Getting the basics right will significantly reduce your chance of being burgled. Most burglaries are still opportunistic and your job is to make your house less appealing to break into than the ones nearby!
Think how you would get into your house if you were locked out? If you can get in, so can a burglar. Pay particular attention to areas where they can break in without being seen from the road or neighbours houses.
Real Crime Figures
What you need to do
20% burglars don't even have to use force
33% burglars get in through a window
77% get in through a door
Fit strong locks to your doors and windows
Use the locks you have. Snaplocks for windows lock automatically when you shut them.
Keep keys out of sight
Our security products for doors and windows will help you choose the right lock for the type of doors and windows in your home.
Protect Yourself from "Push Past" Burglaries
Over 10% of burglaries are now carried out by criminals distracting you or violently gaining entry once you have opened the door.
This is partly due to the increasing security in houses and the brazen nature of criminals needing cash to feed their drug habits.
Knowing who is at the door, before you open it, is a wise move. Advice from the police is that you should:
Always have and use a door viewer or a device which allows you to see who is outside your front door
Never open your door to strangers without using an intercom or chain to find out what they want. Do not be embarrassed to send people away, even if they appear to be from a well known company or organisation.
Never give strangers access unless you have checked their ID cards and phoned the company for verification. Do not rely on the telephone number on their ID card.
Security products that will protect you are inexpensive to buy and easy to fit. You should consider:
Door chain / restrictor (with mirror if possible)
Door Viewer
Door Intercom / Video Entry phone
Our Door Caller Security products will give you a range of devices that are targeted at this problem
Security Considerations for Flats
All Flat owners need to take special care of letting people they don't know into the communal areas.
If you live in a first or second floor flat, you should take the same security measures you would for a house.
Flats above the second floor need to take a slightly different approach because of fire regulations and the reduced likelihood of access through the windows
You should never deadlock yourself into a flat above the 1st floor in case of a fire
A deadlocking night-latch allows you to deadlock the door when you are away and keep on the latch when you’re home. This enables a quick exit in a fire
