There were an estimated 261,965 domestic burglaries last year, according to the Office for National Statistics.
This is an increase of 32 per cent over 2016 and highlights the continued importance of home security.
To ensure that your home is adequately protected, follow these six tips:
- Invest in stronger locks fitted on your windows and doors by a certified locksmith. In addition, you should test all locks to ensure that they are secure and in working order.
- Inspect door glazing to ensure that the glass panels are at least 6.4 millimetres thick and are either laminated or reinforced with a security film.
- Trim plants around doors and windows to ensure they do not provide any protection for potential burglars.
- Install motion-activated security lights outside any vulnerable windows and doors, including on your garden shed and garage.
- Consider purchasing a burglar alarm and posting signage letting any potential burglars know that your home is fitted with an alarm.
- Purchase an ultraviolet security pen and mark all your high-end electronics and valuables with it so you can identify them if they are stolen. You should use an easily identifiable marking, such as your first initial and surname. In addition, you may want to take photographs of items—especially their serial numbers—in order to help the police identify your items more easily.
Going away? Make sure your home is secured
It goes without saying that you should ensure your doors and windows are securely locked when leaving your home unattended at any time, but for longer periods away from your home, you may also consider:
- Using timer switches for lighting or electrical equipment like radios, to give the appearance that the house is occupied.
- Avoiding posting your location publicly on social media while away from home, particularly on holiday. Planned burglaries can happen when the perpetrator has prior knowledge that your house is unoccupied.
- Getting trusted neighbours to check on your property while it is unattended, or looking for a reliable housesitter to make sure that your home is looked after in your absence.
- Asking neighbours to use your external bins while you're away, so it is less obvious that the house is not being occupied.
- Ensuring expensive valuables are marked where possible, so if they are recovered following a theft, they can be returned to you as the rightful owner.
After making sure your home is safe and secure, check that your home insurance policy offers the same sense of security. Check with Bollington to review your policy and close any potential gaps in your cover. Our friendly team can be contacted on 01625 348038.
