Four simple and cheap things you can do to stop thieves in their tracks.
By now, you have probably noticed social platforms like rants and raves, nextdoor, or ring security camera networks where people share videos of thieves not giving and actual F about the security camera that’s pointing directly at them with a floodlight and taking anything from packages, bicycles, or other high value items that are left out for anyone to steal.
Skip to the bottom if you want a recap list and can’t spare the 5 minutes to read this whole blog…
These scavengers are onto the fact that police departments are probably too busy and don’t have enough real identifiable evidence (unless you’re this guy [neighbor messing with camera]) to hunt down and arrest them.
While these cameras are definitely useful and reduce your risk of robbery, there are some simple hacks you can do to (legally) scare the pants off of any would-be intruders and encourage them to leave immediately. There are also some cost effective ways to secure your home as well.
People stealing packages and things from outside of your house are generally opportunity scavengers and not looking to have a run-in with the resident of the home, meaning making your presence known (or… fabricating it [home alone image]) can drastically reduce your chances of becoming a victim of theft.
1. Make it look like you’re there, when you’re not–but do it the RIGHT way.
Here’s a simple setup I created that has a psychological element to it. Imagine you’re walking down a side yard of a house (you’re there to steal stuff) and suddenly, a light INSIDE the house turns on… you bolt out of there to avoid a confrontation. Sounds about right… but all this is, is a well placed motion activated outlet pointing out of a window or a garage vent with a lamp plugged into it.
This looks messy…. but it works
Thieves are not generally deterred by a motion activated outdoor light, but if it looks like someone inside the house or garage has turned on a light, that’s a different story. They will likely flee, and QUICKLY.
In my case, I plugged in a small fan as well that clicks on loudly to draw even more attention to the light that spills out into the side yard when anyone walks by. I recommend running some tests to make sure this has the desired effect even when slowly walking farther away from the motion detector. Dialing it in goes a long way. Check out the example video below.
2. Don’t advertise free stuff, or the fact that you’re likely not home. Make deliveries easily hideable with a large planter box.
Delivery drivers are the real life embodiment of a year round Santa Clause as far as I’m concerned, and I have found that if you create a hiding place on your front porch they will likely use it to hide the delivered item from public view.
Pro tip, if you leave snacks and water out during the holiday season, the delivery drivers will appreciate that and will probably be less likely to throw your package out of a moving vehicle as a delivery tactic. It helps if they don’t hate you.
3. If you have a Ring or other smart camera, learn how to use the deterrent features.
This tactic is obviously for people who have or are going to buy a smart camera. Smart cameras work best if they are noticed by the person thinking about stealing your stuff. They’re even more effective if they think there’s a person watching in realtime on the other end.
Some cameras have a whistle or even a voice that comes out when motion is activated, this is obviously huge in the “get your attention” department and helps the distracted thief realize that they’re in danger of being caught.
Personally, I have ring cameras covering all sides of the house, some in obvious places and others in hidden locations in order to maximize coverage. This might not be an economical option for most, but having at least one in the package delivery area is recommended if you can swing it.
4. Wooden dowels in the sliding door and windows, because why wouldn’t you?
This is less of a deterrent and more of a “Stay the F out” move but I like how cost effective this one is and how easy it is to set up. They even make adjustable security bars if you absolutely must avoid buying a cheap dowel and cutting it to size.
You can cut the dowels or adjust the security bar to allow for the door or window to be opened slightly for air flow.
I’m willing to bet that if you combined three out of four of these tactics and even avoided the security cameras altogether, you would save a ton of headache for not much money at all. The best defense is a good offense, afterall.
The recap:
Motion activated light rig inside your house. Set the motion detector to be triggered from outside motion but keep the light visible inside the house or garage.
Hide stuff better, get a large planter for your porch so that packages can be delivered and hidden well. Don’t advertise “free stuff” to the street traffic.
Learn to use the deterrent features of your security cameras. People tend to leave when a voice comes over the camera, this can be automated. Most brands like Ring or Arlo have a whistle or voice memo that speaks out when motion is detected. This is effective for 2 reasons:
People usually don’t notice the camera, this brings their attention to it.
They do notice the camera but think no one's watching… This reminder usually budges them into the “get out of here now” direction.
For the house, you can’t go wrong with wooden dowels, or even security bars. You can also adjust them to allow for a slightly cracked door or window and people still won't be able to enter from the outside.