Think like a burglar to protect your home

Little compares to the feeling of personal invasion of a home burglary, which is why most choose to live behind giant walls or within gated communities and security estates to prevent this from occurring.

One of the best ways to secure your property is to unpack the mindset of a home invader and put precautionary measures in place against these threats.

Adrian Goslett, from RE/MAX, said criminal activity is often the last thing on our minds this time of year, which makes it the ideal time for criminals to enact their plans.

“Especially for those planning on being away this festive season, it is important to consider how a criminal might view the property. I would therefore encourage homeowners to look at their homes through the eyes of a burglar to try and identify some of the potential threats to their home security,” Goslett added.

The first of which is to consider what opportunities the burglar might have to gain entry into your property. In some cases, home invaders have already been inside the home once before, perhaps as a delivery guy claiming to need the bathroom, or as somebody posing to be a salesman who wants to pitch their product to you in your dining room.

As a good rule of thumb, homeowners should always be extra cautious when allowing a stranger to enter their home, being sure to check that all entry points are secure after the person has left. The second thing to keep in mind is how appealing your property might be to criminals.

“Curb appeal is an important factor when trying to appeal to sellers. Having an attractive exterior makes buyers curious to see what awaits them inside. Similarly, criminals often scout neighbourhoods to pick out properties that they think will contain the most valuable items.

“To avoid making your home the target, keep the front of your home as low-key as possible. You don’t want to leave anything that a burglar might find tempting in plain sight. For example, if you drive an expensive car, keep it parked inside the garage instead of in the driveway. Or, if your children have expensive outdoor toys, such as hoverboards or bicycles, make sure these items get packed away each night.”

Goslett recommended that homeowners consider what is visible within their homes from street view. Burglars are not shy to look into your windows.

Take a moment to look through the windows in the front rooms of your home to see what criminals can see if they were to peep inside, being sure to keep anything tempting out of plain sight. As a deterrent, plant thorn bushes in the flower beds in front of your windows.