Designing a retractable banner is a fun and rewarding experience. In this article, we’ve prepared 12 expert tips and 14 free customizable design templates to help you create a banner that perfectly conveys your brand and message. We’ve also included retractable banner ideas and examples that will inspire you to get started.

Where are Retractable Banners Used?

Retractable banners are versatile and portable, making them perfect for any indoor and outdoor space. They can be used in trade shows, exhibits, conferences, retail spaces, events, lobbies, and more.

Retractable Banner Materials

Before designing a retractable banner, it’s important to know which material suits your needs best. At Signs.com, we offer two (2) types of banner material:

• Vinyl – lightweight, printed with durable UV ink, easy to clean, and has a glossier finish than fabric.

• UV Fabric – lightweight, printed using a dye-sublimation process, washable, and has a smooth matte finish.

When choosing the material for your retractable banner, ensure that it aligns with your design goals, environmental factors, and practical considerations to effectively convey your message while meeting the demands of its intended use. Considering these factors will not only help your banner to stand out but also perform well.

1 . Sketch the Design

Sketching something can mean a few things. For some designers, drafting a design can be done on paper or whiteboard. Others prefer to use digital sketch programs like Google Drawings or Adobe XD. Whatever you decide to use, getting a general outline and feel of the design is the most important part of this step. You can also search for ideas online and use them as inspiration for your retractable banner design. Using Google search is a good place to start.

2. Focus on Your Brand

When designing your retractable banner, make sure that the logo of your brand is prominent and noticeable. Many banners use the logo as the focal point of the entire design, and most customers will recognize the logo quickly and know it is you. Put emphasis on your brand colors, and use them with complementing ones. The banner can also be an extension of your website, store, or any other promotional materials you create so consider giving them a unified look.

Click the template to use on Signs.com

Click the template to use on Signs.com

3. Use the Brand to Focus on a Theme

Most companies have branding guidelines that include the logo display, the hex color codes of their brand colors, and the brand-approved fonts. If you have a brand guide, use it to correctly get the logo file, style, colors, and fonts you’ll use in your designs. But if you don’t a have brand book, you can use the same logo, font, and color scheme featured in your store and website. Remember to note the color codes and fonts so you use them consistently in future designs. This will help establish a strong brand identity and make it easier for customers to recognize your brand.

Click the template to use on Signs.com

Click the template to use on Signs.com

4. Use Colors and Styles That Make the Banner Pop

While it’s common practice to use brand colors on marketing materials, there are cases when brands go off book when they want to announce a milestone like a big sale event or a launch of a new product. If this is something you’re looking into, read on.

Take your retractable banner design ideas to the next level by understanding the way that colors work in design. There are two types of colors: warm colors and cool colors.

Warm colors are your reds, yellows, oranges, and all similar colors. They evoke feelings of warmth and passion.

Cool colors are a little different — they are your blues, purples, greens. These colors evoke feelings of calm and can be soothing or refreshing. Use cool colors to give your customers a sense of calm when looking at your banner. Take advantage of the right colors with the right feel to make your banner pop.

Click the template to use on Signs.com

Click the template to use on Signs.com

5. Approach the Design With Balance

When designing a retractable banner, make sure to keep balance in mind. People read and view everything from left to right and top to bottom, so avoid designs that go against this. However, that doesn’t mean everything needs to be left aligned. Centering your design or headline can work great with some designs, especially with retractable banners. Their long and vertical shape allows you to use bold fonts and all caps in a strategic way.

Click the template to use on Signs.com

Click the template to use on Signs.com

6. White Space (or Blank Space) is Not Your Enemy

White space is not your enemy and is an essential when it comes to design. Use it to achieve balance between design elements. A design with 10 images that have no borders or space between them will never look as clean and balanced as one that has 2 or 3 evenly-spaced images. Keep the same in mind with text. Avoid using long paragraphs and consider breaking them up and shortening them. Spacing and staying away from the top and side edges of the design are important in conserving white space.

Click the template to use on Signs.com

Click the template to use on Signs.com

7. Consider Different Banner Sizes and Types

There are many different size options available for retractable banner. Before deciding on a size, you may want to decide first on a type. Signs.com offers four different types of retractable banners: standard, deluxe, premium, and tabletop. Each type is different than the other and provides pros and cons.

