The safety of your home and family is upmost importance - here is some advice and tips on how you can best secure your home:
Security Tip #1 Secure your home with multiple levels of security rather than a single layer.
In a laymans terms - the more the merrier. You want to put as many deterrents and obstacles in the way of the burglars as possible.
The Reason: It is easier for a criminal to get by one level of security rather than several. The more obstacles you put in their way the more likely they are to go somewhere else. its really that simple!!!
Also, a factor to consider, The more deterrents that are visible, the better. Generally the criminal will simply select another property to burgle without the hassle of having to overcome security systems.
An example of several layers of security
- External warning signs
- gates/fences that are locked when not in use (night time etc)
- thorny shrubs / plants
- a burglar alarm system
- a cctv system
- Security lighting
- Door locks
- Window locks
Security Tip #2 Pretend to be a burglar
Take a walk around your home and garden and ask yourself this question: How would I break-in to the house? look at your home from several different areas including in the street. Are there any particuarly dark / vulnerable / blind spots that would appeal to a burglar? Can anything been seen from outside that would make a burglar visit your home?
Because you can bet a penny to a pound if you can see them, then a half decent burglar can too!
The Reason: We think of our home as a home, not as an opportunity and criminals think the opposite. Carrying out these easy checks could help you identify any problems you may have and get them sorted before hey become an issue.
Security Tip #3 How useful is the lock on your door?
A door lock is often seen and thought of as doing enough. he harsh reality is that it isn’t. Do you know if your lock meets your insurance requirements? becuase if it doesn’t then your insurance claims may not be paid!!!
Is the lock protected? can it easily be tampered with? can the burglar get easy access to the lock? Do you have more than one lock? Are there any vulnerable points around the lock? ( tip - you need to look around 18 - 24 inches around the lock).
Reason: A burglar doesn’t care how much damage he causes getting in. The lock is only one part of the door securty (think hinges / door strength / door construction) The best locks in the world will do no good if the burglar can easily break the door by kicking. Other locks can be easily overcome by breaking a window pane and opening from the inside.
Security Tip #4: Treat your garage door like your front door.
Ever thought about how secure your garage door is? most garage doors only have the lock provided by the door manufacturer and remain that way. These garage doors can often be opened by a hard shove and then the burglar has the time to take whatever he needs.
Now think about how much you actually keep in the garage and how much it would cost to replace the stolen items - its more than what you though isn’t it! Burglars often steal to order from garages, especially in remote / county areas where sit on mowers etc are usually located.
Reason: As garages are not part of the house, the chance of being caught is reduced wheich makes them a proime target for break ins. To prevent this fromhappening additional locks specifically for garga e doors can be installed to prevent this from happening. As an additional item the burglar alarm system for the home can be extended to protect the garage - either wired or wirefree.
Security Tip #5 Make horticulture your friend to help protect your home.
Thorny plants, bushes and hedges can not only bring beauty to the garden but also can help protect your home by making approaches to windows a painful and unappealing experience.
Reason: One of the most common burglary entrance points into the home is through side or rear windows. A Burglar will target these windows as their is less chance of them being seen / detected when trying to gain access. By placing thorny (yet attractive) plants / bushes by these potentially vulnerable windows makes thse areas a little less vulnerable and appealing to a burglar.
Security Tip #6 Cover your windows - plain windows help the burglar!
Plain windows allow burglars to look inside and see if you have anything of value to steal.
Reason: It is amazing in how much you can see when a window isn’t covered, within a few seconds a burglar can see if you are in, what you have to steal, potentila exit routes - basically everything!! Some burglars are even brave enought o just walk right up to the window and look in. Plain windows and very thin drapes allow the burglar to do this. The burglar is able to see what he wants a create a plan before he even attempts to break in to the house.
By having a heavier curtain set or venetian blinds can help break up the remote view into your home, it also has an added bonus of keeping the house warmer whilst reducing the threat of burglars visiting you. It simply reduces the guarantees of safety / rewards for the burglar which helps to serve as a deterrent.
Security Tip #7 Make sure your doors and windows are fitted correctly.
Seems like an obvious statement doesn’t it! unfortunately not everyone installs items perfectly and this could be a problem.
Reason: An estimated 25% of all patio doors / sliding doors and windows are installed backwards (so the sliding part is on the outside track). This allows the criminal to simply lift out the panel and enter as they wish! (scary isn’t it)
Security Tip #8 Make it look like your house is occupied.
A house is less likely to be burgled when occupied.
Reason: Making your house look occupied when empty can help prevent a burglary, having lights on automatic timers, not having newspapers left half hanging out of the letter box for two weeks, milk bottles on the step for ages all help with putting the element of doubt in a burglars mind
Security Tip #9 Create a neighborhood watch in your street.
Even just the signs in the window, its another visual deterrent.
Reason: Having a whole street be security concious and working together can help deter criminals. IT is more often than not reson enough for them to look alsewhere for their burglary victims.is the criminal’s nemesis. It is often reason enough for him to try business elsewhere.
A top tip is to get retired people actively involved. They often have more time on their hands to help organise and control the scheme.
Security Tip #10 Mark your name and postcode on your more expensive items
Reason : Items with your name, address and markings cannot be easily sold. The simple reason being that it can be easily proven that the items is not theirs and is therefore stolen. So, why steal something that you a) can’t sell, b) if you are caught with you’re definitely going to be arrested for?
A top tip is to photograph your more expensive items, with the markings and identification marks you have put on the item and store these photos in a secure location, ideally save two copies and store one of these copies off site (with a relative for example)
Security Tip#11 Get a safe!
It’s not just cash and jewels that need to go in there, but your important paperwork.
Reason: Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes worldwide. Although many people think burglars are going to go for jewellery, money and/or electrical items, what most people do not realise is that the greatest damge that can be done is if a criminal gets access to your private information and records. From this information your identitiy can be cloned and basically ruin your life by “becoming you”
Make sure your safe is secured to a solid wall and / or the floor so it cannot be easily removed from your property. IT is also wise to make sure that the safe coverage is upto or exceeding the value of goods it is holding.
Security Tip #12 On top of everything else, get a burglar alarm system.
This is another layer of the security. You can go anywhere from a basic burglar alarm system to a wirefree alarm system.
Reason: Now that you have made our property less appealing and harder to access for the burglar, a burglar alarm system now becomes even more effective. As well as being an excellent visual deterrent, the burglar alarm will now also sound when the intruder tries to break in to the property. The Police can also be called if required. In addition to the security element, your burglar alarm can also include smoke detectors and gas detectors to keep the family safe (and your insurance down!!)
For more information on home security please feel free to contact Zodiac Security
