Did you know that according to the FJoann Binelli/Lizzette FigueroaBI, a burglary occurs in a U.S. home every 15.4 seconds? Given this alarming frequency, it’s critical that you take the necessary precautions to protect your home, your family and your possessions from unforeseen harm.

“Even if you have homeowners insurance, replacing what is stolen or damaged due to a burglary could cost you a considerable amount of out-of-pocket money,” states Mitch Silver, Senior Vice President of NIA’s Personal Services Division. Silver recommends taking the following precautions to minimize the risk of being burglarized.  “You need to make it as difficult as possible for a burglar to detect that your home is empty and to gain access to it.”

Eight tips for improving your home security:

1. Install an alarm - A house with an alarm is much less likely to be burglarized than a home without one. Ask your insurance specialist if they recommend particular companies for installing alarms. Also, don’t forget to place an alarm notification sticker in clear view of your entryways.
2. Keep a minimal amount of cash in your home - Cash, jewelry, valuable documents and credit cards should be kept in a concealed safe, preferably off-site.
3. Install good locks - Use high-quality locks and, more importantly, use deadbolt locks on all main doors. Deadbolt locks make it more difficult for thieves to break through a door.
4. Leave the lights on - When you go out at night, leave the lights on and curtains drawn in rooms where a thief might expect you to be, such as living rooms and bedrooms. If you are going on vacation, you can purchase timer switches so that the lights come on during the times you would ordinarily be home.
5. Hide your valuable electronics - Ensure that televisions, stereo systems and other valuable electronic equipment can’t be seen from accessible windows.
6. Protect your lawn equipment - Keep power tools, mowers and other valuable items firmly secured in your garage. Also, wire the garage to your alarm system and make sure to add an alarm box to the garage.

Because there is no guarantee that you can keep a determined burglar from your home:

1. Mark your belongings - Marking your property with your name or address helps police return your property if you are robbed.
2. Attach a dollar value to your possessions - It is important to assess and record the dollar value of all your possessions. Homeowners constantly accumulate possessions, but fail to increase the value of their homeowners insurance policy, which can markedly increase their out-of-pocket costs should these items be stolen.

If you have any questions on securing your home or how to update your homeowners insurance policy, please contact Mitch Silver at 201.336.1348 or msilver@niagroup.com.