Most homeowners feel that their home is a place to feel safe. But every year there are more than 2 million home break-ins that is a burglary every 15 seconds. The homeowners that are victims of burglary are careful and believe they are doing the right thing for their home security but unfortunately they make many home security mistakes.

These home security mistakes usually play right into a burglar’s hand. Listed below are some DIY home security tips that will go a long way in preventing you from being a victim.

Home security tips:

1. They don’t set the burglar alarm when running out for a brief errand. The burglar who is watching your home is ready to move as soon you leave the property and it only takes him two to three minutes to complete his task

2. Many homeowners are proud of their home security system and post alarm signs that identifies the manufacturer of the alarm system. This provides a burglar with just what he needs to get the information to either disable or beat your alarm system. It is better to use a generic sign indicating the house is protected with an alarm system. This way there is no specific information posted that a burglar can use to find out the details of your system.

3. Homeowners often hide valuables in a bedroom such as jewelry. This is a big error as burglars immediately go to the bedroom looking for their loot. Use a safe deposit box at a nearby bank or install a safe in the house to secure your valuables. And don’t put all your valuables in one place.

4. Don’t get a big dog to protect your property unless it has been trained as a guard dog. Most untrained dogs are nothing more than a welcome mat for burglars. If you think you need a dog get a small yapping one. They usually yap at everything without needing to be trained.

5. Don’t plant tall shrubs in front of windows. This allows burglars to jimmy the windows without being seen by neighbors. It is better to leave the space outside of windows free of vegetation.

6. Don’t leave lights on all the time. It simply allows the burglar to see better after he breaks in. Use timers that turn lights off and on in different rooms of the house at different intervals. Better yet, install motion detectors. They are inexpensive and very reliable.

7. Stop newspaper and mail delivery if you are going to be away for more than a couple of days or have a neighbor gather them for you. A few days of newspapers laying on the door step is a welcoming mat for a burglar because he knows no one is home.

You probably can never be 100% secure in your home from burglars but correcting these common home security mistakes will help deter them.

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