Keep Burglars Away

Help to safeguard your home by taking steps to avoid this perception.  Ensure that all windows, sheds, and side gates are securely locked, do not leave tools and ladders lying around, put them away as soon as you have finished with them.  Look at your garden with a critical eye, trim back bushes and hedges, consider lowering a high fence, anything that would provide cover for illegal and unwanted activity. 

And make sure that your house doesn’t look like its standing empty especially if you are away for more than a day.  Don’t leave milk bottles and papers lying on the front step or mail in the letterbox.  If you know that you’re unlikely to return to the house until after dark, leave the lights. 

It’s good to be in contact with your neighbours, especially if you have neighbours who spend most of their day at home.  Ask them to check on your property every now and again and report any suspicious behaviour.  Invest in a burglar alarm, security lights, and if you believe you are in a high risk area, CCTV may be a good idea. 

Holiday time

If you’re likely to be away for an extended period, do not change the message on your answerphone informing callers of this.  Stop deliveries of milk and papers, put lights and radios on a timing mechanism so that they switch on and off automatically during the day. 

Before leaving, check the locks and frames of your doors and windows.  Are they sound?  Do they need upgrading?   If you can force them open, so can somebody else. 

Invest in a comprehensive home insurance policy to reduce the risk of loss.  If anything should occur, you will benefit from their assistance.  Make sure that each item of value is marked with your details and make a list of the serial numbers so that they are easier to track if they do get stolen.  It will make claiming easier too. 

Some insurance brokers offer discounts if you follow certain safety tips mentioned here, such as fitting a burglar alarm, as long as it is fitted according to their instructions.  Speak to Churchill about their home insurance cover. 

Don’t come in

Do not leave a welcome mat for burglars at your front door.  Don’t leave a spare key in an obvious place, if you need to leave it for a member of the family ask a neighbour for help.  Do not put your name and address on a set of house keys, if you misplace them you will need to change all of your locks to ensure that your house is secure.  For the same reason, do not label your suitcases with your full address, all they need is your name and a contact mobile phone number.  And do not leave valuables in full sight of a window.

If you live in a block of flats or a complex that has multiple entry phones, do not let people in that you don’t know.  And if someone knocks on your door asking for entry for some official reason, to read the meter for example, stay safe by asking to see their identification.  If they cannot provide a satisfactory identification card, you are within your rights to phone the authorities and report them.  It’s a good idea to fit a door chain and a spy hole on your front door if you don’t already have them. 

Take action

Neighbourhood Watch schemes are a good way to help keep crime levels down.  Members of the local community get together on a regular basis to discuss hot spots and crime busting initiatives.  There are now more than 155,000 such schemes in the UK.  If you want to get involved, contact your local police station and ask for the Crime Prevention officer for further information.