While we are all worried about the security of our homes, we often neglect our outdoor home security in favor of our home itself.
Unfortunately, burglars are not picky and will be more than happy to make a buck dispossessing you of your outdoor belongings. When choosing a home security system, you should take your yard into account as well.
Your yard also serves as a boundary to your home. If it is an easy target, you run a much higher risk of your home being targeted by criminals.
However, several things can help prevent your yard from becoming a target for criminals. Today we look at innovative ways to burglar-proof your yard.
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Get a Dog
And we don’t mean a Bichon Frise. While it is no guarantee that your yard will not be targeted, an alert guard dog offers two-fold protection.
Not only will a guard dog ward off trespassers, but it will also alert you should anyone attempt to steal your yard.
Warning Signs
In this sense, we mean it literally. For example, signs for a security company service can deter potential burglars. But why stop there?
Aside from signs warning about the presence of a guard dog, put up more ominous signs as well. Think along the lines of ‘trespassers will be shot on sight.’
Visibility
Criminals prefer to target homes that offer ample cover to avoid detection. So keep your yard clear and minimalist.
Trees and shrubbery offer a burglar a lot of bodies to enter your property undetected. Likewise, dark areas are incredibly tempting to criminals.
Motion Sensor Lighting
This ties in with the above point. Keep your yard well lit, and make use of motion sensor lighting. The less obvious it is that the lights were triggered by motion, the more likely a potential burglar is to flee the scene.
If they think they have been spotted and are at a disadvantage, criminals are more likely to give up and run for it.
Cameras and Fake Cameras to Boot
A decent security system is a great deterrent; however, if a burglar does decide to risk being caught on camera, it may not proactively prevent a burglary; the more cameras you have on your property, the more intimidating the prospect of being caught.
So while a professional camera system is essential, add ‘fake’ cameras everywhere where you don’t have coverage.
Fence It Off
This may seem obvious, yet many people still prefer a yard that opens onto the street. The best protection is a physical boundary.
Keep in mind that a waist-high picket fence is just for show; the taller and less traversable the edge, the better. Ideally, high walls and electric fencing are some of the best options.
Don’t Leave Things Lying Around
Leaving valuable things like lawnmowers and tools and stuff like ladders and garden furniture out in the open is a bad idea.
We all know this, but we quickly become complacent. Instead, keep valuable items locked away when not in use. Ladders are hazardous items to leave lying around, as they offer burglars a tool for entry and easy escape.
