Home Security– Your Ultimate 10 Step Guide

Burglary is big business – according to the British Crime Survey around 750,000 homes are broken into in the UK every year.  It’s also worrying to learn that a surprising number of burglaries occur during daylight, when the owners are home or even without the need for forced entry.

Whilst the majority of us are not careless enough to leave doors and windows open or unlocked, seasoned burglars know all the tricks and are getting better and better at finding new ways to break into unsuspecting homes.

If you want to keep them out, you’ll need the same cunning and intelligence to make sure your home is as safe and secure as it could possibly be. Here are ten must-follow tips if you want to protect your home from a break-in...

Image via Grongar

1.       Lock Up

Despite the statistics, a worrying number of people are lax about locking their doors and windows. Even if you’re nipping to the shops for five minutes, never leave your property unlocked or you’re asking for trouble.

2.       Reinforce Windows

The quickest and simplest way to break into a house is to smash a window, so don’t skimp on quality when having new windows installed. Use reinforced burglar-proof glass everywhere you can – if you have decorative glass panels on the door, make sure these are reinforced or it’s easy to smash one and reach through for the handle inside.

3.       Deadbolt Doors

A common spring lock is easy to open from the outside by slipping a credit card into the tiny gap between the door and frame. A deadbolt lock is a much safer option – choose one that goes at least an inch into the frame when closed.

4.       Make Some Noise

Every home should have high quality burglar alarms. Go wireless if possible, or make sure that wires are well concealed as most burglars know to look out for wiring and can disable alarm systems in seconds.

Image via El Hombre de Negro

5.       Keep It Quiet

Safety isn’t all about deafening alarms and searchlights – in some cases it’s better to keep things on the down low, especially if you’re planning a trip away. Professional burglars stalk social media accounts to find out who’s going to be on holiday, so make sure your privacy settings are set to the maximum and that only real friends that you trust are on your friends lists!

6.       Garden Intelligently

Gardening is just a hobby... or is it? A well thought-out garden can add to your home security, from avoiding planting trees too close to windows to growing prickly hedges and plants around your garden border and underneath ground floor windows.

7.       Be Creative

Most of us keep a spare key outside to avoid those hefty locksmith fees should we ever forget our keys at home. Burglars are well aware of this, so popping it under the doormat or in a plant pot just won’t cut it. Think up somewhere truly hidden, such as wrapping it in foil and burying it completely.

8.       Light the Way

Although many burglaries occur during daylight, no intruder wants to get caught in the act so the risk of being seen is a big deterrent. Install motion sensor lighting at the front and back of your home that will light up the perimeter around your home as soon as someone gets close.

9.       Signs of Life

Going away for a while? Criminals are on the lookout for tell-tale signs a home is empty, so get the post office to hold your mail and ask neighbors to use your wheelie bins whilst you’re away. Put lights and the radio on timers too so that they come on and off in the evenings as they normally would.

10.   Keep Watch

Unfortunately the sad truth is that if a burglar wants to get in, he will – you can only make it harder and riskier for him to do so. Ensure that you prepare for the worst by installing home CCTV or hidden spy cameras at home, so that if you are ever the victim of crime you will have a clear image of the perpetrator’s face to show to police, and increase the chance of getting your goods back.

Do you have any other useful home security tips?