How to Secure Your Home - Practical Tips and Guidance

The COVID pandemic has resulted in a reduction in theft and burglary crimes, primarily due to lockdown restrictions. But this means some homeowners have become a little complacent over home security. Now is the time to carry out your own home security assessment, identify weaknesses and take practical steps to beef up your home security.

Why is Home Security Important?

Anyone who has ever been the victim of burglary or had their home invaded by unwelcome intruders understands how awful these experiences are. Dealing with financial loss and damage is bad enough, but the psychological impact can be very traumatic.

While the latest crime figures from the Office for National Statistics reflect a significant decline in theft offences, this has been primarily attributed to the impact of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Rising inflation means living costs are already increasing significantly in 2022. The cost of energy has gone through the roof, grocery prices are up, train fares are higher and National Insurance deductions are set to increase.

Theft and burglary crimes tend to escalate when people are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. So the combination of rising prices along with the removal of COVID lockdown restrictions is likely to drive an increase in acquisitive crime. This is why its important to pay attention to your home security now.

Home Security Self Assessment

Regardless of where you live, now is the time to carry out your own home security self assessment. Spending a little time to review your current home security status will highlight areas of weakness that can be strengthened before they are exploited by criminals.

Its worth remembering that most domestic burglaries are opportunist crimes committed by thieves who have spotted a security weakness they can exploit. By looking at your home through the eyes of a burglar you should be able to identify where they are most likely to break in.

Follow the advice in this post to beef up your home security.

Perimeter Security

Home security can be effectively implemented in layers. Perimeter security forms the vitally important outer layer of your home security scheme.

Answer these questions about your perimeter security to determine where improvements are needed.

Can the front of your property be clearly seen by neighbours and passers by?

If your property can’t be clearly seen there may be opportunities for criminals to work undetected.

Remove obstructions to improve visibility.
Ensure your front boundary wall, fence or hedge is a maximum of 1m in height.
Reduce the height of vegetation to below 1m.

Are your rear fences at least 1.8m high and in good condition around your property?

Repair or replace any damaged fencing.
Increase the height of your rear fencing with trellis and prickly plants.
Consider installing anti climb protection.

If you have a rear gate is it at least 1.8m high and locked?

If possible, secure your rear gate so that it can be locked from both sides.
Use a robust hasp and staple along with high security padlocks.
Consider installing an anti climb barrier over the gateway.

Are there any climbing aids around your property?

Cut back any tree branches that could be used to gain access.
Securely store wheelie bins so that they can’t be used for climbing.
Remove or securely lockdown any items that could be used for climbing such as ladders, garden furniture, blocks etc.

Do you have external security lighting?

Burglars like to work unseen so they tend to avoid well lit properties.

Install motion activated security lighting.
Make certain all areas of your property exterior are illuminated when lighting is triggered.

Do you have CCTV security?

CCTV security cameras have become far more affordable in recent years. If possible,consider investing in a CCTV system to bolster your home security.

We have previously talked about the variety of plants that can be used to beef up home security. Natural barriers such as streams, ditches, banks and thickets can be very effective in deterring would-be home intruders.

Garden, Shed and Garage Security

Gardens, sheds and garages can provide criminals with valuable theft opportunities that enable them to avoid breaking into your house. People often leave valuables in their gardens, sheds and garages that criminals know can be readily resold on the black market. So its important to assess your risk and take steps to protect your valuables.

Its important to be aware that knowledgeable thieves understand what`s in demand and what they can sell easily. Valuable plants, planters, garden ornaments, artwork and statues are all viable targets.

Answer these questions about your garden, shed, garage and outhouses to determine where security improvements are needed.

Do you have any valuable ornaments, planters or statues outside?

Make certain you have a record of your property by taking an inventory and capturing images of your pots, planters, statues and garden gnomes.
Use security marking or tagging to protect valuable exterior items. E.g. Use a UV marker pen on the base of your statues and ornaments to note your details.

Are your exterior buildings (sheds, garages, outbuildings) securely locked at all times?

Repair or replace any weak or damaged locks.
Install strong security hasps and locks where necessary.
Install security lighting to illuminate exterior buildings.
Install a shed door security bar.

Do you know what’s stored in your shed, garage and outbuildings?

Take an inventory of the items stored in your exterior buildings.
Capture images of what you have stored in your outbuildings

Are valuables in outbuildings adequately secured?

While its good practice to make certain all valuables such as bicycles, lawnmowers, garden furniture and tools are securely locked inside, its also a good idea to bolster security with ground anchors and locked cabinets / cases.

Make certain valuable items such as bicycles, scooters and ride-on mowers are securely locked to immovable anchor points inside your outbuildings.
Securely store all tools inside locked, immovable tool storage chests or toolboxes.
Use security marking or tagging on all valuable items to indicate that you own them.

ground and wall anchors — **Ground and Wall Anchors - Lock Your Valuables in Place**

Do you have intruder alarms fitted to your outbuildings?

