The Three D's to Home Safety

Allied Iron
May 26
2 min read

Most residential burglaries occur due to opportunistic criminals seeking easy targets with low risk of detection. By enhancing your home's safety and security, you can significantly reduce its appeal to burglars. The more measures you take to prevent your home from appearing vulnerable, the better your chances of avoiding a break-in. The National Sheriffs’ Association suggests adhering to the three D’s of burglary prevention:

A Regal Security Door with matching side light window guard

Deter—Implement security measures and quality locks to act as deterrents, eliminating the chance for an easy burglary. Having an iron security screen door installed is another way to deter intruders.

Detect—Make burglars operate where they can't be seen to decrease the likelihood of detection. Burglars avoid drawing attention by breaking glass or forcing doors. Alarms on doors and windows are the most effective way to detect a burglar, but neighbors who report unusual activity to law enforcement are also valuable for detection.

Delay—Burglars aim to avoid capture, so the longer it takes to breach a door or window, the higher the risk for them. While making a home completely secure is nearly impossible, it is relatively easy and cost-effective to delay a burglar by complicating forced entry. Delaying a burglar for four minutes is generally sufficient to prevent entry into a home. By forcing a criminal to take more time, make more noise, and be more visible, you might prevent a crime from being completed or even deter the attempt.

Start by thoroughly assessing your property to identify areas that offer easy access to potential burglars. Apply the principles of deterrence, detection, and delay to evaluate your home's security. Examine entry points, including doors and windows. Check locks, lighting, and landscaping, both during the day and at night. Use our Home Inspection Checklist to identify weaknesses around your home, then follow the guidelines provided to address them. Crime prevention starts at home. Be proactive to avoid becoming a victim rather than reacting after a burglar has stolen your valuables.