How to Scare Criminals From Your Home

Kevin Michalowski: Seven steps you can take to scare criminals away from your home without breaking the bank. News Anchors: You're only to be met by gunfire from the homeowner. That homeowner says they were alerted by a motion sensor linked to their surveillance cameras, and they were able to arm themselves just seconds before their door was kicked in. The suspects quickly fled the scene in a gray car before officers arrived. If you know who these men are by their surveillance video, call Silent Witness.

Kevin Michalowski: And you know what else scares criminals away? Armed citizens. Right now, we have a gun giveaway going on. You can enter for free. Just click the link down below in the description to reveal which brand new gun you could win. Sorry, criminals. We're arming America.

All right, we've got seven steps to scare away criminals. Make sure burglars can't hide around your house. That's step one. The vast majority of criminals try to avoid risky situations, and they definitely prefer easy targets with a low-risk-to-high-reward ratio. Thus, all you have to do is give them the impression that your home is not worth giving it a try.

Step two: Install a real or dummy security camera. We've all seen the footage of unfortunate criminals screwing up and running away. They don't see that there was a camera recording them. However, most intruders will notice a surveillance camera before they even try to break in. Security cameras can indeed deter burglars, especially if you don't give crooks a chance to have a closer look at the model type so that they can't figure out how to deactivate it.

But how can you achieve this? First, make sure you install an ultra-wide-angle camera with night vision capabilities. Most burglars will know they're better off not approaching your home; otherwise, they'll be recorded. Don't have illusions; some of them won't be deterred by security cameras, and security cameras don't typically stop crime; they just record what's happening so that you can prosecute people later.

Another important thing to note is that you should have cameras looking at every entrance — all doors and windows of your home or apartment. — if you really want to discourage criminals.

You may not want to spend your money on a real security camera, and that's okay. A dummy security camera can serve as an effective visual deterrent with the obvious disadvantage of not being capable of recording anything. There are many models available in the stores. Make sure you buy one that's not very popular so that burglars won't recognize it.

Step three: Try using a fake home security system sign or sticker. Most home security systems are subscription-based and, therefore, they come with a monthly cost. If you can afford it, go ahead and install one. They are, without a doubt, effective but unfortunately not very cost-effective.

So, if you're on a budget and you want to deter burglars, using a fake security system sign or a sticker often can be powerful enough to spook them. Again, like in the case of the dummy camera, it's important to choose a sign and the decal that's not popular and can't be recognized by burglars as a fake one.

Using fake signs and stickers as deterrents is a quick and cheap solution. However, it's key that they must be convincing. It's better not to mention any company by name because burglars may just Google it and realize that it's a fake one. On the other hand, you want to avoid using the name or copying the material of an existing brand because that could lead to some copyright infringement issues.

Pro tip: Create your own unique security system sticker or sign. If you don't know how to use image editing software, you can have it designed for a few bucks online at Upwork or Fiverr and printed at home.

Step number four: Install outdoor motion sensor lights. I like this better than the fake security signs. Criminals love dark spots, there are places where they can hide and remain unnoticed. While most burglaries in the U.S occur during the day, it's important to reduce the risk of nighttime intrusion as well. An outdoor motion sensor light, when it's set properly, is an inexpensive and effective solution. Install it at least 10 feet high so intruders can't reach up or damage it easily. Opt for a model that's powered by batteries so you can install it quickly and easily whenever you want.

It's important to note that motion sensor lights usually won't scare home invaders away if they know you're not at home or if you live in a quiet, low-traffic area. In every other case, outside lights can really have the potential to deter burglars because any unexpected situation, like suddenly being in the spotlight, will increase the chance that they will take to their heels and seek an alternative target.

Step number five: Keep your car key next to your bed while you're sleeping. Sometimes criminals break into your house at night when you're at home and sleeping. If you don't have a reliable alarm system, nothing will deter them when they get in. It's not always advisable to come face to face with intruders, especially if you're alone. So, how can you spook them if you're woken up by strange noises? Just press the alarm or panic button on your car's keychain. That will most likely discourage invaders in the safest way possible without you having to confront them. Instead, try other places like a hall closet or a closet in your kid's bedroom. It's in a safe anyway, so your items are secure and out of the way.

Step number six: How to deter burglars when you are not at home? Pretend someone is home. Your property is most vulnerable to intruders when there is nobody at home. As I've already mentioned, the majority of burglaries happen during the daytime when most people are at the workplace. Therefore, it's critical that burglars never realize that there is no one inside your house or apartment.

So how can you deter burglars when you're at work or on vacation? It's simple, pretend you're at home. This is one of the best ways to deter criminals because the last thing they want to do is meet the homeowner. If you'll be away for just a few hours, leave the TV on and turn up the radio so it can be heard from outside. You can also leave the vacuum on or the mop bucket in the middle of the room. If burglars look through the window, they'll believe that there's somebody in there cleaning the floor.

If you're away for a longer time, use multiple timers that randomly turn lights on and off. These can also be hooked up to the TV and radio. Just never simply turn the lights on and leave them on constantly because that can draw burglars' attention. Your goal is to make your home look lived in so that the invaders choose another less risky target.

Don't forget to ask someone to empty your mailbox and remove flyers and newspapers from your doorstep regularly. If you let them accumulate, crooks will think there's nobody at home. However, it's important that you do not hold your mail. Burglars can easily spot if mail is not delivered to your house for several days.

If it's winter, ask someone to leave tracks in the snow. Untouched snow is a sure sign of no one being at home and will call invaders' attention in no time. Ask someone to keep your lawn mowed and maintain your yard while you're away. It's crucial to never post the exact date of your absence and your vacation photos on social media until you return home.

Step number seven: Deter burglars with a video doorbell. This is one of the cheapest methods available, but it's definitely effective, especially if you want to scare burglars away remotely.

So, how does it work? First, you need a video doorbell that's capable of sending you an instant alert to your cell phone whenever someone approaches your door or presses the bell. It must have a built-in motion sensor.

You also want a model that allows two-way communication. When invaders get close to your door, the doorbell sends you an alert, and thanks to the live video feature, you can check on your phone who is trying to get into your home in real time. All you have to do is surprise the crooks by sending them away with a firm voice. They won't know that you're talking to them from miles away, so they'll have no choice but to escape from the scene immediately.

Nest and Ring are established brands on the market, and they both have some really high-quality video doorbells that can serve as great burglar deterrent gadgets.