We have written articles before about the importance of securing your new home, however, it is equally as important to update your home security while you’re living in the house. Whether you have been in the same house for 5 years, 10 years or even 15, regularly reviewing and updating your home security helps protect you and your family from unexpected security risks.
Follow these top tips to make your home more secure.
1. Change the locks
There are several reasons to change your locks, including moving into a new house, updating your security, or losing your keys. Changing your locks regularly ensures you can be sure your home is protected from unwanted intrusions. It takes less than a day and is much more cost-effective than being robbed.
2. Use anti-snap locks
Cylinder snapping (or lock snapping) is a method used by burglars to break into properties with euro cylinder locks. It’s very common due to the lack of skills it requires for thieves to snap the lock. Many types of euro lock cylinders are prone to lock snapping and can be found on almost all domestic houses with UPVC doors, and a significant number of composite & aluminium doors.
Anti-snap locks are made of high-security euro lock cylinders. They are designed and tested to protect against lock snapping, stopping a thief from breaking the lock.
Learn more about anti-snap locks
3. Install a burglar alarm
Burglar alarms are one of the most popular security measures to deter burglars. As well as discouraging burglars from breaking into the property, burglar alarms also effectively alert the owners to any break-ins. This means that even if an intruder enters your property, they may not be successful in stealing your possessions due to this internal security measure.
Read more: What do burglars look for?
4. Add deadbolts to exterior doors
Intruders will often try to pick or snap the locks on your outer doors to get into your home. While you can invest in anti-snap locks to prevent this from happening, it’s also wise to add a deadbolt to your door as it cannot be interfered with from the outside and makes it more difficult (even if they manage to snap your main lock) for intruders to get through.
5. Don’t advertise expensive possessions
We all like to treat ourselves every now and then. When unpacking possessions don’t leave the packaging for expensive items out where anyone can see it. This signals to burglars that you’ve got something worth breaking in for!
Top tip: Fold packaging down (ideally inside out) to fit in your recycling bin, take it to your nearest recycling centre, or only put it out right before it’s due to be collected.
6. Get to know your neighbours
Your neighbours are some of the best assets you can have when it comes to home security. If they see someone they don’t recognise around your home, they’ll be able to alert you or the police. But if they don’t know who you are or what you look like they’re less likely to be able to spot and stop intruders.
Top tip: If you haven’t already make the effort to introduce yourself to your neighbours and get to know them better over the next few weeks.
7. Secure your garden
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, make sure you take the time to secure it. Even if you have no valuables in the garden itself, they are frequently used by burglars to gain access to the main home.
Read more: How to secure your garden
8. Keep garden boundaries high
While we advise keeping fences and shrubbery low at the front of your property, when it comes to the back garden you want these to be as high as possible – ideally over 6ft! A high fence stops potential thieves from seeing what’s in your garden and makes it more difficult for any intruders trying to break in.
Top tip: Make the top of your fence sharp and spiky using trellises, fence panels or spiky plants to deter intruders.
9. Give your spare key to someone you trust
Any burglar who spends time researching your home will likely notice if you’ve chosen to stash a spare key in a convenient location e.g. in a fake rock, under the door mat or in a plant pot. While this may be more convenient for you in an emergency, this also makes it easier for intruders to break in without a trace.
Top tip: Give your spare key to someone you trust or invest in a key safe.
10. Secure your valuables
Burglars want to make the best use of their time so they will break into houses where they believe there is something worth stealing.
If you have lots of valuable items in your home it is worth investing in more advanced security measures including CCTV and Safes.
While for many burglars this tells them you have something worth stealing, the higher chance of being caught on camera or the increased difficulty of committing a crime often acts as a deterrent due to the increased difficulty and time it would take to steal valuables.
Top tip: Make sure that your valuables aren’t visible from outside e.g. position your expensive TV away from the window and don’t leave your jewellery on the kitchen window-sill when you’re washing up.
Your home is where you and your family should feel safest but we often expose ourselves to more risks than we know. For more advice on securing your home or to upgrade your home security, visit our store or call our friendly team on 0115 9780141.
