Stopping Burglars With the Power of the Mind

If you have spent any time watching Planet Earth or any of the other nature-related Discovery channel program that studies animals in nature you will find that many of their defenses are more of a psychological advantage than anything else, trying to look bigger than the attacker. The same can hold true when you are a human defending yourself against an intruder.

Home security systems aren't perfect. Truth be told, they're one piece of your protective puzzle. If you want to really keep burglars at bay, there are some psychological tricks you can use to complement the system. Here are a few:

Home security signs. Whether or not you actually have a system installed, signs or stickers that say you do can act as a deterrent to burglars. Some burglars just won't even attempt to enter a home that they believe has a home security system. They'll move on to the next house, not wanting to take the risk. Motion sensitive driveway lights. Burglars don't like to operate in the light. As a matter of fact, a well-lit yard, driveway, and entryways can act as a major deterrent to burglars. Motion-sensitive lights let you keep away burglars without having to leave a light going all night long, or use the electricity to do so. Today's motion-sensitive lights are also built so as to not be set off by small animals, such as a wandering alley cat. Fake animals. Burglars are also concerned with who or what might be inside the house. Putting a dog bowl on the porch, for example, can make them think that a vicious guard dog awaits them inside. A big bowl is good, but even a smaller one can do the trick. Burglars don't want to draw attention, and a yelping small dog will do that as much as a barking Doberman. Fake residents. Likewise, a burglar is more likely to enter a home if he believes he can easily overcome the resident. A single woman, for example, might consider buying a pair of size 15 men's work boots from a second-hand store, just to make burglars think that a big, burly man lives in the home. Giant Shoes. If you go to any thrift store, you are likely to find a big pair of worn-in shoes that, when placed on the front porch, will have the psychological effect of making whatever potential home intruder who is scoping out your house think twice when approaching.

Don't simply install your home security system and hope for the best. These other measures will give you an added layer of security you can't get with a home security system by itself.