Cost Effective Home Security Tips & Systems
Burglars target specific areas of a property to gain entrance. In many cases they will inspect the target premises in advance, noting the various access points: windows, doors, skylights, garages sheds and possible escape routes. They will note the level of home security: alarm systems, locks, the visibility from the road or other premises and noise factors such as gravel or dogs.
Many of these security and safety precautions will cost you relatively little to implement. Even installing or upgrading your home security systems won’t cost a fortune and may well pay dividends in more ways than one: reducing the risk of crime(the police admit that a visible alarm system reduces the risk of burglary considerably), cutting home insurance bills and improving peace of mind for you and your family.
Insurers now specify the grade of locks that you must have on your doors and have been known not to pay out after a break-in, if the locks fitted are either inadequate or have not been secured prior to a break-in.
Households most at risk of burglary included those that have poor security, low occupancy levels a lone parent or where the head of the household is young. Those who live in detached houses or in inner city areas also face increased risk.
In most burglaries, force (for example breaking a window) is used to gain entry but in some the offender gains entry through an unlocked door or window.
The victims of 87% of burglaries were emotionally affected in some way by the experience.
In a nutshell there isn’t a particular type of home that gets targeted by the burglar. It can happen to anyone, anywhere.
Possibly nothing could be more frightening or unnerving than arriving home to find you have been burgled (unless of course you are home when it happens). No areas are immune from criminal activity and every home is a potential target, but there are several things you can do to make your home a safer and more secure place.
You may find it hard to believe but the main threat to your home comes not from a professional thief but from the opportunist, this doesn’t meant he opportunist is an amateur because they can be very experienced and very skilled at avoiding detection .But as the name suggests they look for opportunities to burgle and are very easily put off. If they can’t see quick easy pickings they will usually move on to a less aware target.
It’s a fact that most home burglaries occur during the daytime, when the premises are less likely to be occupied due to work, or even those minutes while you take the children to school or just pop to the shops.
Having selected the target they will usually knock at the front door- just to make sure no one is home. If you answer the door (remember to use the door chain, you do have one don’t you?), they can make up a plausible reason for being there. Having had no reply the burglar will move around the outside of the house, looking for signs of an easy entrance and window locks, burglar alarms and dogs. Once confident that the security is poor, and that no one is likely to disturb him, he will find an implement nearby and use it to force entry, usually by a rear door, window or sliding patio door. Once inside the burglar will be looking for cash and jewellery, but he may also steal smaller valuables, laptops, mp3 players, cameras and cd players. The main target will probably be the master bedroom. It will be subjected to an untidy search of all the drawers, a quick rummage through any boxes and the bottom of wardrobes.
He’s in a hurry its not the intention to stay any longer than a few minutes or so, its just a case of get in, grab what he can and get out.
Guidelines
Lock all doors and windows even if you are at home. This may sound like common sense to some, overkill to others, but it is perhaps the simplest way to keep unwanted guests out. Be sure to use insurance approved mortice deadlocks on exterior doors and install key operated locks on the windows. Consider fitting additional security to any sliding patio doors, many of the primary locks can be easily defeated.
Install a wide-angle spyhole in exterior doors. This will allow you to safely identify visitors before opening the door. If you cannot see who is at the door, do not open it.
Windows
- Fit key operated locks to all windows this should satisfy your home insurance requirements
- Louvre windows are very vulnerable to thieves because they can remove the slats form the frame. To stop this glue the slats in place or even better replace the window with fixed glass.
- A burglar can get through any space larger than a human head, so fit locks to skylights and fanlights
Doors
- Glass panels around doors are especially vulnerable, so replace them with laminated glass or you can buy special film that will do the same thing
- Use locks that can be deadlocked from the inside (double locking nightlatches YALE no.1 or no.2) in case thieves break the glass
- Ensure you mortice deadlock is insurance approved, look for the Kitemark.
- Mortice bolts to the top & bottom of the back door significantly strengthen your protection.
Keys
- When you move house, change the locks on your doors. You never know who has been given keys by the previous owner.
- Never leave your house or car keys near a door or window. Thieves often steal these using a fishing rod or magnet through the letterbox. A letterbox guard is a good idea to prevent this happening, it will also prevent the thief turning the thumbturn on the inside if you have one.
- Decide on a safe place for your keys and know where you can find them in an emergency.
Round The Back
- Make it as hard as possible for intruders to easily get to the back and sides of your home, fix holes in fences, grow thorny hedges and keep any gates locked.
- Don’t let hedges grow so high that a burglar can work unseen.
- Burglars don’t like gravel, or dogs.
- Prevent burglars easily climbing over walls.
Be Prepared
- Mark all your valuable belongings with your postcode and number of your house.
- Take pictures of all your valuable objects and note the make,model and serial number where applicable.
These are just a few tips to help you keep your home secure. If you have any questions give Capital Lock Services a call and we’ll arrange a free survey.
0131-556 0470