Install outbuilding intruder alarms that will alert you if intrusion is attempted.

Can the contents of your outbuildings be seen from outside?

Obscure the windows of your outbuildings to prevent thieves from seeing what you have inside.

Can your property be approached without creating any sound?

Consider installing gravel paths, driveways and outdoor areas as intruders will not be able to walk on these without making any noise.

Window and Door Security

It is worth being very aware that the vast majority of property break-ins gain access via windows and doors. Its therefore essential to pay particular attention to all your entrances and windows.

Are all your doors in good condition? (Including your front door, rear door, patio doors, garage and shed doors etc.)

Fix or replace any broken doors immediately.
Ensure all door hinges and hasps are high quality and highly secure.
Fit high quality locks to all doors.
If replacing doors - make certain the replacements comply with the highest security ratings.

Do you have a door bar or door chain and viewer?

Consider installing a door bar or door chain and using it every time the door is answered.

Do you lock internal doors? (E.g. Internal porch or conservatory doors.)

Establish a routine to lock all internal doors.

Are all window frames in good condition?

Repair or replace any damaged or poor quality window fittings.

Do all windows have locks?

Install windows with locks or fit window locks where possible.

Do you lock all windows?

As for internal doors - there is no point in having locks if they aren’t used. Make it a habit to lock all windows.
Importantly, never leave window keys in their locks.

Do you need window bars?

Window bars provide an extra layer of robust security.
Install window security bars to present an immediate visual intruder deterrent.
Install window security bars to bolster vulnerable window security.

window security bars — **Window Security Bars for Enhanced Window Security**

Do you need door security bars?

Door security bars, also called shed locking bars, provide an easily installed way to beef up shed door security.

Install shed door security bars to bolster door security.

Flat and Apartment Security

Although most flats and apartments offer fewer points of entry, its equally important to ensure security is as robust and reliable as possible.

Are communal entrances always locked and secured?

Ensure that all communal gates, doors and entrances are always locked and secured.
Consider having a phone or video entrance system installed.
Never open communal entrance doors for strangers.

Is the property perimeter secure and well maintained?

Ensure the landlord or managing agent is looking after the property perimeter and this is providing adequate security protection.

Is exterior security lighting installed?

Get motion-triggered security lighting installed around the property.

Are communal outbuildings secure?

Ensure that communal bike storage facilities, sheds, bin stores and other communal structures are always locked and secure.

Securing Your Valuables

Preventing intruders and burglars from gaining entry to your property provides peace of mind. But what can you do if they manage to overcome your security precautions? Here are some practical recommendations.

Do you hide your car keys?

Its important to never leave car keys where they can be seen from outside.

Do you keep cash at home?

As a rule, never keep cash at home.
Put all cash into bank or building society accounts.

Do you have valuable jewellery or watches?

Highly valuable jewellery, watches or other items should be securely stored in safety deposit boxes at your bank.
If valuable jewellery is kept at home it should be stored in a certified safe that cannot be removed from its location.

Do you security mark your valuable property such as artworks, antiques and sentimental items?

We have previously mentioned the benefit in using security marking or tagging to identify your property.

Permanent security marking aids the police when identifying the owners of recovered stolen property.
Valuable property can also be registered via the UK national property register at: Immobilise.com
Keep an up to date inventory of your valuables and take some photographs for your records.

datatag home security marking pack — **Datatag Home Security Marking Pack**

Join or Form a Neighbourhood Watch

We have previously talked about the benefits provided by the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.

Neighbourhood watch membership provides many excellent benefits, including invaluable home security help and guidance. Importantly, Neighbourhood Watch groups engage communities in working together to make their neighbourhoods more secure.

Away-from-Home Security Checklist

The tips, advice and recommendations provided in this post will, if followed, go a long way toward ensuring your home is as secure as it can possibly be. But its worth remembering that experienced criminals will often watch a property to determine when its empty, making it a more viable target.

Its worth establishing an habitual list of actions and checks that you always carry out when leaving home, even for only a few minutes to pop to the corner shop. Here’s what we recommend:

Close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you will only be away from home for a few minutes. (This includes all internal doors as well as outbuildings and sheds.)
Ensure all valuables, car keys and hand bags can’t be seen from outside or via the letterbox.
Make it look like there is someone still at home by leaving a radio or TV on. Putting devices and lighting on timers to switch on and off can also be useful, especially when away from home for longer periods.
Make certain all valuable documents such as driving licences, passports and any documents with personal identification credentials are securely stored.
If its dark or getting dark, make sure all the curtains and blinds are drawn and leave a light on. Security lighting that`s automatically switched on when it gets dark is also a good idea.
If going away on vacation or for longer periods of time, don’t advertise the fact that your home is empty by telling people on social media.
Consider asking your neighbours to keep an eye on your property and possibly collect your mail.

If you have any questions about your home security needs or if you have any special requirements remember that we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 475500 and we’ll provide you with free, expert advice.

This message was added on Thursday 24th February 2022

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