The Rate of Home Break-Ins is on the Rise in Response to COVID-19

As the world has shut down for the majority of 2020 due to the coronavirus, the greater number of the population has had to comply with strict stay-at-home orders. This, many would think, would cause incidences of car theft and home break-ins to decrease, as homes are being occupied more and more frequently and vacation times have dwindled or stopped. However, the truth is quite the opposite. In fact, home break-ins have been on the rise since the coronavirus first made its way to the U.S. As this can be quite shocking, what can be even more shocking is just how much of a spike in break-ins there has been on the non-residential, business settings, as well. Because many businesses have had to shut down as a result of this virus, burglars are taking advantage of the opportunity to invade empty premises and steal, or even vandalize, local businesses. As such, the number of burglaries went up from 75 incidents to 93 incidents, about a 24% increase, in just the first two weeks of the Stay At Home order in just Austin, Texas alone. It is important to note that these numbers are just tallied from reported cases in Austin. The numbers may be much greater if businesses haven’t reported their case. Furthermore, if the number of break-ins occurring throughout the U.S. is accounted for, the results are most likely to reflect that the increase of break-ins, whether it be car theft, home invasions, or business break-ins will most likely be a much greater increase. As CEO of DIGITECH, an Austin-based website design and development firm, Darryl Stevens can confirm, “Working from home brings with it new challenges and needs. Because your entire business is based out of your home it is now more essential than ever to ensure your home is well protected from potential invasions that can threaten not only your own personal privacy but can also compromise the well-being of your business.”

To avoid becoming a part of this statistic, you will need to know how to best protect your home or business during these uncertain times. By implementing the best practices to reduce your risk of an invasion, you will gain the peace of mind that you, your family, your business, or your belongings are being safely secured and monitored by professionals at all times. 

What to Do to Decrease the Rate of Break-Ins During the Coronavirus

There are many things you can do in order to avoid or minimize your chances of a break-in from occurring on your private property. Some of the best precautions you can take may seem obvious but they can be overlooked many times. Some of these include:

• Making sure you double check the locks on the doors and windows: While this may seem like a no-brainer, when is the last time that you look at the time to ensure your locks are functioning properly? Additionally, are they high-end locks that would make it extremely difficult for even a seasoned burglar to figure out? If you are unsure, it is best to take a closer look at how you’re securing your property and possibly invest in something that will offer greater protection for your business or home.  
• Install and activate alarm systems: There may have been a time when you didn’t think installing a security system would be necessary, however, that time has now passed. Installing a security device in your home and/or business is crucial to minimize your chances of an intrusion, especially in times where the rate of break-ins occurring is steadily increasing. Alarm systems not only monitor your surroundings and alert you and emergency personnel if there is an invasion, they can record what is happening at all times (especially helpful if needed to file a claim or report a crime to the police) and allow you to check in on your property while away. The key here is to make sure you are activating your alarm system frequently and at appropriate times. 

• Ensure adequate lighting: Even seasoned burglars tend to shy away from entering premises that are well-lit. Because they don’t want to be caught in the act of their crime, these intruders tend to look for dark or poorly lit businesses or homes in which they can carry out their crime without being seen. As such, having lights outside your home or business is vital to help deter burglars from trying to enter the premises. 
• Eliminate hiding spots: Just as it’s important to ensure there is adequate lighting around your home or business, it is equally important that you take the time to eliminate any potential spots where a burglar can easily hide out in. While this does not necessarily mean that you need to cut out all landscaping from the premises, it does mean that you should make sure trees or bushes are not overgrown, especially in areas that could provide easy access to doors or windows. Eliminating, or even minimizing, these spots will greatly decrease the chances of a break-in from occurring. 

While this list is not an exhaustive list for security measures that should be taken to ensure your home and business are well secure, these are, in fact, some of the best practices you can start taking to minimize your chances of an unnecessary intrusion of privacy from happening. 

Best Security Companies that Can Prevent Break-Ins from Occurring 

While it may seem overwhelming to figure out how to best secure your property from a potential attack, it doesn’t need to be. Fortunately enough, there are select security companies that can professionally install top-of-the-line security devices in your home or business to ensure your premises are well-secure and protected from a burglary. Installing one of these security devices can provide you the peace of mind you’ve been looking for, especially during these uncertain times. The best way to go about security device shopping is to make sure that the company you look at has industry-leading security measure standards and can install the system professionally for you. Furthermore, you will want them to have a good reputation, a loyal customer base, and the decades of experience to back up their work. 

Finding the right security company that meets all your needs and desires has never been easier. Reach out today and have any security questions you may have answered with transparency and honesty from a friendly representative. In no time at all, you can have an industry-leading security device installed in your home or business that provides you with the assurance that your belongings are being professionally monitored. You deserve the peace of mind you receive from knowing everything and everyone you care about are safe and being well-protected in these uncertain times.