Most homeowners don’t give all that much thought to home burglaries because they believe that they’re unlikely — but they’re more common than you might think. In Australia, for instance, around 2% of homes experienced a break-in during 2022.

In other words: it’s a concern that requires at least some consideration. After all, being the victim of a home burglary can generate emotional wounds just as much as it can lead to a loss of belongings.

Criminals rarely choose to target random houses. They target those that have weak points that they can exploit. All too often, homeowners end up making their property more appealing simply by making one or more of the classic residential security errors. 

In this post, we’ll look at some of the most common, as well as offer advice on how to overcome them. 

Easily accessible garage doors

Your garage may be a dumping ground to you, but to a potential criminal, it might just be the entryway to your kingdom. Some garage doors are rickety enough even when they’re fully locked, and many homeowners don’t lock them — at least don’t lock them as well as they could. Automatic garage keypads, for instance, have to be changed from the factory setting to be effective. 

It can also be useful to frost any garage windows, especially if you use your garage for parking. That’ll prevent burglars from looking in and seeing whether you’re at home or out. 

Outdated windows

We tend to think that burglars use advanced skills to enter a property, but they mostly depend on brute force, with windows being their preferred entry point. Modern windows are strong and cannot be broken easily, which is the opposite of what a burglar wants. Older windows, on the other hand, can be broken with minimal effort. If your windows are outdated, then look at replacing the glass to boost its strength. It’s also worth remembering that a burglar won’t need to smash the window at all if it’s left open; always close and lock your windows when you leave your home, even if you’re only heading out for a few minutes. 

Security systems that no longer work

Security systems offer a vital line of defence that is often enough to have a burglar quickly exit your property, but they only offer those benefits if they actually work. Periodically checking and upgrading your home’s security system, ideally to one that automatically contacts the authorities in the event of an incident, can give peace of mind that help will be on its way if someone gains entry to your home. 

Posting travel updates on social media

Sharing travel photos while abroad can be a nice way to share your adventure with friends and family, but it also sends a message that your home may be empty. Most people will do nothing with that information, but some might use it as a sign that your home can be targeted. If you do wish to post photos, make sure your profile is set to private or wait until you’re back home.