How to Protect Your Home from the Summer Spike in Crime

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the summer spike in crime and how to protect your home.

To find out whether there is any seasonal variation in crime, the Bureau of Justice Statistics analysed data from the National Crime Victimisation Survey between 1993 and 2010. While that 17-year period ended over a decade ago, it still provides some pretty reliable indications of how crime changes throughout the seasons.

The survey found a significant rise in both violent victimisation and property crime, including:

• 11% rise in burglary
• 8% rise in household larceny – property being stolen from outside the home

While the report itself doesn’t provide any reasons why crime might rise in summer, there are a few potential contributing factors.

Firstly, there’s more opportunity. Whether it’s a day at the beach or a week-long holiday, people are away from their homes more in the summer. That gives opportunist thieves a chance to get in and out of your home without any disruption.

On top of that, summer brings a change in behaviour. The hot weather sees some people leaving their windows open if they don’t have air condition – or just don’t want to crank it up. Needless to say, that gives burglars an easy point of entry.

They’re also more likely to have valuable items left outdoors, whether it’s garden furniture or a laptop from your al fresco office. That increases the chance of larceny, even if you’ve only left things out while you head in for some sun cream.

The first way to protect your property and belongings is to stay smart. Don’t leave windows open unless you’re in your home. That includes shutting them if you’re in the garden. Similarly, don’t leave valuable items outside where thieves can quickly take them.

Of course, sometimes staying smart isn’t enough. That’s why it’s important to also have security measures in place.

1. Fences

Perimeter fences are a good start when it comes to your garden, as they provide an extra barrier for thieves. Not only will this stop them seeing what’s ‘on offer’ in your garden, it will make it much harder for them to gain access and get away with your belongings.

2.  CCTV

If you’re going away on holiday, video surveillance can be invaluable. The mere sight of cameras will deter burglars, even if they know you’re away. On top of that, a smart system will allow you to keep an eye on your property from wherever you may be.

3.  Alarms

Intruder alarms are a must for any property, but even more so in summer. Once your windows and doors are closed, they make sure break-ins don’t go unnoticed. That’s enough to deter most burglars, giving you more peace of mind while you’re away.

If you want more peace of mind in the summer and beyond, Selectron is on hand to help throughout Bermuda.

Our security experts can design and install the right security system for your home that covers all bases and protects you from the summer spike. To find out more, contact our team today.