It’s important to put home security measures in place. Home insurance premiums rise every year due to increasing insurance tax and ever climbing claims levels due to crime/burglary. Ensuring you follow the Two Men and A Truck’s home security guide to secure your property as well as bringing your insurance premium down.
Windows
Most burglars will want to enter your property from the rear and it is most likely that they will look to force a window to gain entry. Breaking a window will usually be a last resort as this will attract unwanted attention so you should turn your attention to visibly securing them with key operated locks.
Lighting
Burglars don’t like to be in the spotlight, so you should ensure you have outdoor lights fitted that operate on a sensor switch which activates when movement is detected. This is also a great money saver as it saves electricity. Using timer switches can also be a good deterrent for an opportunist thief if you are away for a few days.
Burglar Alarms
Many homes still do not have a burglar alarm and this should be a basic security measure on all homes. The siren box will act as a visual deterrent to some extent (dummy sirens can also be bought cheaply) and you can choose a system that simply lets off an alarm or one that dials a preset number or a local security company.
Doors
It is imperative that you ensure your external doors are strong, in good condition and secured to a high standard. Fitting a deadlock or extra sliding bolts will greatly improve security. French doors which are much weaker than singular doors should be fitted with top and bottom mortice locks on both doors.
Gates & Fences
A weak or low fence can make gaining access to the rear of your property much easier. Sturdy 6ft fences make the task a little harder and thorny hedges such as Hawthorne make a good deterrent. Gates should also be similarly sturdy and locked from the inside with a bolt that is out of reach as a minimum standard.
Spare Key
Never hide a spare key in a convenient location, it will be just a convenient for the average burglar too and will hand the house to them on a silver platter.
Don’t Leave Valuables in Sight
Fitting blinds or net curtains will make it harder to see into your property. You do not want to advertise your worldly possessions.
Buy a Safe
If you have particularly valuable items such as jewellery or large sums of cash in the house then it is a good idea to purchase a safe which can be secured in place in a hidden location. Passports, unused credit cards and important documents should also ideally be locked away.
Mark your Property
If you are burgled, your possessions can be identified should the police recover them. This can be achieved by etching your postcode, surname and house number onto the item. If this is not practical, use an ultraviolet marker.
Don’t advertise your Absence
Many people now use social networking websites such as Facebook or Twitter to tell everyone about their daily exploits. Don’t unwittingly give details of when you are going on holiday by mentioning dates.