Burglars Are Hunting For These 7 Items You Left In Your Backyard Last Night

(MENAFN- Budget and the Bees)

You lock your front door. Next, you check the windows. Maybe you even set the alarm before bed. But when was the last time you really looked at what you left sitting out in your backyard? For many of us, the backyard is a blind spot-a place where we feel safe and private.

Unfortunately, burglars view your backyard differently. They see it as a toolbox. In fact, items homeowners unwittingly provided facilitate many home invasions. Thieves are scanning your yard right now for these seven common objects that make their job significantly easier.

Ladders Left Unsecured

This is the most common mistake homeowners make. You finish cleaning the gutters and leave the ladder leaning against the shed or lying in the grass. Consequently, you just gave a burglar a VIP pass to your second-floor windows, which are often left unlocked.

Always lock your ladder inside a garage or shed. If you must leave it out, use a high-quality padlock and chain to secure it to a fixed object. Don't make it easy for them to climb right in.

The Tool Shed That Isn't Locked

A flimsy latch on a garden shed is not enough. Burglars often break into sheds not to steal the tools, but to use them to break into your main house. Hammers, screwdrivers, and pry bars found in your shed work perfectly to force open a back door.

Treat your shed like an extension of your home. Use heavy-duty locks. Additionally, consider adding a motion-sensor light above the door to deter anyone from snooping around.

Bicycles and Scooters

A bike left on the lawn is a quick cash grab. However, it also serves as a getaway vehicle. Thieves often enter neighborhoods on foot and look for a bike to steal so they can move faster between houses or escape quickly if spotted.

Bring bikes inside or lock them securely. This habit keeps your property safe and prevents criminals from moving efficiently through your neighborhood.

Packaging from New Electronics

If you just bought a massive new TV or computer, do not leave the box by the back door or recycling bin. It advertises exactly what is new and valuable inside your house.

Break the boxes down completely. Then, put them inside the bin so they aren't visible. Better yet, take large boxes directly to a recycling center so they never sit on your curb at all.

Spare Keys Under the Mat

It is the oldest trick in the book. Yet, burglars still check for it every time. Under the mat, inside a fake rock, or above the door frame-thieves know all the hiding spots. If you need to leave a spare key for an emergency, give it to a trusted neighbor. Alternatively, use a high-quality lockbox installed in a discreet location. Never leave a key loose near the entry points.

Secure Your Perimeter

Your backyard should be a barrier, not an entry ramp. By clearing away these items, you remove the tools and temptations that attract thieves. Take a walk around your property this evening and look at it through the eyes of a stranger. What do you see?

What is the one item you always forget to put away after a weekend of yard work? Tell us in the comments below!

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