Home intrusions are real. Every year, 2.5 million people experience a home invasion, according to Simple Insurance. That means you have a duty as a homeowner to protect your assets as much as possible. These are some tips for protecting yourself and your family.

1. Install a Home Security System

Home security technology has advanced by lightyears over the past few decades. Thus, you can install an advanced security system that will help you avoid break-ins and property loss. You could go several routes and use one of many systems to protect your home.

Many people take advantage of systems that allow them to view the inside of their homes from their mobile phones while on the go. These systems allow users to control various electronics inside their homes, as well. You might be interested in using such a system, and you can ask a specialist for additional information about its features.

If you catch anyone interfering with your home, you can get the authorities to charge them with a severe crime. Anything over $1,500 is considered a Class A felony theft charge. Items between $1,000 and $1,500 are considered Class B crimes. Either type of felony can land a person in jail for quite some time.

2. Consider Security Windows and Doors

Security windows and doors are another option to protect your home from break-ins. Manufacturers create doors that are hard to infiltrate and windows with complete bars on them if that’s what you want. You may consider investing in these items to protect yourself from being victimized by a professional home burglar.

3. Get the Neighbors Involved

Getting your community involved is always a good idea. Friendly neighbors will watch over your home and notify you if they notice any shady activities. All you need to do is do your part and be friendly to your neighbors, so they’ll want to protect you. Then, ask them if they will look over your home while you are away. Nine times out of 10, neighbors will agree to keep an eye out for you. You might even get one to house-sit for you.

4. Update Your Door Locks

At the very least, you should consider updating your locks on your current doors. An upgrade might be all you need if you don’t have enough money to install fully new doors.

The experts say that more than 16,000 lockouts occur each year. That means plenty of locksmiths are in business to help people get into their homes when they lock themselves out. Those same professionals are available to create and install new locks to aid their clients in keeping their homes safe. It might be something to consider if you want to make your house more burglar-proof.

5. Keep Your Business Private

Never discuss what you have in your home with anyone outside your immediate family. It would help if you were even cautious about people you think are your friends. Giving other individuals this information could make you susceptible to future intrusion. The best advice we can provide is to live humbly and never let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Too many people make the mistake of trusting others, often resulting in unfortunate incidents. Therefore, staying low-key about what you have is the best move you can make for yourself and your family.

A bonus tip is keeping up with your home’s foundation and making necessary repairs. HomeAdvisor reports that most homeowners spend about $4,600 annually on foundational repairs.

Keeping your foundation strong is something you can do to make it harder for would-be intruders to get into your home. Get your home inspected once a year to see if you need to address any issues call a specialist and then take care of them immediately. Taking those steps can help squash crime before it happens.

You can protect yourself and your family from home intrusions by using the above-mentioned tips. Try them all, and then consult with an expert about some additional steps you can take.