Burglar-Proof Your Backyard

According to the United States Department of Justice, there are 2.5 million home burglaries annually in the United States (May 2021).

While making sure we’re safe inside, remember to protect your home’s exterior: your backyard, side yard or dog run, garden, storage shed, gazebo, garage, etc. Storing things in the backyard can be unavoidable – bikes, BBQs, toys, or tools; some things are always outside like patio furniture, or sports equipment. Any of these items are targets for thieves, or things that turn thieves into home burglars.

The following tips can help burglar-proof your backyard.

Lights!
Lights deter most burglars – they want to gain entry to your home and get out without being detected. The more well-lit in your backyard, garden, or pool area is, the safer you make your property. Motion sensor lights are efficient and eliminate full-time outdoor lighting in securing your backyard.

Install motion sensor lighting around your home, stairs, in cornered areas, decks and patios, over garage doors, and in your backyard. They add another layer of security. The lights suddenly flooding the area surprises burglars and gives you better imaging on your security cameras.

Ideally, install motion sensor lights about 6 to 10 feet above the ground.

Camera!
Strategically placed surveillance cameras around your home give burglars a good reason not to target your property. Sources report that 60 percent of burglars looked for a surveillance system before entering a home. Having a security camera, motion sensor lighting, and other security layers help to take your home off a criminal’s list.

Locks!
Many people keep grills, tools, sports equipment, or patio furniture out year-round. If your garage is full and your property has the space, consider adding a shed to store ladders, gardening tools, bikes, lawn mower, or other equipment. Secure the shed with a heavy-duty lock; you may want to install a security camera on your shed as well. If a shed is not an option, you can still protect your property from thieves:

• Lock things up. Lock up your ladders, BBQs, bicycles and other items with cables and a heavy duty padlock. Keep in mind, it’s always best to store ladders in a shed or garage so it can’t be used to gain entry to a second-story window.
• Put tools away. Burglars can use putty knives, screwdrivers, hammers, shovels or trowels, crowbars, etc. to gain entry to your home. After a day of work, take time and secure your tools in a locked garage or shed.
• Secure patio furniture. Most patio furniture is out and unprotected. Protect your property by securing them with steel cables and locks. Minimally, keep them covered – this protects them from roaming eyes, as well as weathering, mold or mildew. If you have the space, store your furniture when not in use.

Alarms
An alarm system is one of the best layers for theft and burglary prevention. Remember, burglars look for easy targets; they’ll most likely move on if they see signs that your home has a security system.

Unfortunately, you can’t install an alarm system for your yard and garden, but you can use this security layer on your windows and any sliding doors, back or side doors, or garage entrances.

Shrubs and Landscaping
Plant shrubs under or near a window to deter criminals from gaining entry to your home from lower windows. Planting roses or other thorny plants near your windows minimizes the possible use of these entry and exit points.

Discourage criminals from using your landscaping to their advantage. Overgrown landscaping and shrubs provides easy hiding places – trim back large plants that block windows or doors.

Consider a Fence
A fence gives you privacy, making it difficult for people to see what’s on your property, as well as making it difficult to enter your property; but it can also pose a problem by providing a natural cover for an intruder.

Wrought iron fencing can be a successful type of fence because it addresses making it difficult for someone to break through or climb; creating a visual deterrent; providing visibility into your backyard while being aesthetically pleasing. The fencing should also have a securing mechanism like a self-closing lock or latch. Further, most locks will hook through this mechanism.

Of course, fencing itself is a matter of your aesthetics and the harmony of your home and property. When choosing a security fence for your property, keep in mind that there may be height restrictions along the roadway and other borders of your property line. A good place to start research is the Municode site for Pasadena: 17.40.180 – Walls and Fences.

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