Protect your home from increased crime this summer

While the summer months are often characterized by warmer weather and the smell of sunscreen, they’re also the peak season for burglaries. There’s an uptick in crime rates during the summer months, but many people don’t think it will happen to them.

Burglary and theft are two of the most common household property crimes, and they’re also the easiest to prevent.

According to the Department of Justice and the FBI, property crimes are 11 percent more common during the summer months, and about three out of four burglaries occur at residential properties. The average loss per burglary is $2,322.

Small actions make a big difference when it comes to preventing a burglary. It’s important that homeowners are aware of actions they can take to protect themselves and their property.

The Arkansas Realtors Association compiled the following list of tips to help homeowners protect their property — and themselves — during the summer months:

• Lock your home’s doors and windows.

Open doors and windows are one of the most common points of entry for criminals looking to break into a residence. It’s important to keep doors and windows locked at all times, even when you are outside working in the yard.

• Use specialty locks.

Not only should doors and windows be locked at all times, but homeowners should also make sure the locks they’re using are a bit more complicated than the average lock. On average, burglars will spend less than a minute trying to break into a home, so using a lock that will frustrate thieves is an easy way to prevent a break-in.

• Install a home security system.

A simple and effective way to deter crime and protect your home is to install a security system. Burglary-rate statistics from the FBI show that one in three homes that do not have a security system will fall victim to a burglary, compared to one in 250 homes that do have a security system. A security system won’t help if you don’t use it, though, so remember to set it when you are away, or even when you are home.

• Lock and label large items.

It’s important to protect all personal property, including those larger items that you may store in a garage or outside the house. Lock larger items such as lawn mowers, bikes, grills, etc., and engrave them with your initials so you can identify your property in case it is stolen.

• Be careful on social media. Every picture, tweet, post and check-in regarding vacations can be an opportunity for someone with bad intentions to gather valuable information and make your home an easy target for theft.

• Light things up.

Outdoor lights are a great deterrent to criminals who don’t want to be seen. Focus especially on the rear and sides of your home.

• Be aware of neighborhood activity.

You know your neighborhood better than any nonresident, so be a good neighborhood watchdog, and alert police to unusual activity.

• Protect yourself.

Not only do you have to worry about your property, but you also have to worry about protecting yourself.

Beware of con artists running homeimprovement scams and deception burglaries, and be sure not to leave personal information lying around.

House to House is distributed by the Arkansas Realtors Association. For more information about homeownership in Arkansas, visit www.ArkansasRealtors.com.