Burglar-Proofing Ideas For Your Log Home

Burglar-proofing your log home is a matter of protecting you, your loved ones, and your property. It is not a sign of phobia or weakness, but a practical matter, especially in a higher crime area.

To burglar-proof your home, install high-quality locks on all doors and windows, improve outdoor lighting with motion-activated fixtures, and consider security systems like alarms and cameras. You can also make your home look occupied by using timers for lights and radios, and maintain your property by keeping landscaping trimmed and side gates locked. Let’s look at a comprehensive plan for securing your log home or log cabin.

Burglar-Proofing Log Homes: Secure Your Entry Points

Start burglar proofing your log home by securing common entry points to the house and garage. Check these entry points before leaving home and before going to bed:

• Doors: Install sturdy, solid doors with high-quality deadbolt locks. Reinforce door frames with long screws in the hinges to make them stronger. Lock the door that goes from the laundry or other room to the attached garage.
• Windows: Make sure all windows are locked, and consider adding security film to make them harder to break. For sliding windows and patio doors, place a bar or a thick dowel in the track to prevent them from being forced open.
• Gates and Garages: Keep side gates, sheds, and garages locked. If you have a door to enter the garage from the laundry room, be sure to lock it day and night. Check your electronic garage door closers regularly to ensure they function properly. Store ladders and tools securely so they can't be used to break into your home.
• Window and Door Security: Keep all doors and windows locked at appropriate times, and ensure the locks function properly. Read this informative article on window and door security.

Interior Measures And Lifestyle To Burglar-Proof Log Homes

How you protect the interior of your home matters, and you can practice safety throughout the house. Invest in a home security alarm system, possibly with professional monitoring, cameras, video doorbells, and motion sensors. The mere presence of a system can deter many thieves. Hide expensive items like jewelry, cash, and electronics out of plain sight from windows and doors. When needed, use blinds or curtains to limit visibility into your log home.

Create the illusion of occupancy by using timers to turn interior lights, a TV, or a radio on and off to simulate a normal routine, especially when you are away. Manage your mail and trash when away by asking a neighbor, friend, or family member to collect your mail, newspapers, and packages. Avoid leaving new product boxes for expensive items next to the recycling bin, as this advertises new valuable items.

Limit or stop social media posts, such as announcing vacation plans or business trips. Don’t post photos on social media while you are away, as this alerts potential burglars that your home is a good target. Engage with neighbors by getting to know them and forming a neighborhood watch to increase communal vigilance and reduce crime rates.

“Burglar-proofing your log home is a practical matter of protecting you, your loved ones, and your property.”

Exterior Deterrents For Safety

Exterior deterrents should also be considered for burglar-proofing log homes. Spending money on them is worth the cost and effort by practicing the following:

• Install Exterior lighting: Use motion-sensor lights or floodlights around all entry points, the garage, and dark spots around the perimeter. Burglars prefer to operate unseen, and these lights can deter them.
• Ladders: Do not leave ladders in the yard, as burglars can climb up and enter open windows on the second floor.
• Landscape Strategically: Trim trees and shrubs, especially those near windows and doors, to eliminate potential hiding spots. Consider planting thorny bushes under ground-floor windows to deter access.
• Secure Outdoor Valuables: Lock up sheds and garages, and store valuable outdoor items like bicycles, grills, and tools securely inside.
• Display Security Signs: Placing signs in your yard that indicate the presence of a security system or a dog can be an effective deterrent.

Other Precautions To Take

A common mistake many of us make is hiding spare keys under a doormat or in or under a fake rock near the door. Thieves are well aware of this practice and enter many homes with keys. It’s critical you make a plan where you follow a routine before going to bed or leaving home for work, the weekend, or a vacation. Lock the doors, check the stove and oven, faucets for drips, fireplace, wood-burning stove, lights, and security system. Ask a family member to do these things if you are out of town. Watch this video for your home protection.

Conclusion

Safety is always a priority in our lives, and burglar-proofing your home is certainly at the top of the list, whether it’s made with wood log siding, full logs, or timber frame construction. You will never be sorry for taking all the precautions needed for your and your family’s security.

Resources and References:

Window And Door Security

Burglar Proof Your Home