Ensuring your home is secure from burglary could save you a lot of money and heartache. And it’s easily done.
Being burgled is stressful, to say the least. And despite most crime falling, burglary is one of the notable exceptions. With the short days and long nights, this time of the year is the best time to ensure your home is secure.
Though burglary is probably never 100 per cent preventable, there are steps that you can take to significantly reduce the likelihood of it happening to you. Ensuring locks are secure and up to date is one area in which small improvements can make a big difference.
Before we go on, please bear in mind that though your home may be fully secure, it’s well worth also bearing family, friends and neighbours in mind as you read this. Ask yourself: could anyone you know benefit from this advice?
Get your locks up to date
According to Home Office research, houses which are deficient in their basic security are 10 times more likely to be burgled. Most burglars are opportunists who target properties where it’s easy to gain access. As such, it makes good sense to ensure that all windows and doors are fitted with decent locks. All locks should meet the current British Standards (BS3621:2007).
Make sure doors are robust
There’s no point fitting good locks if your doors are dilapidated. Doors and frames should be strong and in good condition. You could also fit hinge bolts too. These are inexpensive, and are good for protecting against forced entry.
Use a deadlock
Five-lever mortise deadlocks are very secure. It’s only possible to open one with the right key, so a thief won’t get anywhere by smashing any nearby panels and attempting to open the door from the inside.
Equally, if a burglar were to get into your property through a window, they wouldn’t be able to take anything back out through a deadlocked door. So if such an escape can be prevented by deadlocking just one door in your property (for example, if you live in a flat above ground with just one door in and out), then be sure to fit a deadlock.
When installing a deadlock, get one to at least the BS3621 standard, and fit it about a third of the way up the door.
Keep keys secure
Also make sure your keys are hidden from view and not left in an accessible area from the door. Some thefts have occurred where burglars have used a rod through the letterbox and fished any keys in the vicinity out. They are then free to open the door from the outside.
Read more about keeping keys secure, and also how to keep your car keys from being stolen.
Get home insurance
It’s sensible to have home insurance cover too – although this type of protection shouldn’t be used at the expense of home security, or vice versa. Indeed, some insurance providers have a minimum security clause in their policies, so it’s best to check with your chosen provider, and be sure that your security measures meet their requirements.
Did you know?: Making a claim for being burgled could add between £50 and £100 to future home insurance premiums.
We hope you never have to read it, but here’s our guide to what to do if you get burgled.
