Blog June 15, 2017 Discourage Burglars from Residential Properties In 2014, there were 1,532,127 burglary offenses, according to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting. Over 73% of those offenses were residential. While some neighborhoods are more safe than others, as a property manager, you should never let your guard down. It’s important to always prevent and discourage theft no matter how “safe” your area is known to be. Here are a seven tips on how you can discourage burglars from residential properties. Monitored Home Security Systems With technology being as advanced as it is today, Monitored Home Security Systems have come a long way in protecting homes and properties. Nothing discourages a burglar more than hearing an alarm go off and the police notified immediately. Deadbolt Lock There’s nothing like a solid deadbolt lock to keep burglars out, especially those who try to break in by force. Security Patrol Having dedicated staff that keep watch throughout the day/night can put your residents minds no matter what time of day. There are many benefits to outsourcing Security Patrol. Dog in House Something as simple as having a friendly companion can make an impact on your property. The last thing a burglar wants to deal with is a barking dog that wakes everyone up. Improved Exterior Lighting As discussed in a recent article, having timed motion lighting all around your property will scare burglars away every time. Neighborhood Watch Programs It can’t hurt to gather residents and neighbors who are willing to be involved in a watch program. Bringing the communication between residents to the forefront of community discussion can benefit everyone. This works great for when people are planning to be away for vacations or long trips. Interior Lights Many burglars will immediately back away from a property that looks like the residents are home. Something as simple as having a light on in the living room can really help. Consider timed lights that are scheduled to turn on at certain times of the day so that you don’t waste electricity. While there are lots of other efficient ways to discourage and prevent burglary around your property, these seven are a great place to start. Take time to keep your burglar awareness up, especially around the summer time when the days are warmer and people are out and about more often. It’s better to be safe than sorry!