You might be under the impression that the efforts you have made to secure your home make for an impenetrable fortress that would either be burglar proof or deterrent enough for them not to even try – but the reality is very likely quite the opposite!
Here are our top tips for protecting your home from burglars!
- Valuables on display
You might dismiss this tip, just assuming it’s not something you do anyway but it’s very easy to forget that one of the kids has left their iPad or gaming device on the sofa or you’ve left your laptop on the table when rushing out the door. Burglars won’t be able to resist the temptation for quick cash so be sure to always keep such items out of sight and away from the view of windows and doors.
If you have a nice TV, sound system or computers in view downstairs then remember to shut the curtains or blinds before you leave the house to prevent potential thieves from seeing them.
- Timing
When most people think of home burglaries they picture a masked criminal in the dead of night whilst the residents are all sleeping. Although night time burglaries can happen the reality is that they tend to occur during the daytime hours of 8am-6pm when most people are at work and the house is therefore empty.
Of course there’s nothing you can do about having an empty house and you should be able to go to work, on holiday and go about your lives without worrying about intruders in your home. One of the best deterrents for an empty house is an intruder alarm system and CCTV. No criminal wants to get caught out by an alarm sounding in the middle of the day or with their face recorded on camera to be shared with the police. With a good quality system on view for all to see burglars will likely pass over your home and move on to an easier target.
- Weakness in your home security
Now you might have an alarm and therefore think you are safe or that is deterrent enough, but burglars are experts at spotting the tell-tale signs that your home isn’t as secure as it may appear.
Broken security lights, old / rusty or outdated security systems, garage doors, self-installed CCTV cameras, old unsecure doors, windows, cat flaps and dog doors are all signs and weakness that burglars will take full advantage of.
Be sure to maintain and update your systems via a professional company and don’t delay on replacing any broken or old doors and windows that could be used as easy entrance. Of course the biggest sin of all – if you have an alarm system…. use it!!!!! Don’t get caught out leaving the house without setting it because you are too busy or just can’t be bothered, it’s there to be used.
- Don’t make it easy for them
Particularly in the winter, burglars are able to take advantage of the short days, dark afternoons and lack of street lighting by hiding in the shadows to gain access without being noticed. Motion activated floodlights around the house and at all potential points of entry should be enough to scare off anyone who wants to try their luck.
Tall trees, shrubs and hedges close to the home all make excellent hiding spots or climbing routes for upstairs window access so be sure to keep them trimmed and cut back.
- It’s a dog eat dog world
If you have a dog (and even if you don’t) then let the world know about it by putting warning signs such as ‘beware of the dog’ around the exterior of your home on visible gates, walls or fences.
Burglars don’t need to know that your pet is a friendly little bundle of fluff that wouldn’t hurt a fly – dogs are excellent deterrents so make the most of it.
- Life’s a beach
So you’re off on that holiday you’ve been looking forward to all year. The alarm is set, the doors are locked and now you can enjoy your vacation without a care in the world – right?
If you’re going away be sure to take extra precautions to keep your home safe.
- You might trust your Facebook friends but posting and talking about your holiday whilst on holiday is never a good idea. Keep those photos to yourself until you get home.
- If you have an external mail box that could get full up, then ask someone to take your post in for you to stop it giving the game away.
- Ask someone to take the bins in after collection day, bins on the curb days after pick up is a tell-tale sign that someone is away.
- Leave some lights on or even better, have them on a timer!
- Get a trusted neighbour, friend or relative to stop in regularly to help with making the house look occupied and check that everything is OK.
If you are wanting to update your current system or are looking for intruder alarms Chelmsford then Colne Valley Security can help advise you on the most suitable security measures for your home.