It’s every householder’s worst nightmare: you come home to discover you’ve been the target of a burglary. No one wants to go through the trauma of losing their precious possessions and experiencing the feeling that their home is no longer safe.
Know that you can take some simple steps to protect your home from burglary and give you peace of mind knowing that your property is secure. Read on to find out how in our handy guide to home security.
1. Install a burglar alarm
Our first tip is the most obvious: install an alarm to secure your home from burglary. It will first act as a powerful deterrent. And, if your home is broken into, you will be alerted immediately. You can also have your system connected to burglar alarm monitoring services for extra backup.
Choose an alarm that complies with British standards and have it professionally installed. You will also need to have your alarm regularly maintained to keep it in optimum working order.
2. Fit security cameras
It’s never been easier to install cameras inside and outside your home. An app on your phone will allow you to monitor what’s going on and receive motion detection alerts. Some models will even trigger sound and light effects in the event of an intruder in your home.
You can choose from wired-in or wireless cameras that are super easy to install. Just switch on, set up and go!
3. Don’t leave your valuables in sight
Don’t tell potential burglars that you have goods worth breaking in for by leaving valuables such as TVs, electronic devices, jewellery or cash in plain sight, especially near windows where they can be easily spotted.
Consider keeping a safe at home where you can stash your smaller valuables. For extra security, have it bolted to the floor or make sure you choose one that’s too heavy to be carried away easily.
4. Take care on social media
While social media can be an excellent way to keep in touch with family and friends, being careless about what you post could be your downfall. Don’t brag about expensive items you’ve recently purchased or about being on holiday. If thieves know about your social media account, these details will be an open invitation to break in.
Keep your security settings at the highest level of privacy, too. This can reduce the chance of people snooping on your account.
5. Secure your windows
It’s not enough to shut your windows when you go out – they should also be locked. Fit them with key-operated locks, and don’t leave the keys in there. Keep them somewhere safe and out of sight.
If you’re due to replace your windows, you might want to consider shatterproof glass or adding a security film to reduce the chances of glass shattering and leaving your property vulnerable.
6. Keep your doors locked, too
Of course, you lock your doors when you go out or at night. But be aware of opportunistic thieves who might slip in and out through an unlocked back door while you are elsewhere in the house.
Don’t forget to keep your house doors locked if you’re spending time in the garden. It only takes seconds for a burglar to enter your house through an unlocked door while you are out of sight and earshot.
7. Make sure your front door is strong
While we’re on the subject of doors, opt for a solid and secure front door, preferably one without a letterbox or with a letterbox cage. Thieves can use a tool like a fishing rod inserted through your letterbox to grab keys stored nearby and steal vehicles or gain access to your house.
They may also slip an arm through the letterbox to unlock your front door if the lock works by turning it, rather than an actual key. The most secure type of lock for your front door is a five-lever mortice deadlock with a key. Choose one that adheres to British Standard 3621 for extra security.
8. Light up your home
Fit motion-activated security lights to the exterior of your home to deter would-be thieves.
Inside, you can use cheap and effective timer switches to make your property appear occupied when you are out. You can even set them to come on and off during the night for a bit of extra reassurance.
9. Make sure your property is marked
Take photos of your valuables so, in the unlikely event that they are stolen and later recovered, they can be easily traced to you.
You should also mark TVs and other electronic devices with your postcode and house name or number. You can make this information visible to deter thieves, as it makes items more difficult to sell. Or, if you don’t want to spoil their appearance, use a pen that shows up under ultraviolet light.
10. Store garden tools away securely
Make sure your garden tools are stored securely away. This is especially important for items like ladders, which can help a burglar break into a home.
It’s also a good idea to keep your garden tidy so that thieves don’t have anywhere to hide. And consider removing anything that obscures the front of your house, like a tall hedge, which could screen a burglar breaking in.
What if the worst should happen?
Following are ways to protect your home from burglary that should significantly reduce the chances of a break-in.
For extra peace of mind, check that you’ve got an up-to-date home insurance policy in place so you can replace items should the worst happen.
If you’re looking for home insurance in the UK, take a look at our services. You can check out different home insurance policies to compare and choose the one that’s right for you in a simple online process.
And, our trained experts are only a phone call away if you need a little bit of extra help to decide.
Investing just a tiny amount of time in finding the perfect home insurance policy for you will pay dividends, freeing you up to enjoy your house and home.
