Steps to Keeping Your Home Safe From Burglary and House Fires

Often, we forget about the troubles that exist in our world and unknowingly succumb to and invite them into our lives. Half of the time, we are in denial about the likelihood of something terrible happening to us or our families. The truth is, anything can happen to anyone.

In our homes, whether new or old, our entire livelihood is at risk due to the actions we take day after day. These tragically popular risks include burglaries and house fires. There are certain precautions and steps to take to help prevent these troubles of the world from figuratively knocking at our doors. When we learn what we can do, we can better prepare and protect ourselves and our families from the harsh realities of life.

The Importance of Taking the Appropriate Steps for Deterring Robbers

According to Investigative Reporter Dave Savini, “Burglars scout their victims, watching for patterns, to see when no one will be home. They will bring food to keep dogs calm and quiet. They also look for busy streets so they can blend in.”

This is why it is important to take safety precautions every time you leave your home, even if you’re just going to the grocery store. Some burglars have stalker techniques and watch you, your home, and your family to learn your routine. Then, when they know for certain that you are away and are not coming back soon, they will attack. One of the steps to take to deter burglars like this is to switch up your routine, making it unpredictable for the entire family.

Another step to take is to regularly check and empty your mailbox because a full mailbox with a bunch of envelopes sticking out is a sign to burglars that you are not home and you haven’t been home for a while. Keeping your mailbox in order and checking it regularly (with the help of family and friends when you’re away with the tip above) shows criminals that you are home.

Lastly, to avoid burglary, one of the most important things you can do is avoid telling everyone you are going to be away. Social media makes this difficult as sharing is encouraged on websites like Facebook and Twitter. But, you never know who is planning to break into your home, so avoid telling everyone your home is up for grabs when you’re gone.

Lack of Knowledge on Electrical Appliances Leads to Dangerous Outcomes

The instruction manuals and package warning you see on your electronic items such as household appliance, and most importantly, batteries, were not put in place as a joke. Serious harm can come from handling electronic items inappropriately such as leaving the stove on for long periods of time, not practicing safe procedures when plugging in items, and not properly disposing of batteries and other electronic devices such as televisions, computers, and radios.

Sometimes, when we leave the stove on, it’s an accident. We simply forgot to turn it off. But other times, such as throwing away batteries, are really bad on our part. Don’t fret. Now is definitely a great time to learn how to practice safer living for ourselves and our entire family.

A fire can occur if the stove is left on and a flammable object, such as a paper towel or washcloth, came in contact with the stove. And, if you have a gas stove in your home, the gas emitted from the stove can release harmful gas into your home, making your entire family dangerously sick. A type of gas that is dangerously released due to leaving the stove on in an air-tight house is carbon monoxide — a deadly and poisonous gas that you cannot smell and cannot see. Because dangers like this exist, it is important to always turn off the stove when we are finished cooking, and never leave it on for warmth in cold weather.

For batteries, the D.C. Department of Public Works advises people to “put clear packing, masking or electrical tape on the batteries’ terminals or sandwich the batteries between two layers of tape.” Believe it or not, inappropriately disposing of batteries can cause a fire, and if you’re not home, your house and your possessions are at risk for being destroyed.

Additionally, the site www.securitychoice.net advises homeowners make use of automated threat detection, a network of monitoring centers, and advanced technology like ADT Pulse. They also urge people to make use of window/door alarms, smoke detectors for fire and harmful gases, motion sensors, and even linking your mobile devices to your alarm system.

When we take these precautions, we are taking a step forward into living a safer life.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

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