While some burglars use the front-door approach to sneak into houses, this won’t work for them if you have good front door security. A solid front door with high-quality locking hardware will mean that burglars have to get more creative if they want to break into your house.

While improved security may improve your chances that the burglar will move on and look for an easier target, you could get unlucky (especially if you have a lot of valuables in your home). Discover some creative ways a burglar may try to get in and how you can thwart them.

1. Through a Dog Door

Dog doors, if large, can present an easy target for a burglar who may be able to simply crawl through. Even a smaller dog door could allow a burglar to reach in and unlock your door from the inside. A high-tech dog door that only unlocks when your dog’s microchip is present can reduce the threat, although a clever burglar could try to follow your dog through the door.

For best results, combine a high-tech dog door with security cameras and high-quality door hardware and locking mechanisms. Install a security alarm for the dog door itself as well.

2. Through a Crawlspace

Many people don’t secure the access to their crawlspace. After all, they usually don’t have any valuables there. However, some burglars have learned to use a crawl space to access the inside of a house. The crawlspace offers them cover, since neighbors can’t easily see down there. Once a burglar has gained the shelter of a crawlspace, they can then cut through the floor.

This type of burglary is uncommon enough to make the news, but if you have lots of valuables, burglars may find the work of cutting through the floor worthwhile. To secure your crawlspace, include motion sensors, security cameras, and similar security devices around your home. Protect crawl space access points with strong, burglar-proof hardware and locks as well.

3. Through an AC Unit

A window AC unit can provide a point of entry because the window has to remain open for the unit to operate, which means the window can’t be locked easily.

To secure your home against intrusion, consider trading out your window unit for a mini-split AC unit. The mini-split style of AC doesn’t require any open windows but also doesn’t require the expense and infrastructure of ductwork that central AC requires. So trade out your window unit and then secure your windows with locks and motion sensors.

4. Through a Chimney

Your home’s chimney may be used seasonally, but many people rarely use their chimneys at all anymore. So if you have a home with a chimney, a burglar may want to use it for an access point. Chimneys generally aren’t a successful access point for burglars (and can be very dangerous), but occasionally they still try.

You don’t want your home burgled, but you also don’t want a trapped burglar who needs to be rescued by smashing your chimney. So make your chimney secure with a strong chimney cap and a reliable home security system that monitors your perimeter for invaders.

5. Through the Roof

You’ve probably heard of burglars gaining access through second-story windows. But even if you don’t have a second story, burglars could climb to the roof to gain access. Some burglars simply cut through the roof or tear out roof accessories such as vents to gain access to your home from above.

A burglar who tears up your roof to gain access will set you back quite a bit in roof repairs. So limit access to the roof and make sure all your security precautions include your second story (if you have one) and roof as well. Motion sensors, floodlights, and security cameras should all encompass the entire home.

With security measures such as high-quality locking mechanisms on dog doors and crawl space access points, you can repel these and other attempts at burglary. Contact your local locksmith and security expert today to learn more.