbolt locks, check if your insurer offers a discount.

How to prevent a burglary FAQs

You want to take necessary steps to protect your home, but trying to figure out which safety measures to implement can be confusing. Check out the information below to see if it can answer any remaining questions you have about preventing a home burglary.

  • What’s the biggest deterrent for burglars?

    Security alarms are the biggest deterrent for burglars. Having a burglar alarm can also reduce the amount of time a burglar spends on your property, reducing the value of stolen goods.

  • How can you reduce your chances of being burgled?

    You can protect your home by locking your doors and windows when you’re not home. You can also install exterior lights and keep your yard well-maintained so a potential burglar has fewer places to hide. Finally, a home alarm system can deter burglars from entering your house.

  • How can you prevent a repeat burglary?

    Unfortunately, repeat burglaries can happen. To prevent a repeat home invasion, take immediate action to increase your home’s security. Install deadbolts on your doors, ensure you’ve locked the windows, and consider investing in cameras and a home security system.

  • How can you reduce burglaries in a neighborhood?

    Research has found that neighborhoods with higher volumes of alarm systems deter crime. Installing an alarm system in your house and encouraging your neighbors to do the same can decrease the rate of burglaries in your neighborhood.

  • What houses do burglars avoid?

    Burglars are likely to avoid houses with two or more security features, such as a security alarm, dogs, doors with deadbolts, or exterior lighting.

Sources

  1. FBI. "Crime Data Explorer."
  2. Insurance Information Institute. "Securing your home against burglary."
  3. Seattle Police. "Seattle Police Crime Prevention Bulletin Home Security: Window Security."
  4. UNC Charlotte. "UNDERSTANDING DECISIONS TO BURGLARIZE FROM THE OFFENDER’S PERSPECTIVE."
  5. National Bureau of Economic Research. "REDUCING CRIME THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN: EVIDENCE FROM A RANDOMIZED EXPERIMENT OF STREET LIGHTING IN NEW YORK CITY."
Jessica Martel
Jessica Martel

Jessica is a freelance writer, professional researcher, and mother of two rambunctious little boys. She specializes in personal finance, women and money, and financial literacy. Jessica is fascinated by the psychology of money and what drives people to make important financial decisions. She holds a Masters of Science degree in Cognitive Research Psychology.

Jessica has been a contributor at Insurify since July 2023.

Chris Schafer
Edited byChris SchaferSenior Editor
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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