Poorly hidden spare keys
If you have a spare key hidden outside of your home (which you shouldn't), it must be hidden somewhere it couldn't get found. The issue with this is that it's easier said than done. Any good hiding place that you can think of has no doubt been thought of by countless others before. Ideally, you wouldn't have a spare key hidden at all; but if you have no other choice, then you must make sure it's not easy to find. The trick isn't to pick a place that no one would think of.
You want to pick a place that is hard to look through, such as a hedge or buried in a hole. Even if a would-be intruder knows that it's hidden there, looking for it is far too time-consuming to be worth the risk.
Making valuables easily visible
Placing your valuables in places that are visible from the outside is a serious security risk. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, it tempts people who are scouting for homes for rob. When deciding whether or not to attempt a robbery, it's a matter of weighing risks against potential gains. By displaying your valuables, you are guaranteeing a certain level of gain. The second reason is that it makes planning the robbery easier. With the knowledge of where the valuables are kept, it doesn't take long to grab everything and leave.
Poor security implementation
It doesn't matter how many different types of security you have if they aren't being used properly. Security cameras can be a great example of this. How effective your security cameras are will depend on where they are placed. It's not about how many cameras you have; it's about the amount of coverage they provide and ensuring that priority locations are well covered. The same principles apply to other security systems as well. The bright side of this is that you may be able to significantly improve your home security without having to buy any more equipment.
Making it clear that you aren't home
If you are away from home for an extended period, such as when going on holiday, you mustn't make it obvious. One of the biggest risks that an intruder faces is the homeowner coming home while they are still there. If there are signs that you are on holiday, this risk decreases significantly.
There are two clear signs that a home is empty, both of which are easily dealt with. The first is if there are no lights on in the evening. This can be solved by leaving lights on while you are away. The second is a build-up of mail. A build-up of mail indicates that the mailbox hasn't been checked in several days. To deal with this, simply request the post office to hold your mail until you get back.
Contact BPoint Security for an obligation-free security consultation today!