Simple steps that can help avoid burglary…

Most burglaries are opportunistic crimes, but dedicated burglars will spend time carefully casing a neighborhood looking for easy targets, taking note of what they can see in gardens and watching your comings and goings. You’d be surprised at how much they can learn just by watching from the street. There are all sorts of tell-tale signs and things they look out for that most people wouldn’t think about. Whether it’s something simple like forgetting to arm your alarm system, or leaving mail poking out of your letterbox while you’re away. Making things slightly harder for a burglar really can make all the difference. Here are some of the most common home security mistakes to avoid & many of them cost nothing!

Lock your doors, close your windows

It may be the most obvious thing on the list but it is amazing how many burglaries occur every day because a door or window was left open! Always remember to lock your doors and windows, especially those out of sight or at the back of your house.

Set your alarm system

Get in the habit of always setting your alarm system when you go out & at night. Many people have older systems that they don’t really trust, so end up never using them. It is important to have a professional well-maintained system. It’s also worth mentioning that a large number of burglaries happen whilst the house is occupied so make sure you lock doors at night and part set your alarm system before you go to bed. Our modern smart security systems provide reliable protection for your home or business and we’ll also look after all the servicing for you, so you can be sure the system’s always working. You can even set it from your phone & get real time alerts to tell you what’s happening while you’re away. Find out more about our smart security systems here.

Leaving valuables on show

Don’t tempt thieves by leaving laptops, phones & other valuables in plain sight of windows. Also, be careful about leaving your car keys somewhere they can be seen & “fished” through the letter box.

Expensive rubbish

Be mindful of what you put in your dustbin. Thieves may go through your rubbish and obvious indicators of a new purchase, such the box for your new 60” TV or high-end sound system can make you a target. Also, be sure to shred any bills, personal papers or bank statements before putting them in the bin to avoid identity theft.

Don’t make it obvious that no one’s at home

A pile of post on your doorstep or bins at the end of your driveway past rubbish day are obvious signs that a house is unoccupied. If possible, ask a friendly neighbour to put your bins away for you and check that post is not left poking out of the letterbox.

Keep a light on

A dark house lets anyone know straight away there’s no one home. A couple of lamps on timers are a simple, cheap and effective solution. For a more high-tech approach and to control home devices from your smartphone ask about our smart control systems.

Posting on Social Media

Posting holiday snaps and stories on social media whilst abroad lets anyone know that your house will be empty for a while.

Cheap or fake security

Poor quality locks on doors or windows are easily bypassed. Most experienced burglars can tell fake alarm bell boxes & dummy CCTV cameras a mile away, inadvertently making you more of a target. Speak to us today about booking a completely free, no obligation professional security review of your property, or simply drop us an email and we’ll be in touch.

Hiding a key outside

This common security error will render even the most secure door useless. A thief can usually quite easily guess where someone would hide a key.

Leaving upper floors unprotected

Most burglars will follow the path of least resistance & break in at ground level but with a handy ladder that someone has left out in the garden, or a convenient single storey extension, your upper windows may still be accessible. Ensure upper storey windows are closed when you leave and that your alarm system has proper coverage of upper floors.

Leaving ladders or tools in your garden

Following on from the above, unsecured garden tools and ladders can be used by opportunistic burglars to help break into your home. Bear in mind a strong shovel will lever most doors off their hinges so lock all garden tools away in a shed and use a good quality padlock & chain to secure ladders to a wall or strong anchoring point. Even the theft of garden tools alone can be annoying & costly.

Dark entrances

Fit motion sensing security lights around your doorways, thieves don’t like being lit up whilst working.

Hidden spaces

Overgrown shrubbery and trees near entryways can provide burglars with a perfect hiding spot away from watchful eyes.

No visible electronic security

A house with no visible electronic security will be a more obvious target. If this sounds like your property then speak to us about installing an alarm system or CCTV for you. Our modern wireless alarm systems are installed in one day with absolutely no mess and disruption to your home and they cost much less than you’d think. We can connect the system to your smartphone to provide immediate notifications of any events or simply let you know that your family has arrived home safely. CCTV systems are an effective deterrent and a very useful way of monitoring your home from your smartphone. Our professional grade HD systems provide stunning clear images. For more information click here.

Old unused or unmaintained systems

If your alarm system or keypad is visible from a window, a burglar might be able see whether the system is armed or not. It’s incredible, the number of people who have alarm systems but don’t set them because they are old and unreliable. Without periodic checks and proper maintenance from a professional, your alarm system may not work correctly when it’s most needed.