Fifteen Ways to Harden Your Home Against Burglars and Looters

Urban Survival Site offers a list of 15 steps to make a home harder to break into, aimed at readers preparing for a disaster in which burglars and looters become more determined.

Key points

• Entry points: add deadbolts and use longer screws in hinges, jamb and strike plate. Cover windows and glass doors with security bars or film.
• Warning and deterrence: install an alarm with battery backup, motion-activated outdoor lights and visible cameras. The article says dummy cameras are an option on a small budget.
• Perimeter: use a fence at least eight feet tall with few horizontal rails and a pointed top, plant thorny shrubs under windows, remove climbing aids, and secure the chimney, garage door and attic access.
• People: keep a low profile by breaking down delivery boxes and not posting stockpile photos, and get to know your neighbors.
• Last resort: keep at least one loaded firearm easily accessible.

Quick take

The article's argument is that no ordinary house is impossible to enter, so the goal is to make a break-in slower and harder. It also suggests a dog, a decoy safe or a safe room.

Read the full story at Urban Survival Site.