Retractable Banner Comparison Chart

The standard retractable banner is an affordable large retractable banner; deluxe is even taller and sturdier than the standard one. Both standard and deluxe only offer single–side designs. The premium retractable banner is large, durable, and offers a double–sided option, while the tabletop retractable banner is a small banner that fits on a table. It is the most different of the four, as it is a smaller format and less expensive. Your retractable banner design size can then be determined by considering the sizes on our retractable banner page and our tabletop retractable banner page.   

Click the template to use on Signs.com

Click the template to use on Signs.com

8. Use High-Quality Images

One of the most important pieces of designing a pop-up banner is determining what images to put in your design. Choose high-quality images including your logos. Using low-quality images results in blurry and pixelated designs.

The metric used for digital resolution of your image files is PPI (pixels per inch). PPI is calculated by dividing the number of pixels in your image by the number of inches in your design. For more information on understanding dimensions and image quality please check out our guide on resolution. With most retractable banners, we recommend a minimum of 70 ppi and 300 ppi for table top retractable banners. Keeping correct dimensions and PPI in mind will ensure that your image files are suitable for signs of any size.

Click the template to use on Signs.com

Click the template to use on Signs.com

9. Try More Than One Design 

Retractable banners can be double-sided and will allow you to print different designs on each side, making it easy to test which one works best. Another way to accomplish this would be to order multiple signs and test them out at various events over time. Regardless of how you decide to do it, using various sizes and different displays will help you achieve the best results.

10. Use Complementary Signs in Your Display 

A banner design doesn’t have to be used exclusively for a retractable banner. When creating displays for a business trade show or a large educational or medical event, it’s important to use different signages that complement each other. Signs that pair well with retractable banners include tension fabric displays, X banners, step and repeat banners, table covers and table runners. All of these products can be found and designed on our trade show page. Choose complementary signs that help build the perfect display for your event, and make sure to use the same design themes, colors and logos.

11. Measure Success and Evaluate

Measure the success and evaluate how things went in your campaign to determine your ROI. Find out if the retractable banner you designed and displayed helped bring more leads or sales by setting goals based on activities you would like to see happen at the event you display your banner. Once you determine your conversion criteria, make sure to track it in any way you can, and take time to review and evaluate after the event.

Invite the people that need to be present to a 30-minute meeting, have a post mortem, and go over what worked and what didn’t. Use the data you’ve gathered to plan for the next event accordingly.

12. Contact Our Free Design Services at Signs.com

If designing is not your forte, take advantage of Signs.com’s free design services. Our professional designers will create the banner artwork for you while keeping all best practices in mind. For more information about Signs.com and how we can help with designing your retractable banner, fill out the form on our website. We will be happy to answer any questions you have and help you succeed with your designs.

Retractable Banner Examples

Not sure how to kickstart your design? Check out these retractable ideas to spark your creativity:

Complementary Banners

Mix and match retractable banners by using various sizes and shapes to create a 3D effect.

Switched Up Layouts

Displaying retractable banners with the same colors but distinct layouts will look more visually engaging and impactful. Additionally, using the same layout but contrasting colors will make your audience look from one retractable banner to the other.

Bold Imagery

Maximize visibility by printing one bold image that is as big as the retractable banner. This will draw more attention to your banner and make your sign pop.

Diptychs and Triptychs

Increase your display impact by two or even three retractable banners of the same size. This allows you to showcase a single large image with information spread across the design. This is an effective way to capture the eye of your audience and passersby.

Retractable Banner Designs

 Single-sided Retractable Banners

Our single-sided retractable banners may be the most affordable option, but they still do the job well. These are eye-catching and are sure to make any message stand out.  

Double-sided Retractable Banners

If you want to make the most out of your retractable banner, our double-sided option is a great choice. These are perfect for receptions, tradeshows, hallways, or any area needing visibility from both directions.

Deluxe Retractable Banners

Deluxe retractable banners feature a sturdy base with sleek chrome end caps that stabilize on their own. This type of banner is the best option for showing your brand and offerings because of its professional look.

Premium Retractable Banners

Premium retractable banners come with a base that adds sophistication to any display. Unlike other banners, this banner has two support poles for added stability.

