Alarms and Security
Additional security for your home is a great way to bring down your buildings and contents insurance UK premiums, as well as ensuring your home is protected from the opportunist or professional thief alike. Indeed, most experts agree that going to the expense of fitting an alarm system is a waste of time if your other security arrangements aren’t in order.
- Ensure that all external doors are fitted with deadlocks to British Standard 3621. These ensure that, once locked, the door can only be opened with a key. This prevents anyone simply breaking some door glass and then opening the lock. Better still, if someone does gain access to the property another way, they won’t be able to open the doors which should make walking out with your new television set a lot more difficult.
- Consider fitting additional key operated deadbolts to the top and bottom of external doors, to make them more resistant to being forced. Note however, that if your doorframe isn’t particularly strong, it may give way before the bolts do. You may wish to consider strengthening the frame with aluminium sheeting.
- Any windows or skylights that are easily accessible to thieves should be fitted with visible key operated window locks. These might not prevent entry, but a thief would have to smash the window glass to do so, drawing attention to themselves.
- Patio doors should be secured top and bottom with approved key operated locks in order to prevent a would-be intruder simply lifting them off their runners to gain access to your home.
- Consider fitting infrared security lighting. This comes on automatically when the sensor is triggered, welcoming guests to your home, and deterring thieves.
- Keep valuables out of sight! Don’t encourage a thief to break in.
- The majority of burglaries take place when your home is empty, so ensure that your home doesn’t look empty. Use time switches to turn interior lights on and off, as well as appliances like televisions or radios to create the illusion of a ‘lived-in’ home when you’re away. Likewise, ensure you cancel milk or newspaper deliveries if you are going away for an extended period, otherwise you are simply advertising the fact that you are away.
- Don’t consider leaving a spare key in a ‘hidden’ place. It might be convenient for you if you’re locked out, but it’s pretty handy for an opportunist burglar too. If you are worried about being locked out, then leave a key with a trusted neighbour or friend.
- Don’t neglect sheds, garages or outhouses. These are often left unlocked, or have inadequate security. Not only are they likely to contain some valuable items (cycles, tools etc.) but a would-be burglar can use your own tools to break into your home! Ensure that ladders are locked away securely too. If you can’t keep them inside, then ensure they are locked up outside, so they can’t be used by a burglar to gain access to upstairs windows in your property.
Read more about alarms and security here.
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