You Can Help Prevent Break-ins: Stop Doing These 13 Things

This seems like common knowledge, right? Well, it turns out that reminding people to lock their doors is advice needs to be shared. In the northwest United States, 46% of the population doesn't lock their door.

Similarly, in the far northeast, 42% of people don't lock up their homes. The rest of the U.S. averages between 19% and 30% who nix this simple safety feature. This gives thieves direct access to your home. 

More interesting statistics: 

New homeowners are notorious for taking cute shots of themselves holding their brand new set of keys. This gives burglars direct access to your home.

How you may ask? There is an app for that — copying your keys, that is. Yes, that's right. There is technology that allows locksmiths and criminals to duplicate your key off of a simple photograph.

There are thieves of opportunity and then there are thieves who take the time to plot their break-ins. For those who love to adorn their vehicles with bumper stickers, police note that you may be tipping these robbers off to when you're not home. 

Speaking of vehicles, if you leave your portable GPS in view when you are away from your car, you are setting yourself up for two potential break-ins. First, a crook is more likely to break into your car and steal the device. Second, that handy device has your home address on it.

Since you are clearly away from home right now, they are more likely to target your house next. Keeping your GPS out of sight is an easy way to prevent both types of break-ins.

This is a little startling to hear, but the Department of Justice has found that in 65% of home invasions, the victim knew the person/people that burglarized their home AND over 30% of these individuals were intimate partners or relatives. We all hope that our family members, friends, and acquaintances would never do something so heinous, but you never know.

Thus, wait to post about your vacation to the beach or the woods until after you have returned. Otherwise, an unsuspecting burglar might take advantage of your vacant home.

If a burglar can peek into your home and clearly see that no one is there, you are likely going to be targeted over the neighbor who shields their windows and glass doors. Window treatments are another simple way to keep people from quickly figuring out that you are away. 

Storing your spare key under the mat, in the fake rock, or on top of the door jamb is just as bad as leaving the door unlocked. If you are prone to getting locked out, consider finding a more inconspicuous spot to store your entry ticket. ADT recommends places like in the dog house, in your kid's outdoor playset, or under your barbecue grill. 

No matter if your dog is big or small, a doggy door makes your home vulnerable. Burglars can easily reach through small doors to unlock your entryway and they can squeeze through large doors. Since this is a very convenient feature that most dog owners enjoy having, it's important to purchase doggy doors that can be locked. 

This not only keeps your house safe while you are away, but it is also how to prevent break-ins at night. Puppy parents can aim to potty their dogs one last time in the late evening and then lock the doggy door and limit water until morning to make sure that Fido is taken care of and their house is secure.

READ MORE: Electronic Dog Doors That Lock

When you invest in a security system for your home, they will install a keypad near the door to allow you to arm and disarm the system when you come and go. However, for those with a lot of windows near their entrances or glass doors, you want to ensure that you cannot see the keypad from the outside of your home. Why?

Burglars can easily gauge when it is a good time to break in. After all, green means go, and many alarms have a light on them that indicates when the system is on or off. 

Solicitors are already a nuisance, but they can also make your home more vulnerable to thieves. You see, while you are out of town, they are dropping flyers on your doorstep, or worse, attaching them to your door. When they pile up or just sit in the same spot for a few days, it's a quick clue that you are away. 

Investing in signs for your yard that say "No Solicitation" is another simple tool to prevent break-ins.

Amazon is addicting, but when you receive packages and don't immediately bring them inside, you signal to thieves that you aren't home. Additionally, this is an easy way to become a victim of porch pirates!

How do you prevent break-ins and piracy when you are at work or out shopping and your packages arrive? Easy! Add porch decor that gives delivery drivers a place to stash your goods! 

Another quick way to prevent burglary while you are away on vacation is to schedule for mail to be held at the post office and to stop newspaper services while you are gone. When these things pile up, it's another clue that your house is ripe for the picking. 

Long gone are the days where you leave your lights on days at a time when you leave on vacation. Now, there are smart devices to help you out!

Smart plugs allow homeowners and renters to access their outlets from afar and even set up schedules for lights and televisions to turn on and off at typical times. This creates an illusion that there is someone in the home, and that can help keep burglars at bay.

The biggest thing to remember about how to prevent break-ins is that thieves are always going to go for the easiest target. Thus, when you are away, create the illusion that someone is home.

Also, talk to trustworthy neighbors about keeping an eye on your house and letting you know when suspicious activity is happening. Finally, make sure your valuables are out of sight and consider an alarm system to add an extra layer of protection.