10 Important Ways to Secure Your Home from Burglars

You may think your house is secure at night or when you are away but just locking the front door may not be enough to stop experienced and determined thieves. It’s easy to only react and make improvements once you, a neighbour or family member has been the victim of a burglary. Try to develop a positive preventative approach to securing your home and family possessions. Our tips below will help.

1. Gates & fencing.
   • Make sure side gates are locked. The front of your home should have low fencing or hedge but high fencing is best for the back to help prevent access.
   • Best hedge type is thorney or scrub type. More info here.
2. Install low level “dusk ’till dawn” outside lighting.
   • This type of lighting is now recommended as better for crime prevention than IR sensor activated spotlights.
3. Garages and sheds.
   • The quality of garage and shed locks can be poor. Burglars often use your own garden tools & ladders to break into you house. Make sure you keep sheds and garages locked. More information on securing sheds here.
4. Install a visible alarm system
   • Home security alarms are many and varied so get good advice when choosing the right one for your home.
5. Close & Lock all doors and windows.
   • This seems obvious but do you lock the door and remove the key from the lock at night and put it in a safe place out of sight? (All the family should know where it is in case of fire.)
   • Close windows in accessible rooms. A burglar could enter through a window at the front of your house while you’re out the back!
6. Don’t leave keys or important ID documents like a driving licence where they can be either seen from the outside or reached through a letterbox or similar opening.
7. Photograph valuables and objects of sentimental value with your house number or name and postcode. Use a security pen (can be seen under UV light), make a note of serial numbers and keep receipts in a safe place. Consider using immobilise.com the UK national property register.
8. Invest in a safe for valuable items.
   • Make sure the safe is securely fixed to the floor or wall.
9. Use timer switches on lights and radio etc when you are away to make it seem like someone is at home.
   • More info including a Fake TV light here.
10. Secure alleyways with open metal gating and a good lock.
    • More details for securing back alley access can be found here.

Getting the right advice is essential when modifying locks and lock fittings to secure your home. Always make sure you are using the correct BS Kitemark standard equipment and a qualified locksmith.

For sound advice from a qualified and experience locksmith based in Cornwall call Barrie Howell from Owl Locksmiths & Security.

More information on home security:

1. Met Police – Advice on Burglary Prevention
2. The Crime Prevention Website – Home Security

Picture by: “Day 195 – Shut the burglar out (9293361460)” by West Midlands Police
Uploaded by palnatoke. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.