Advice: Protect your home

10 Facts about CRIME

1. 90% of crime is against property
2. Most burglars are opportunists - 20% of the time they don't have to use force
3. 1/3 of all burglaries gain entry through a back window
4. If a burglar can get their head through a window they can get in!
5. Only 9% of stolen property is returned
6. Burglars don't like to break windows.
7. Burglars will use unsecured tools from your garage or shed to break in
8. Deadlocking & removing keys stops a burglar carrying your possessions out through a door
9. Most insurers have minimum security requirements & offer a discount for well secured homes
10. The Home Office advises new home owners to consider replacing keys

Protect your Home

Doors

• If your front and back door are not secure, your house is not secure.
• The doors themselves should be of strong construction; glass panels are vulnerable (don't leave keys & valuables in sight) - consider replacing with laminated glass.
• Fit front and back doors with BS3621 or equivalent deadlocks (many insurance companies will insist on this). Use them and remove the key so a thief can not open a door from the inside.
• Fit all exterior doors, top and bottom, with bolts; fit French doors with mortice bolts top and bottom.
• Ensure uPVC doors are fitted with good quality locks and have a chain fitted from new as they are difficult to add later.Also consider fitting hinge bolts, a door viewer and a letterbox cage (never hang keys inside the letterbox).
• Remember, whatever you do it must be possible to get out quickly in an emergency.

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Windows

• Secure windows force a thief to break the glass and risk attracting attention.
• Secure the most vulnerable windows first: ground floor windows (this is often a minimum insurance company requirement), windows which are out of sight of street and windows which can be reached from a flat roof or drainpipe etc.
• Even small windows such as bathroom windows and skylights are at risk a thief can get through any gap larger than a human head.
• Louvre windows are particularly vulnerable. Consider gluing the slats in place with epoxy resin or better still, replace with fixed glass.

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Patio Doors

• These should have additional special locks top and bottom, unless already fitted with a multipoint locking system. Also consider fitting an anti-lifting device so a thief cannot lift the door off its rails.

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Burglar Alarms

• Visible alarms make burglars think twice. Your insurance company will usually require a system that conforms to either BS4737 or BS6707 (for DIY systems).

Gates and Fences

• A high wall or fence can put off a burglar and a thorny hedge can also be a useful deterrent. Consider fitting a gate to any side passages. Try to stop a thief getting to the back of the house where they can work with less chance of being seen.

Garages and Sheds

• Always make sure sheds and garages are secure; use a strong padlock if necessary. A thief will often use your own tools to help them break in. If there is an adjoining door to the house then a thief could work on the inner door in privacy. Ensure ladders are locked away or chained / padlocked to a sturdy bracket to stop a thief using them.