Besides having a dog, an alarm is definitely one of the top deterrents to intruders. It’s unlikely a burglar will stick around if a super loud alarm goes off to alert neighbors and auto-calls the police! BONUS POINTS if you have a surveillance system… Even a simple camera could deter a would-be burglar. Plus, cameras are now widely available and affordable to the average joe. Check out our post about this here!

As simple as it sounds, burglars actually like to conceal themselves in overgrown hedges and shrubs before entering a home. Untrimmed overgrown hedges are a perfect hiding spot for a would-be trespasser, make sure to maintain your landscape so that you don’t even give them the opportunity.

Leaving access to a key under a mat, fake rock, or plant has become risky. Online, you can find tons of surveillance videos of prospective intruders coming to a home’s front door, checking under all the mats and plants in order to find a spare key. It’s just not smart to leave a spare key anymore! Luckily there are safer solutions. A more secure alternative includes a lockbox mounted on the side of your house. Only provide the code to trusted people. An affordable option like this lockbox that mounts to the side of your house works great.

You may think this is the oldest trick in the book, but it has become a bit more complicated!! Prospective burglars are now studying houses and will secretly observe how often you come and go. Leaving a light on a timer just isn’t going to work anymore, sorry! You need it to not only look lived in and occupied, but also active. This is where a company like Tropical HWS will come in. Having a team member (without any identifying signage on the car!) will periodically stop by your home. Regular drop ins to your house will deter many opportunistic bad-guys!