Solid advice on how best to protect your home and family

Installing a modern burglar alarm system is our best piece of advice for protecting your home and family from break-ins but there are plenty of things you can do in addition to keep the thieves from your door.

1. Get friendly with the neighbours. 

Ideally give them your mobile number so they can call you if they hear or see something suspicious.

2. Avoid the obvious.

Don’t leave keys under the mat or on a side table inside the front door where they can be accessed with a long pole. If you have to leave keys outside, be more creative than under the pot next to the door.

3. Lock up.

Use a strong mortice lock as latches can be prised open too easily. Insurers may make this a condition. Lock all the windows too, including the upstairs ones.

4. Seek advice.

Find out about the crime rate in the area and get advice from the local policing Safer Neighbourhood team, who will inspect your home and provide recommendations.

5. Be discreet.

Don’t turn your sitting room into a burglar’s window display. If your ground floor rooms have valuables in view, draw the curtains when you are out.

6. Don’t advertise.

If you buy an expensive packaged item like a TV, don’t leave the box outside with the rubbish. Burglars are very alert and opportunistic. If you still get a doorstep milk delivery, cancel it when you are away. And don’t order large parcels if there is a danger the goods will be left outside.

7. Light up.

Invest in lighting timers that automatically turn the lights on and off at preset times. These are a key defence mechanism as they create the impression that someone is in when they’re not. Site them in different parts of the house, front and back and set at different times.

8. Don’t forget the shed.

Burglars love ladders, garden equipment and especially tools. Lock up sheds and garages and store the valuables in your home when you go away. Many of our customers extend their alarms wirelessly to include a sensor in the shed or garage.

9. Keep schtum.

Don’t announce you’re going away on holiday on a voice message or through social media. This gives a clear window when the house will be unoccupied.

10. Be ready.

Half of all break-ins take place when people are home. Make sure you have a panic button close to hand as part of your intruder system and investigate any strange noises. At night use the part set facility on your alarm so that the ground floor is alarmed while you sleep safely upstairs. Ideally get a monitored alarm so that you are guaranteed a response in the event of an activation.