9 Mistakes That Make Your House a Bigger Target

Not all break-ins are random. Most of the time, someone’s looking for signs that a house will be an easy win—no alarm, no one home, no neighbors watching. And a lot of people are unknowingly doing things that make their place look wide open for the taking.

If you’re serious about keeping your home safe, these are the habits that need a second look.

Leaving the Lights Off for Days

If your house sits dark for several nights in a row, it’s an easy giveaway that no one’s there. That’s especially true if your porch light never turns on or your inside lights stay off the whole time you’re gone.

A few cheap timers can solve that. Plug them into a few lamps and let them kick on in the evenings. It helps make your place look lived in, even if you’re states away.

Forgetting to Lock the Garage Door

It’s easy to focus on the front and back doors, but the garage often gets ignored—and burglars know that. An unlocked side door or a garage-to-house door that doesn’t latch can give someone quick access.

Make sure your garage doors lock fully, and keep the inside door to your house locked too. If you’ve got a keypad, change the code once in a while.

Leaving Expensive Tools or Equipment Out

If someone drives by and sees a pressure washer, mower, or toolbox sitting out, that’s a pretty big signal that your stuff isn’t secured. Even if they don’t grab it right then, they might come back.

Try to keep anything valuable in the garage or shed, especially overnight. The more you leave out, the more it looks like no one’s paying attention.

Posting Too Much on Social Media

Sharing vacation photos while you’re still on vacation is risky. So is tagging your location or posting that your whole family’s out for the night. You may think only friends can see it—but that’s not always the case.

Hold off on those posts until you’re home. And if you show the inside of your house, make sure you’re not giving a full layout or spotlighting anything pricey.

Skipping the Alarm or Camera Sign

Even if you don’t have a full security system, the signs alone can make someone think twice. People casing neighborhoods often look for the easiest houses—ones with no cameras, signs, or visible deterrents.

Putting up a security sticker or fake camera isn’t foolproof, but it can buy you some time or send someone down the road to a house that looks easier.

Leaving Windows Uncovered

If your blinds are always open and your electronics are visible from the road, it’s kind of like window shopping. Someone walking by can spot your TV, laptop, or purse without even trying.

Try to close blinds when you leave and move valuables out of direct view. It doesn’t have to look like a fortress—but it shouldn’t look like a showroom either.

Not Trimming the Hedges

Tall bushes and overgrown trees around windows and doors make great hiding spots. They can block the view from neighbors or the street, giving someone more time to mess with your house unnoticed.

Keep the landscaping trimmed back enough that you can see clearly from the road, especially near entrances. A tidy yard also shows that someone’s around and paying attention.

Leaving a Ladder Outside

A ladder left against the fence or garage is more than a trip hazard—it’s an open invitation to upper windows or roof access. Even if your upstairs windows are locked, a determined burglar might still try.

Always store ladders indoors or behind a locked gate. It’s one of those things that’s easy to forget but can seriously backfire if someone decides to use it.

Ignoring Burnt-Out Outdoor Lights

A broken porch light, dark driveway, or pitch-black backyard makes your place easier to sneak around. Even if you never use those spaces at night, someone else might.

Replace bulbs when they go out and consider motion-sensor lighting in low-traffic areas. A little light makes it a lot harder for anyone to snoop around without getting noticed.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.