Home Security

Security Around The Home

Outside Lighting

Good lighting can put off or draw attention to a thief.

 

The most appropriate form of lighting to use is high-efficiency low-energy lighting, controlled by a dusk-to-dawn switch so that it comes on only when it’s dark. This provides a constant and uniform level of light. It costs very little to run and helps to create a more reassuring environment.

 

Lights that come on if they sense movement can be annoying to neighbours and dangerous to passing traffic. If you have these, make sure they are directed downwards.

Fit lights out of easy reach - at a height of at least 2.5 metres (eight feet).

 

 

                              

Dusk to Dawn Light                                  Movement-activated light

Make it look like you are at home when you are out

Remember, most burglaries happen when a house or flat is empty. They are also more likely to happen during the evening or at night.

 

Don’t leave curtains closed during the daytime.

 

Use time switches to turn on lights, radios and other appliances when you’re out. You can buy these from DIY shops. But don’t use them if they will show a burglar that you're out, for example, in ground floor rooms where the curtains have been left open. Keep all valuable items out of sight.

If You’re Going Away:

• Cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries
• Cut the lawn and so on before you go
• Don’t put your home address on luggage labels when travelling to your destination
• If you can, get a friend or neighbour to look after your home while you’re away. Ask them to collect your post, draw your curtains at night and open them in the mornings, and generally make the place look lived-in. Be prepared to do the same for them.
• Small safes, hidden and securely fixed, are ideal for spare chequebooks, credit cards, passports, jewellery and so on.

Gardens, gates and fences

Prevent intruders getting to the back and sides of your home by installing strong fencing or gates.

Check for weak spots where a thief could get into your garden, for example, a low or sagging fence, or a back gate with a weak lock.

 

A thorny hedge along the boundary of your property can put thieves off. But make sure that passers-by can still see the front of your home so that a burglar can’t work without being seen.

Burglars don’t like gravel, it’s noisy to walk on.

 

Don’t build pergolas, gazebos and so on too near to the house, they can help thieves reach upper windows.

 

Solid fences or walls (particularly those with a flat or rounded top) are relatively easy for a burglar to climb over. Fixing trellising to the top can make it more difficult.

 

Do not use barbed or razor wire, or broken glass - you could be held legally responsible for any injuries caused. You can get safer alternatives that are designed not to cut or injure.

Passageways at the side and back of your home

Fit a strong, lockable, high gate across the passageway to stop a thief getting to the back of your home where they can work without being disturbed. If you share a passageway with a neighbour, ask their permission and for help with the costs.

 

However, if the passage is a right of way (for example, where it connects two streets rather than just allowing access to the back of a limited number of houses), you would need special permission to fit a gate from your local authority or the courts.

Garages and Sheds

Garages and sheds are often full of expensive tools, which are ideal for breaking into the rest of the house.

 

Never leave a garage or garden shed unlocked, especially if it has a connecting door to the house. A thief could get in and work on the door inside without being seen.

 

Fit strong padlocks to shed and garage doors, and make sure that the doors are solid enough not to be kicked in.

 

Lock ladders inside your garage or shed to stop a thief using them to reach upstairs windows. If there is no room in your garage or shed, chain or padlock them horizontally to a sturdy bracket on an outside wall.

Consider having lockable steel boxes fitted to the floor to store your tools in, or anchor posts fitted to the floor to secure larger tools and equipment.

 

Visibly and permanently mark property you keep in sheds and garages see the section on postcoding below or our ‘Coded for keeps’ leaflet.

Burglar Alarms

Many burglars will avoid breaking into a property with an alarm.

 

There are many alarm systems on the market. These range from fairly cheap alarms, which you can fit yourself, to more sophisticated systems, costing hundreds of pounds, which need to be installed by professionals. Low-cost alarms are less reliable and can, through false alarms, be a nuisance to both you and your neighbours.

 

Consider whether you need an audible-only alarm (which sets off a siren or bell) or a monitored alarm (connected to a central 'listening' service). Due to the huge number of false alarms, police will only respond to audible alarms if there is confirmation of suspicious activity - such as a neighbour saying they saw someone or heard glass being broken.

 

For monitored systems, the monitoring company will check whether any alarm was false - for example, set off by the homeowners entering the wrong access code - and call out the police if necessary. Monitored systems are particularly important for isolated properties.

 

If you are thinking about installing a burglar alarm, you should do the following.

 

Ask the crime prevention officer at your local police station for advice before you buy an alarm.

Get at least three quotes and specialist advice from companies that supply alarms. Use companies registered with either the National Security Inspectorate or Security Systems and Alarm Inspection Board.

 

Talk to your insurance company about the alarm companies they recommend before you decide which best suits your needs. The system should meet British Standard BS4737 or BS6799 (wire-free) or the new European Standard EN50131-1.

 

Get professional help to install the alarm and to explain how to operate it correctly to make sure that it will work properly.

 

Remember, an alarm which is not fitted properly can create problems in itself. Don’t fit an alarm yourself unless you have the electrical knowledge and practical skills to do so, it could end up costing you more.

Mark your belongings with your postcode

Marking your belongings may put burglars off as it will make the belongings harder to sell, and can help the police investigate crimes and prosecute criminals.

 

You can replace some items easily, but marking your property can also help the police to return irreplaceable items if they are found.

 

Items should be visibly and permanently marked showing your postcode and the number of your house or flat or the first two letters of its name.

 

Only use an ultraviolet marker pen when other methods would reduce the value of the object, because the mark isn’t visible and so might not put burglars off or make it more difficult for them to sell the marked item. The marks can also fade.

 

Take pictures of all valuables like jewellery and silverware and write down the makes, models and serial numbers of your TV, video, DVD, stereo or CD player, home computer, camera equipment and so on.

 

This will help the police identify them if they are stolen.

 

You may want to consider keeping valuable items, such as jewellery, in a safe.

Ask your local police station for advice on how to get stickers to display in the front and back windows of your home to show that you have marked your belongings.

 

For more advice on marking your property see our ‘Coded for keeps’ leaflet.

New belongings

Don’t leave empty boxes outside your home - they can give away details of new and valuable equipment, which may be attractive to burglars.

Don't Buy Crime

Never buy property that you think might be stolen, no matter how tempting the bargain.

• You will be dealing in someone else’s misery.

• The money you pay is likely to be used to buy drugs.

• It’s a crime, punishable by up to 14 years in jail.

Insurance

Insurance will take away the financial worry of replacing stolen goods.

 

Many insurance companies offer reduced premiums for people with good home security. But make sure you lock your home up properly and switch on any alarm - if you don’t you may not be covered.

 

Ask your insurance company which security products they recommend.

Fire safety

When you are fitting security devices, you must consider the risk of fire and how you would escape.

 

Fit at least one smoke detector on every floor of your home. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and check them every month.

 

Agree a plan with your whole family for getting out in an emergency and make sure you know where your keys are at all times.

Be a Good Neighbour

If you see anyone acting suspiciously in your neighbourhood, call the police.

 

Join a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme - there are over 150,000 in this country. Anyone can start up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme - ask at your local police station for details or look on the internet at www.neighbourhoodwatch.uk.com|

 

Information extracted from http://www.crimereduction.co.uk|