Burglars usually take no more than 60 seconds to break into a home; most burglaries occur between 10 am and 3 pm and last 8 to 10 minutes.  And the typical burglar is a young teen male who lives within a few miles of the home.   

Consequently, strategies for deterring home break-ins should take into account that they are committed by amateurs.  Police officers often recommend a strategy of relatively simple crime prevention through “environmental design.”  The principles they turn to are already within the designer’s toolbox and include natural surveillance, territorial reinforcement, access control and “target hardening.”

• Increase visibility around a home by avoiding large hedges and similar plants so there are fewer places for burglars to hide and so that neighbors and others passing by can spot intruders.  
• Cover the ground next to windows with gravel.  The crunch of footsteps on gravel won’t be music to the ears of a stealthy burglar.
• Plant low, thorny bushes beneath windows.  Barberries, roses, yucca and other pricklies are uninviting to anyone contemplating a hop in or out of a window.
• Light up the landscape with cost-effective LED lighting and place motion-activated lights on dark corners.  

We all want to feel secure in our homes and making a point to take these steps – and tell clients why you do – shows you care.  

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green NOW:
Use compact loaders to replace shovels, wheel barrows and more
Are you irresistible?
Building a jobs pipeline
Houzz: Growth strong for residential market