Home Security & Break-In Prevention
Most burglars look for an easy target: an unlocked door, a hidden key, a dark yard or a house that looks empty. A few inexpensive upgrades and habits make a home much harder to break into and, just as important, safer for the people inside.
- Homeowners
- Renters
- Families
- Older Adults
Doors and locks
- Use solid-core or metal exterior doors and keep them locked, even when you're home or just stepping out.
- Install a deadbolt with at least a 1-inch throw, in addition to the knob lock. A knob lock alone is easy to defeat.
- Reinforce the strike plate and door frame with a metal strike plate and 3-inch screws that reach the wall stud. Most kick-ins break the frame.
- Secure sliding glass doors with a bar or dowel in the track, plus a pin or lock that stops lifting them out.
- Don't hide keys under mats or planters. Burglars check there first. Give a spare to a trusted neighbor, or use a keypad or smart lock with unique codes.
- Check the garage door and the door into the house. Lock the garage entry, and don't leave the opener in an unlocked car. See Garage Safety.
- Rekey locks when you move in, after losing keys, or after a former tenant or partner leaves. See Tenant Safety Rights and Moving Day.
Windows, lighting and landscaping
- Lock windows, especially on the ground floor and ones hidden from the street, and use window pins or stops for ventilation. Don't prop windows open when away. Make sure locks don't block fire escape use for people inside. See Home Fire Escape.
- Use motion-activated lights at entrances, the garage and dark sides of the house, and keep porch lights working.
- Trim shrubs and trees so doors and windows aren't hidden, and don't leave ladders, tools or climbable items out.
- Put house numbers where emergency responders can see them.
Alarms and cameras
- A monitored alarm system or a loud local alarm deters burglars and speeds help. Put signs and stickers that say you have one, if you actually do.
- Cameras and video doorbells help you see who's at the door and provide evidence. Position them to cover entrances, not neighbors' private areas, and check local rules.
- Protect smart devices: use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication, keep firmware updated and secure your Wi-Fi. See Smart Home Devices and Home Wi-Fi & Router.
- Don't forget smoke and CO alarms, which should be on every level. See Smoke & CO Alarms.
Habits that matter
- Don't advertise you're away: hold the mail or have a neighbor collect it, use timers on lights and don't post trip photos in real time. See Social Media Privacy.
- Get packages picked up soon, use lockers or pickup points if porch theft is common, and don't leave boxes of expensive purchases visible at the curb.
- Lock vehicles and take valuables out of sight. Garages and cars are a way into the house, and many break-ins use unlocked cars.
- Know your neighbors and watch out for each other. Many neighborhoods have watch programs.
- Don't let in strangers claiming to be repair or utility workers without checking ID and calling the company. See Hiring Contractors.
- Keep valuables, firearms and sensitive documents in a safe or locked place, and record serial numbers. See Safe Firearm Storage.
If you come home to a break-in
- Don't go in. If a door is open or a window broken, leave and call 911 from a safe place. Someone might still be inside.
- Don't touch anything and wait for police. Make a list of what's missing and give serial numbers.
- If you're home and hear a break-in, get to a safe room with a lockable door and a phone, call 911, and stay quiet. Don't confront the intruder. Your safety matters more than property.
- After a break-in, change the locks, report to your insurer and consider upgrades. Emotional effects are normal; ask for help. See Post-Incident Stress.
Home security checklist
- Exterior doors are solid with deadbolts and reinforced strike plates
- Windows and sliding doors have working locks and bars
- Motion lights, trimmed shrubs and visible house numbers
- I don't hide keys or post travel plans in real time
- I have a plan for a safe room and for calling 911 if there's a break-in
Standards & references
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