Security is something that every home-owner should take seriously. The vast majority of burglaries are opportunistic ones where burglars enter a victim’s home via a weak or unlocked door or an open window. If your home does not present such obvious entry routes for a burglar, then it is likely that they will move on to an easier target. Here are some tips to help make your home look less appealing to criminals.
1. Lock your windows
Get into the habit of locking your windows at night, as well as locking them whenever you go out during the day. Don’t assume that it’s safe to leave upstairs windows open; a resourceful burglar may grab a nearby ladder and use that to gain entry to your home.
2. Invest in strong, sturdy doors and high quality locks
If your front door is flimsy, or has a weak lock, it would be trivial for a would-be burglar to kick down the door while you were away on holiday. Consider replacing your door frame, fitting a good deadbolt, and/or getting a door with a steel core for maximum security.
3. Take extra measures to secure sliding doors
Sliding doors, such as the ones that are used on most conservatories, are easy to force open. The good news is you can make them a lot more secure without having to spend a fortune. Placing a wooden brook handle in the track will prevent people from being able to open the door from the outside. For a more discrete form of security, drill a small hole in the middle of the doors and insert a metal pin to keep the doors “locked” together.
4. Make sure your yard is well-lit
Dark yards and big hedges are a burglar’s ideal surroundings. Don’t give burglars the chance to work in peace. Install motion-sensing lights in your yard so that anyone entering it will be noticed immediately.
5. Install a burglar alarm, and use it
Burglar alarms are a good deterrent against casual intruders. Installing a burglar alarm could save you money on your home contents insurance too. Be sure to use your alarm every time you leave the house. If you are broken into and you had forgotten to arm your alarm before leaving the house, then your insurance company may refuse to pay out.
6. Keep expensive possessions out of view of your windows
A burglar is more likely to target a house with a plasma TV, two games consoles and a bunch of expensive jewellery on the bedside table than they are a “normal” house where the only things on display are a sofa and a vase full of flowers. Hang net curtains to stop people from peeking into your home, and be discrete about expensive purchases. If you post details of your expensive home entertainment system purchase on Facebook then you are basically advertising your possessions to potential thieves who will jump at the chance to break in the next time your home is vacant.
7. Put your mail on hold when you go away on holiday
A stack of un-touched mail in the porch (or worse, hanging out of your mailbox) is an open invitation for burglars. If you’re going to be away from home for more than a few days, either put your mail on hold or ask a trusted neighbour to collect it for you.
