How to Protect Your Home from Burglary & Top-Targeted Items

Spring is officially here and summer is on the horizon! But while even warmer weather brings some of our favorite activities, it also means a spike in home burglaries, which are 10% higher in the months of June, July, and August.

Why the increase? Well, consider the summertime activities we look forward to and love . . . vacations, cookouts, pool time . . . All of these take place away from the home. Plus, warmer weather encourages wide-open windows and doors (in other words: increased opportunities for burglars to strike).

The household items most appealing to burglars

Home burglary is a fairly common crime. A break-in occurs every 26 seconds in the US; this adds up to 2.5 million break-ins every year, with more than half of those occurring in homes.

Fortunately, incidents have steadily dropped over the past decade. Crime statistics from the FBI show a decrease of 37% in the number of burglaries since 2008, and we can only hope this continues to decline!

So, which household items catch the eye of opportunistic burglars? In general, they look for special items that they can sell for large sums of money. That being said, the following items may have the most appeal.

Cash

Cash is appealing to burglars for a number of reasons: it's easy to carry, untraceable, and negates the need to sell stolen items on the black market.

Jewelry

Like cash, jewelry is a top-targeted item due to its convenience; it's much easier to transport than large electronics, for example.

Medication

In recent years, prescription medications have become a more popular target for burglars, who can resell opioids and other drugs for a profit.

Electronics

Electronics also make the list of frequently targeted items, due to their resale potential. And while larger electronics — like TVs — may be more valuable, burglars might gravitate toward smaller, easily transported electronics instead (think laptops and cell phones).

Firearms

Guns are enticing to burglars, as they're fairly easy to sell and profitable.

Power tools

Like firearms, power tools are typically quick to sell and profitable. Plus, many homeowners keep power tools in their garage, which can be easier to access than the home.

Bicycles

Although unwieldy, bicycles are also targeted because they're easy to sell. And, like power tools, bicycles are typically kept in the garage, which an experienced burglar might be able to access in a matter of minutes.

Now that we know what they're after — here's how to protect your home from burglars

Sometimes, you can do everything right, and something still goes wrong. But often, just being proactive with a few, straightforward steps can prevent a burglary. Keep these tips in mind this summer and beyond.

Consider a home protection and security system

Despite the fact that burglars are three times more likely to target properties that don't use a security system, only 17% of US homes have them. These days, there are more options than ever for affordable, reliable protection systems.

Pay attention to your home's exterior

We've previously reviewed ways to prevent home burglaries, especially in warmer months. Some of these tips revolve around your yard. Ensure your home's exterior is well-lit, for example, and remove easy "hiding spots" like overgrown trees and shrubs near windows and doors. Also, take steps to make it appear as if you're home, even when you're not. (One example? Put your outdoor lights on a timer!) Another tip? If you're lucky enough to go on vacation this summer, plan for someone to mow the lawn so it doesn't appear like your home is vacant.

Keep valuables out of plain sight

One key way to protect your beloved items from burglary? Keep valuables out of plain sight, tempting as it might be to show off your nice new purchase! We've previously covered ways to do this — like arranging your home and window coverings strategically so that expensive items aren't visible from the street — and now you also know which items you should take extra care to protect.

The more you understand potential risks to your home's safety, the better equipped you are to protect yourself, your family, and your treasured belongings. By recognizing which household items are typically targeted by burglars, you can take extra precautions to secure them. Follow the straightforward steps we've outlined above and your home will be a haven — this summer and all year round.