Burglary Prevention tips
See also: Window security | Door security
A victim of burglary often wonder why their house was picked on:
"How the mind of a burglar work´s?"
A burglar will select his target because it offers him the easiest opportunity to do the burglary undetected and with the fewest number of obstacles in his way:
- Side gates left open
- Down stairs windows left open
- Ladders left out‚ (if ladders can not be stored pad lock them to an immovable object and a board against the rungs)
- Garden shed left unlocked giving access to garden tools to force entry
- Tall hedges or fences so he can't be seen by neighbour's
The question is, are the occupants in?
Each of these makes access to the building far simpler and is an indication that nobody is home:
- All windows closed in hot weather
- House in darkness after dark
- Newspapers and mail in the letter box
- Milk bottles or parcels on the doorstep
Are you giving a thief easy access to your house?
These are all signs telling the burglar that he is unlikely to be disturbed in the course of his work. If we can take measures that tell the burglar that this building is too difficult or too risky a target‚ he will hopefully move on
- Never leave a spare key hidden anywhere near the front door - burglars know all the hiding places
- Don´t leave a key on a piece of string behind the letterbox
- Do not! label your house keys in case you lose them and they fall into the wrong hands.
Remove temptation
- Where possible, try to keep valuables out of sight from windows.
Make it look as though your house is occupied
- Install timers which switch lights or radios on and off automaticallynstall timers which switch lights or radios on and off automatically
- Get a neighbour to park on your drive if possible
- Have a neighbour or friend pop round to clear mail from letter box or doorstep.
- If going out after dark, draw the curtains, leave some lights on and a radio playing.
If you are going away for extended periods of time?
- Set your burglar alarm if you have one.
- If you do not have an alarm, invest a few pounds in a dummy alarm box. It may well deter the opportunist thief.
- Check your insurance policy. Some insurance policies for contents don't cover you if you are away for more than 30 days.
- If snow is on the ground a few footprints will make the house look if some body is home.
- If you can leave a key with a willing neighbour/relative, ask for curtains to be drawn and lights to be put on at night.
- Ask a neighbour, friend or relative to keep a regular eye on your property and collect any mail or deliveries.
- Make sure you cancel the delivery of milk and newspapers
- Unplug the telephone answering machine, or change your greeting message to give the impression that you are busy and temporarily unable to answer.
- You can contact us by Phone any time 27/7 on free phone 0800 612 2698 or local rate charge ‡0845 0942075 also the office on 01892 661859
‡ charged at local rates mobile charges may vary
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