Related Articles

Give Your Banners an Edge: Signage 101

Why Vinyl Banners Are Reliable Everyday Displays

Do You Need Vinyl Banners for Business Advertising: A Checklist

Retractable Banner Design Tips & Ideas

In addition to being man’s best friend, it turns out a dog can also be extremely beneficial when it comes to safety and protection. Having a dog or two can help deter thieves and unwanted trespassers. In Jack MacLane’s study, “Secrets of a Superthief,” he concludes that 95 percent of thieves and burglars are deterred by dogs.

But your dogs can also be a huge liability. If your dog ends up biting another animal or a human, you could be sued for any damages and oftentimes more. Sometimes his desire to protect you can even cost your dog his life.

That’s why it’s critical to mitigate your risks of liability in any way that you can. One of the best ways to protect yourself — and your dog — is to tell people you have a dog on your property by posting clear and visible signs.

The way in which signage protects you varies greatly from state to state so it’s critical that you know what your state laws say. I have gone through each state’s laws on dogs to determine whether or not having a sign posted would prove to be beneficial to you. I have also included some of our relevant sign design templates for you if you’d like.

Disclaimer: I don’t profess to be a lawyer. I am giving you my interpretation of the legal swamp I waded through for you. You’re welcome. Also, if you want real legal advice, you need to consult a lawyer.

Alabama

Alabama offers no written protection through “beware of dog” signage. However, your dog owner liability is significantly lessened if someone trespasses on your property. That means having a “no trespassing” sign could definitely help your case.

Alaska

Alaska offers no protection with signage. In fact, any dog considered vicious can be lawfully killed if it is running at large.

Arizona

Arizona law provides that a person with knowledge of a dog’s vicious propensity must also keep the dog in an enclosed yard or confined area with a sign indicating the dog’s vicious tendencies.

Arkansas

Arkansas offers no protection through signage. You may want to consider dog bite liability insurance.

California

California offers no protection through signage.

Colorado

A dog owner shall not be liable to a person who suffers bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death from being bitten by the dog: While the person is on property of the dog owner and the property is clearly and conspicuously marked with one or more posted signs stating “no trespassing” or “beware of dog”.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Connecticut

Offers no protection through signage.

Delaware

If Delaware officials find a dog to be dangerous, the owner must display a sign warning that a dangerous dog is on the premises. The sign must be visible and legible from the roadway or 100 feet, whichever is less.

Click to Customize or Buy

Florida

Unless the person is under the age of six or if the damages caused by the dog are because of some other negligence on the owners part, if the owner has displayed a sign in a prominent place on their property that is easily readable and has the words “Bad Dog”, the owner is then not liable.
Owners of dogs classified as “dangerous” must post a clearly visible warning sign at every entry point of the property. It must warn children and adults alike about a dangerous dog on the property.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Georgia

Owners of dogs classified as “dangerous” or even “potentially dangerous” must post clearly visible warning signs noting a dangerous dog at every entrance of the property where the dog resides.
Owners of dogs classified as “vicious” must post clearly visible warning signs of a vicious dog at every entrance of the property where the dog resides.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Hawaii

If you have clear warning signs of a dog adequately posted on your property, then a person who is not licensed or privileged to enter or remain on your property is liable for any damage from the animal.
Posting a “no trespassing” sign may to mitigate any potential liability as well.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Idaho

Offers no protection through signage.

Illinois

Offers no protection through signage.

Indiana

Under Indiana’s common law, all dogs are presumed to be harmless which means that the plaintiff will basically have to claim negligence on the owner’s part. It would most likely help the dog owner’s case if he/she had a couple of warning signs up on the property.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Iowa

Liable unless you can prove that the person was engaged in an unlawful act such as trespassing. Throw up a “no trespassing” sign on your property and you’ll certainly have a better case.

Click to Customize or Buy

Kansas

In general, if you have no reason to believe that your dog would bite someone and it does, you will not be held liable. Obviously, this will only work the first time.

Kentucky

Offers no written protection through signage. In fact, if anyone witnesses a dog attacking a human, they can kill it without any liability.

