Property damage caused during a burglary is one of the highest type claims that insurance companies receive in the UK. As the evenings get darker and the winter months draw in, there’s a significant rise in the number of break-ins that occur compared to the rest of the year. A lot of these break-ins happen in large cities, but rural and sub-suburban areas can also be at risk.
Unfortunately, burglars have been entering houses for as long as people have been residing in them. And, whilst there are many new technologies such as motion sensor alarms, burglars can easily enter homes by breaking uPVC window handles, smashing glass or by simply picking a lock.
In other words, no safety measure is going to protect you completely, but the more precautions you take, the less likely your home will be targeted. Let’s take a look at what you can do to make your home safer.
Make Sure Your Windows and Doors Are Locked
Yes, we know that we might be kicking off this article with a completely obvious tip, but 1000’s of homeowners don’t lock all of their windows and doors when leaving their property. Even if you’re simply relaxing in your back garden, make sure your doors are locked as criminals will be able to slip in quickly and take your personal belongings.
Use Your Burglar Alarm
Whenever you leave your home, make sure you set your burglar alarm if you have one, if you don’t, you definitely need to buy one. A burglar alarm will not only offer you peace of mind knowing that your home is safe, but it could also lower your home insurance premiums too; a win-win situation.
Don’t Advertise What You’re Doing On Social Media
You should never go onto your social media profiles and broadcast what you’ve got planned to your followers. Criminals are known to filter through social media posts to see when homeowners will be out of their houses, especially over the festive period and the summer months when most people go on holiday.
Keep Your Garage Secure
If you keep tools such as ladders, hammers, or wire cutters in your garage, then you must ensure that it’s secure at all times. Thieves could break into your garage and then use these tools to illegally gain entry to your home.
Keep Your Valuables Out of Sight
Certain houses look like more of an opportunity than others for criminals. For example, if you live in an expensive area or have a nice car on your driveway. Items like wallets, keys, laptops, and phones that are visible through your windows can add a lot of temptation for burglars, so you should make sure that they’re kept out of sight.
Change Your Door Locks
If you’ve recently moved into your new home, if you believe that your door locks are not as secure as they should be, you should replace all of them to secure your home. This is especially important if you’ve moved into a new home that had previous occupants.
When On Holiday
Before you jump on that plane and head off on holiday, you should arrange for another family to visit your home, park on your driveway and generally be active around your property. This will make it seem like you’re still at home and help deter criminals. It’s also a particularly good idea to use time timers and install motion sensors too.
Don’t Leave Your Packaging Outside Your Home
Never leave big box packaging, especially for expensive items outside your home. This is very important around Christmas time. If you don’t, it sends a strong message to potential burglars that you have personal belongings that are worth money and worth stealing.
Don’t Risk It
So, as you can see, there are quite a few different preventative measures you can take to deter burglars from illegally entering your home. All of these are well worth doing if you want to keep your home safe for your family and want the peace of mind knowing your personal belongings are safe.