The clocks have gone back for the winter period, which means fewer hours of daylight, and more hours of darkness available for opportunistic burglars.
That’s why this time of year puts home security under the spotlight and why it’s wise to take extra precautions to keep your property safe.
The good news is that you don’t have to incur a huge amount of expense to do so.
Here are some easy steps to take to make sure your home is best protected from intruders during darker periods of the year.
1. Keep the lights On
If you plan on going out in the evening, keep a light or lights on and make sure the curtains are closed.
2. Lock doors and windows
Before going to bed at night, make sure all doors and windows are locked (including garages and sheds) and that no items are left outside that might help an intruder gain entry, e.g. ladders.
3. Keep valuables hidden away
Another simple way to keep your home secure is ensuring that there are no valuables on display. Make sure “high target” items, like car keys, are hidden away – and certainly not left anywhere near a letter box or open window.
Don’t leave branding for high-cost items, like TVs or games consoles lying around outside. Make sure any packaging and boxes are either stored away indoors, placed in a dustbin or taken to a civic amenity tip.
4. Securing windows and doors with snap-resistant locks
Make sure you have the best level of security on your windows and doors. If you have UPVC and composite doors, one of the top recommendations is to have snap-resistant locks installed.
This is because ‘lock snapping' is one of the main techniques used by burglars to gain access to homes. It’s quick and quiet, meaning a burglar could be inside your property in no time at all, without any indication of a disturbance.
Best to have these types of lock fitted to all external doors – not just to your main property but also for any outbuildings you may have.
5. Be a good neighbour.
Coming together as a community can be an effective way to keep crime away from your local area. Thieves are known to target multiple properties in proximity at any one time. If there isn’t already one in existence, you might want to consider setting up a neighbourhood watch group or a closed Facebook or WhatsApp group for residents on your street, estate or surrounding area.
In this way, people might be more inclined to report any suspicious activity, post suggestions on security and generally keep an eye out for the local community.
The ultimate deterrent – an affordable alarm system (to fit around your existing expenditure)
If you haven’t done so already, we would highly recommend that you adopt all the suggestions mentioned above, none of which involves any great expense.
That said, going the extra mile and having an intruder alarm system professionally installed can also be extremely cost-effective.
The Justice home security subscription is ideally suited to homeowners working on tight budgets but who appreciate the importance of home security. The offer is a flexible payment plan that enables you to rent home security systems including high quality intruder alarms, security cameras and other safety related equipment installed in your property - for a manageable monthly fee starting from just £36 per month including VAT (and free installation).
The plans are designed to run for a 36-month period, after which customers have a range of options to choose from: continuing to make monthly payments; taking ownership of the equipment for a small admin fee (with reduced maintenance costs); or we take the equipment back. All in all, the plan provides outstanding affordability and choice over how you pay for your home security.
If you would like to discuss a domestic security subscription for your home, please contact our main switchboard on 0845 468 9077 to arrange a NO OBLIGATION, FREE SITE SURVEY.
About Justice Fire & Security
Justice Fire and Security have been helping homeowners protect their properties for almost four decades. Our company is recognised with some of the UK security industry’s best accolades, including NSI (NACOSS) Gold accreditation, which we’ve held since 1989.
We operate throughout Birmingham and the wider Midlands region, covering major towns and cities like Wolverhampton, Coventry, Lichfield, Telford, Stoke, Stafford, Tamworth, Coleshill, Bromsgrove and Redditch.
For further reading: Tips To Secure Your Home Against Thieves (churchill.com)
