As the infographic states, 2,000,000 home burglaries are reported each year, resulting in $4.6 billion in damages. To put that into perspective, the FBI says a home burglary occurs every 13 seconds in the United States. 34% of home break-ins occur through the front door, followed by first floor windows at 23%, and the back door at 22%. Alarmingly, 60% of all burglars enter forcibly, while 30% enter through an unlocked door, window or other openings. On average, burglars spend less than 60 seconds breaking into a home.
So, how do you make your home burglary-proof? ADT says doors are the most common points of home break-ins. The most common method of forced entry is to simply kick the door in. Therefore, making your door harder would go a long way towards deterring a criminal from trying to gain access to your home. ADT recommends that you use a solid core or metal door at entrance points. A heavy-duty deadbolt with a one-inch throw bolt will also help. In addition, it’s important to use a high-quality knob-in-lock set with a dead latch mechanism. Intercoms, door bars, chains, and a viewer will also help.
Take a look at ADT’s infographic below, which also has tips on preventing a burglary at work, as well as how to deter school shooters.
