You can protect your property

Your home is one of your most valuable assets. But when you’re away, how can you protect your property against potential burglaries?

According to the FBI, most burglaries occur in the summer vacation months of July and August. But, “break-ins” occur year-round. About two of every three reported break-ins are on residential turf.

Spokane Association of REALTORS® offer some safety tips to help you maintain a secure home and help deter would-be burglars.

Many homeowners rely on one of the many protection systems available, others opt for a hungry and mean attack dog. There are also some simpler ways to put a damper on home break-ins, especially your home.

•Take a tour of your home’s surrounding yard to check if you can see both the front and sides of your house from the street. These are the areas where patrolling police routinely make their surveillance. There shouldn’t be shrubs blocking a full view of your doors and windows from the street or sidewalk.

•Take the same tour of your home at night. Spokane police say lack of adequate street or house lighting is an invitation to would-be burglars. If you can reach a light without the aid of a ladder, so can a thief easily unscrew the bulb. If you feel your street is inadequately lighted, contact your city council representative and meet with neighbors to rally support for the installment of adequate lighting.

•When you’re away from your home, it is a good habit to leave a light on as well as a radio to give the appearance that someone is at home. If you are away for some time, consider getting timers that turn lights on and off at intervals throughout the evening.

•Be especially cautious during well-publicized community events that draw a large number of families. If you will be away, ask a neighbor to check on your home. Professional burglars often scan local papers of these events to target vacant homes.

•Make a habit to be sure all doors are locked, particularly those hidden entrances like those from the garage into your home. An attached garage can be a made-to-order hiding place.

•Deadbolt locks installed by a locksmith are among the best type of locks because they can’t easily be opened without a key or a crow bar. A home with deadbolt locks is more likely to cause a would-be burglar to move on to an easier target. And, don’t leave spare keys under the welcome mat. It is the first place someone would look.

•If you have a telephone answering machine, it’s good policy to leave a message that says you “can’t come to the phone,” rather than one that tells the caller you are not home.

•And, if you’re going to be gone for several days, stop all expected newspaper deliveries and mail, or have a neighbor pick them up daily. You can return the favor when they go on vacation, etc. Let your neighbors know how long you plan to be away and if you are expecting any deliveries or have scheduled any repair work while away.

Many a thief has made off with a household of furniture and other valuables under full view of the neighbors by posing as movers or delivery men. These scenes in a movie are sometimes very amusing — but certainly not if that’s your furniture being loaded in a truck.

•Burglar systems are a deterrent. One of the best methods to keep unwanted people away from the home at night is motion lighting. These lights turn on when anyone approaches the area and can be found on hundreds of homes in Spokane. These are effective and inexpensive, and can be found at home supply stores.

These are just a few ideas on making your valuable asset a bit safer. Unfortunately, even the most secure home cannot be completely burglar-proof. However, Spokane Police say that any deterrent will generally have the intruder moving down the street to “easier target.”

Don’t let your home become a crime statistic.