Louisiana

If you own a dog classified as “dangerous,” then you have a responsibility to post signs no more than 30 feet apart and at every single entrance point of your property. The signs must bear the words, “beware of dog,” or “dangerous dog,” in letters at least three-and-one-half inches high and must be readily visible to any person approaching the enclosure.

Click to Customize or Buy

Maine

Offers no written protection through signage. In fact, if your dog bites someone even if they trespass on your property, that won’t reduce the damages they can recover for any physical injury they incur.

Maryland

Offers no written protection through signage. In fact, any person may kill any dog which he sees in the act of pursuing, attacking, wounding, or killing any poultry or livestock, or attacking human beings whether or not such dog bears the proper license tag required by these provisions. There shall be no liability on such persons in damages or otherwise for such killing.

Massachusetts

Your liability is seriously mitigated if someone is caught trespassing on your property. Make sure you have a “no trespassing” sign posted on your property.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Michigan

You are absolutely liable for any injury your dog may cause, unless the person was trespassing on your property. Your liability will be much less if you have a “no trespassing” sign on your property.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Minnesota

Owners of dangerous dogs must post their property with a clearly-visible warning sign that includes a symbol to inform children that the dog is on the property. Dangerous dog liability insurance may is an additional avenue to pursue.

Mississippi

In Mississippi, there is no written protection through signage. If your dog bites someone, he/she must prove that your dog was dangerous prior to the attack or that you should have known it was dangerous. In this case, it may prove beneficial to have no-trespassing signs up on your property instead.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Missouri

As the owner, you are liable if your dog bites someone up to the amount the courts determine you are at fault. If you can prove that the victim was at fault as well, your liability will decrease by the percentage that you can prove fault by the victim. Having a “beware of dog” sign and “no trespassing” signs could certainly prove to be helpful in placing some of that fault on the victim.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Montana

You are liable for any damage your dog does as long as the other party is not doing anything illegal. Again, it may prove to be beneficial to have “no trespassing” signs at each entry to your property to mitigate your liabilities.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Nebraska

The owner of what is considered a dangerous dog must post warning signs on the property where the dog is kept that are clearly visible from all areas of public access and that inform persons that a dangerous dog is on the property. Each warning sign shall be no less than ten inches by twelve inches and shall contain the words “warning” and “dangerous animal” in high-contrast lettering at least three inches high on a black background.

Click to Customize or Buy

Nevada

In order to be liable for dog bite injuries, the victim must prove that you were negligent and that your negligence caused your injuries. This means that having dog warning signs would definitely be beneficial in helping protect you from negligence.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

New Hampshire

As the owner, you are held strictly liable of any injury unless the plaintiff is found guilty of trespassing. Once again, the “no trespassing” sign comes into play here.
Also, if you want or have an official guard dog on your property, you must have a sufficient number of signs on your property to adequately warn the public.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

New Jersey

If you have a dangerous dog, you must have signs that are visible and legible from at least 50 feet away that give proper warning of the dog

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

New Mexico

If you own a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog in New Mexico, you must post clearly visible warning signs with clear warning symbols indicating a dangerous dog on the property. The signs must be clearly visible to the public from 50 feet away.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

New York

In New York, there is no written protection of your canine through signage. However, you still may be able to lessen the damages that could be claimed if you have clear and sufficient signage notifying the public of your dog.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

North Carolina

There is no written protection of your dog through signage. However, you may be able to lessen the plaintiff’s case of negligence if you had clearly visible “beware of dog” and “no trespassing” signs up.

Click to Customize or Buy

North Dakota

There are no written protections for your dog through signage in North Dakota.

Ohio

If you own a dangerous or vicious dog, you are required by law to have posted clearly visible signs at your residence warning both minors and adults of the presence of a dangerous dog on the property.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Oklahoma

If you own a dangerous dog, you are required to post clearly visible warning signs that there is a dangerous dog on the property. You must also display a sign with a warning symbol that informs children of the presence of a dangerous dog.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Oregon

In Oregon, if the victim can prove negligence as the reason for the injury, you will be held liable. Having danger: dog signs and “no trespassing” signs could help you prove that you were not negligent.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Pennsylvania

If you own a dangerous dog, you are required by law to post clearly visible signs that warn of a dangerous dog on the property. You must also display a sign with a warning symbol informing children of a dangerous dog.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Rhode Island

If you own a vicious dog, you must display signs warning people of your dog. Your signs must be clearly visible and capable of being read from a public street.

