by Neil Dixon

Created on: January 08, 2009

Every home owner fears the day that they come home to find that they have been the victim of burglary. All of their prized possessions that they have toiled and saved to buy have been stolen and what is more, the safety of the home has been compromised and many owners who have been through this terrible ordeal no longer feel safe in their own home.

There are many ways to effectively discourage burglars depending on the funds you have available and the length you wish to go to in the fight against these petty crimes. Firstly you must assess how safe your home is from intruders by taking a tour of the building exterior and looking through the eyes of the potential thief.

Check that all window latches and locks are working correctly and can not be simply opened from the outside. Ensure that all the locks on your doors are functioning properly and that they are still in a good solid state of repair. Many burglars will gain entry through old wooden doors that need a little shoulder barge to oblige entry.

Once you have listed any failings with the windows and doors or if you are happy with your findings, you now need to have a look for potential blind spots or closed off areas that a burglar may be able to use as a route into your property without been seen by any neighbours or passers by.

Many properties will have some little hideaway that can't be seen by the outside world, and invariably there will be a window at this location that the burglar can take their time in attempting entry through because they are safe in the knowledge that nobody can see them.

The safety check is now complete and it is time to turn your attention to curing any shortcomings you found. Repair or replace all those faulty locks and latches and fit modern locks to all exterior doors. Any potential blind spots you found can be remedied cheaply and quickly.

Option 1 is to install a night light that has a motion detector fitted. Exterior halogen lighting is very bright and you will be informed the very second that someone has moved into the area of concern with a sudden flash of light. The potential burglar will be taken aback at being exposed by bright lighting and will usually flee the area as quick as possible.

Option 2 is to plant very prickly hedging beneath the window of the blind spot. There are many varieties, a few of which are Creeping Juniper, Common Holly, Firethorn and Prickly Ash. Most good garden stockists will sell these plants and many more, ask for advice about which one would be

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