If you are worried about home security here is a brief guide on what to do.
Looking after your home is one of the most important things you can do. After all, it is where you spend most of your life. Not only that, but it is home to all your possessions in the world. And that’s not to even mention that it is what houses your family!
The unfortunate truth is that burglaries do occur. Not only that, but they are on the increase. For that reason, it is important to know some of the things you can do to keep your house safe.
There are plenty of tips and tricks for preventing your home from being burgled. There are also lots of things you can do to lessen the financial burden if such an emergency does occur.
If you have come to realise that your home might not be as safe as it could be, then read on. Let’s have a look at some of the most effective ways of keeping your home safe from burglaries.
Don’t Advertise
Far and away the most important thing you can do is not to advertise your home to burglars in the first place. There are a few different aspects to this.
Firstly, if you are away from your home for an extended period of time, you need to be especially careful. It is important that you do not make it obvious that nobody is at home.
There are a number of ways to achieve this. For example, you could set timers on one or two of your lights. This is an effective way of making it look as though somebody is home when it is, in fact, empty.
You could do the same for a radio or television set to make the illusion even more convincing. Similarly, ensure that you turn down the volume of the landline phone. If anyone outside hears it ringing and ringing, it will be obvious that there is nobody at home.
By that same token, don’t ever leave notes on the front door for deliveries or anything of that nature. These are just invitations for burglars to come in.
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Obscure Windows
After the doors, the windows of your home are the next most important thing to watch out for. When you are thinking about the security of your home, your windows need some careful consideration.
It is a wise idea to obscure them as much as possible. This is true whether you are at home, or if you are leaving the house empty for any period of time. When you are at home, make sure all curtains are drawn throughout the night.
It should go without saying, but also ensure that all the windows are firmly closed and locked. If your windows do not have locks, it is well worth considering getting some installed. These are a massive security benefit for your home.
When you are away, having the curtains drawn the whole time might make it obvious that nobody is home. Instead, consider keeping some open. However, be sure not to leave any valuables on display inside. This is an open invitation to burglars.
It is also advisable to invest in some domestic window roller shutters. These are an incomparable way of adding a significant amount of security to your home.
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Fit An Alarm
Burglary alarms are often seen as not being very effective. People seem to have this idea that they do not do much in the way of prevention. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Installing a burglar alarm in your property is a proven method for preventing burglaries occurring in the first place. And regardless of what you might have heard, they have improved in quality dramatically over the last few years.
You can now purchase a basic burglar alarm for very little money. Most of the time, that will be sufficient in preventing people trying to burgle your home. However, if you wish to, you can splash out on a more expensive system, providing you with even greater security.
Alternatively, for a much more cost-efficient option, you could install a pretend system. Studies have shown that even a fake surveillance camera dramatically reduces your risk of burglary.
Keep It Locked
You would be shocked and amazed to learn how many people do not leave their house locked when they leave it. Even if you feel that you live in a relatively safe area, it is still a very good idea to lock your house. You would do well to consider this a basic precaution against burglary.
Whether you are going out for the day, or even just while you are sleeping, make sure your home is secure. Every door and window should be locked and – where possible – bolted.
If you do not feel that you have sufficient locking systems on your doors, then treat your home to new ones. Remember: this is much cheaper than having to replace your stolen belongings.
Besides, it is probably cheaper than you think to install decent locks on your doors and windows. And what you get in terms of peace of mind is more than worth both the time and money.
It’s not just about your valuable, either. You owe it to your family to keep them safe. Not locking your doors and windows is the most common reason that burglars can find their way into the property.
Get Insured
While it is not a preventative measure as such, insurance is definitely a very fine idea indeed. Being insured against burglary won’t stop it from happening. It will, however, make everything a lot easier if you do get burgled.
You might be pleasantly surprised at just how cheap home insurance can be. These days, you can normally get all your contents insured for relatively little.
One important thing to bear in mind with insurance is that you will need evidence if you ever want to make a claim. For that reason, it is a good idea to take photographs of some of the more valuable items in your possession.
Insurance companies are notoriously difficult to get money out of. However, if you are burgled and you make a claim, you should have no problem being successful. Provided, that is, that you have sufficient evidence.
Photographs are the best way to achieve this, so do it before the event. Hopefully, you will never need them, but if you do you will be glad you took the time.
Get Rid of Hiding Space
This is one aspect of protecting the home which most people never consider. However, it is one of the best tips you will ever hear on the subject. The fact is, a lot of burglaries are successful because the burglar has sufficient hiding space.
This hiding space is useful to a burglar both before and after. In other words, they have somewhere to hide while scoping out the building, and also while they are trying to escape! That’s why a huge deterrent is if you have relatively few – or zero – places to hide.
There are several ways to go about achieving this. The first thing to do is to keep your front and back gardens neat and tidy. This includes trees and shrubs. If your hedges and trees are neatly trimmed, it is much harder for a burglar to hide in them.
Next, install some security lighting if you are able to. This in itself is one of the biggest possible deterrents for a burglar, as they will feel on show immediately. These simple tips can reduce your risk of burglary dramatically.
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Know Your Neighbours
This one is frequently overlooked. Too frequently, in fact, because it is one of your best friends in the fight against burglary. Getting to know your neighbours has a multitude of different benefits in terms of keeping the home secure.
When people in the same neighbourhood keep an eye out for one another, the risk of burglary is dramatically reduced. And just for your own sake, you will feel a lot safer when you go on holiday.
Having neighbours whom you know you can trust is one of the very best defences your home can have. It works best when you have a system in place where you all look out for each other. So remember to return the favour the next time they are away!
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Stay Vigilant
Last but not least, it is important to remember to stay vigilant. There is a fine line here which you need to try and tread. On the one hand, you don’t want to live in constant fear of what might happen. That is no life at all!
However, you also don’t want the worst to happen. The sad truth is, these things do happen, and they might happen to you. So it is wise to remain vigilant to what is going on in your local area.
If there has been a recent spate of burglaries, then be on the lookout. Otherwise, just make sure you are doing the usual things to keep your home safe.
Chances are, you won’t have to worry about such a thing happening to you. But if it does, at least you’ll know you did everything in your power to prevent it.
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