Click to Customize or Buy

South Carolina

South Carolina contains no written laws helping to avoid liability of your dangerous or potentially dangerous dog through signage. However, if you are training bird dogs, you have to post a sign every 150 feet or less that designates the area as “Private Bird Dog Training”.

Click to Customize or Buy

South Dakota

South Dakota has no written laws mitigating liabilities through signage. However, a victim must prove the owner’s negligence in order to win a claim. If you as the owner put up signs warning people about your dog as well as “no trespassing” signs, this could potentially limit your liabilities.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Tennessee

Tennessee has a very strict liability statute: There is no liability for a dog that is protecting someone from being attacked. For you to be held liable, the non-attacking victim must prove negligence on your part. Having “beware of dog” signs and/or “no trespassing” signs will help to mitigate your risks of being negligent.

Click to Customize or Buy

Texas

If you own a dangerous dog, it must be in an enclosure on your property which is clearly marked as containing a dangerous dog.

Click to Customize or Buy

Utah

In Utah, the amount of liability you have is determined by comparative fault. As a dog owner, this means if you can prove that the plaintiff is 30% liable, you are only 70% liable. Having dog warning signs and “no trespassing” signs at the entrances of your property, as well as near any enclosures for your animal, should help to make the plaintiff more liable.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Vermont

In Vermont, the victim of an injury provoked by a dog must prove negligence by the dog’s owner. As the owner, having signs warning people of the risk of entering your property could help to lessen any negligence claims.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Virginia

Owners of dangerous dogs must post signs that are clearly visible to both adults and minors warning them of the dog on the property.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Washington

If you have a dog that has ever inflicted severe injury on a human or domestic animal, you are required to post a sign conspicuously placed on your property that warns people that a dangerous dog is on the property. You must also display a warning symbol of some kind that will warn children of the presence of a dangerous dog.

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

Click to Customize or Buy

West Virginia

West Virginia does not have any written laws lessening your liability through signage. In fact, if your dog is running at large (without a leash) and injures someone, you will be held liable. Your negligence does not have to be proven. Your dog liability is high in this state.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin offers no protection through signage.

Wyoming

Wyoming does not offer any written protection through signage. The victim must prove negligence on the owner’s behalf with allows the owner to try to lessen their own liabilities through having clearly visible signage on their property. Interestingly, a victim can recover (get money) by showing that your dog has dangerous propensities and they can prove that just by showing that the breed of the dog can have dangerous propensities.

Although I’m not a lawyer, I will say this: Even if your state doesn’t claim any written protection for you or your dog through signage, in my opinion, warning people is still a good idea. The mere fact that you have a sign up may prevent people from trespassing for fear of getting bit. That alone potentially lessens your chances of being sued. Also, having signs posted warning people of the dangers of entering your property may still potentially lessen your liabilities, even if your state doesn’t specifically say it will.

In my opinion, if you have a dog, have a sign.

Beware of Dog Signs: Protecting You, Your Dogs, And Your Visitors

Spring is here and you’re loving the blooming tulips, the longer daylight hours and especially the warmer weather. Do you know who else is loving all this warm weather? Your friendly neighborhood burglar.

During spring and summer months, burglaries increase as much as 200%. Police think that’s due to two factors: first, burglars don’t like to go out in the cold any more than the rest of us. And second, people love to leave their windows and doors open in the spring and summer. While burglaries in your neighborhood might increase during these next few months, there are a few things you can do to minimize your chances of a break in.

10 scary facts about your neighborhood burglar:

1. He and others like him commit over 2 million burglaries every year.
2. He’s between the ages of 17 and 25 and he’s not a pro.
3. He’s typically stealing your stuff to support his drug habit.
4. He is likely to use your front door to gain access. Back doors and windows, too.
5. He breaks in by kicking in your door, or using a pry bar or screwdriver.
6. He’s in and out in as little as 10 minutes.
7. He’s not likely to get caught; police solve only about 13% of home burglaries.
8. He usually breaks in between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm.
9. If you (or your kids) walk in on him, your odds of assault are high.
10. He’s likely to case your home before breaking in.

The fact that he’s casing your house is good news

Your young, drug addicted neighborhood burglar doesn’t want to try too hard. Unless you live in a multi-million dollar mansion, the pros aren’t coming to your house; they don’t want your laptop and Oxycontin prescription. Your guy is a bust-in-and-grab-stuff kind of guy; not a disarm-the alarm-system-and-tie-up-the-butler kind of guy. He doesn’t have the same skills as the guys in the action movies, and he knows it.

So, burglar boy cases your neighborhood before he strikes so he can choose the low hanging fruit: houses with open windows, lots of shrubbery and secluded entry points.

What he doesn’t like: dogs, alarm systems, entry points that are visible to the neighbors and passing cars.

The easiest way to prevent a burglary is to make the burglar think that your house is just too much work to break into.

Get a dog… or at least a sign with a dog on it.

Burglars hate dogs. Not because they bite, but because they bark. Well, and sometimes they bite, too. Barking dogs annoy the neighbors, who look out their windows to see whose dogs are waking up their napping toddlers. And burglars don’t like nosy neighbors to be paying attention to your house while they’re busy going through your medicine cabinet.

If you have a dog, you’re already less likely to be the victim of a burglary. But adding a sign telling burglars that you have a dog is even better. And guess what? If you don’t have a dog, you can still make burglars think that you do. Most burglars are going to see your dog sign and not even think to question whether you really have a dog or not; they’re just going to move on down the street to find someone without a dog (or a sign).

You don’t need a big dog.

Turns out, little dogs are actually more annoying than big ones. At least to a burglar (and maybe to other people, too, but that’s beside the point). Little yappy dogs aren’t as easily deterred from barking as bigger dogs. So your neighborhood burglar might really, really hate to see a sign like this:

Get an alarm system… or at least an alarm system sign.

Guess what else amateur, drug addicted burglars hate? Alarm systems. They’re so annoying and loud. If you have a system and your neighbors don’t, guess whose house is more likely to be targeted?

The alarm companies don’t want to admit this, but the signs they give you are often more effective than the actual alarm system. After all, most burglars aren’t going to check to see if you really have an alarm—they’re going to assume that if you have a sign, you have an alarm. That’s not to say that an alarm system is bad; they certainly have many advantages. But if you don’t have the money for an alarm system, a sign is a less expensive option and often almost as effective.

Get a surveillance camera… or at least a surveillance camera sign.

For some reason, burglars tend to be camera-shy. They’ll pass up a house with a few cameras installed near doors and windows. You can actually buy a decent camera for less than $100, but if you don’t want to spend the time and money installing one, a sign can almost as effective.

Other Quick and Easy Tips

A few other things to do to make your home look less attractive to burglars:

• Trim bushes and trees, especially around doors and windows.
• Keep doors and windows locked.
• Install deadbolts and heavy-duty strike plates.
• Change the locks when you move into a new home or apartment.
• Organize a neighborhood watch—and advertise its existence everywhere.

What Does He Want?

If you do fall victim to a burglary, you may be able to mitigate your losses by hiding or locking up the items your burglar is after.

Prescription drugs. Particularly painkillers and ADHD medication; these can be quickly sold on high school and college campuses.

Laptops, tablets, phones and iPods. The small, valuable electronics you have sitting around your house don’t require heavy lifting and they’re quick and easy to sell.

Cash. Don’t leave it sitting out, or put it in obvious places, like your top dresser drawer or desk drawers.

Credit cards, checks, social security cards, passports. You know that little built-in desk in your kitchen? It’s your burglar’s favorite spot to raid because it’s where you put all your important documents. They’re easy for you to access… and they’re easy for him to access, too. This is particularly bad because the trauma of your burglary won’t just end when he takes your stuff. Your financial and personal documents make it possible for him to steal your identity (or sell the stuff to someone else who will) and you can spend months trying to undo the damage.

Guns. If they’re not under lock and key, they’re easily found under your bed or mattress or in your nightstand drawer. They’re not going to protect you from the burglar, because you usually aren’t even home when he breaks in. Even worse—your stolen gun is likely to be used during the commission of a crime, according to police.

The Burglar Deterrent Everyone Should Have