Every 45 seconds in the UK, there’s an attempted burglary on a private residence in the UK. Every 76 seconds, there’s a successful one. I don’t know about you, but those are some pretty worrying figures! I know it isn’t exactly pleasant, but you need to consider the possibility of your home being burgled. After all the work you’ve put in to fill your home with nice things, or decorate it just the way you like it, I’m sure you don’t want to leave your home open to burglars. Here’s some of the best advice available on protecting your home from burglary.
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Take Care of Your Front Door
You may not think it, but the outward appearance of your home has a lot to do with how likely it is to be burgled. For this reason, you need to ensure that your front door doesn’t look like it belongs to a house that’s an easy target. Don’t let the paint become dull, flaky or shabby – make sure you’re applying a fresh coat as and when you need it. You should also make a show of your locks, by cleaning any dirt or rust off of them regularly and keeping them shiny and obvious. Most burglars are opportunistic criminals, and if an exterior looks tough it can often be enough to make them pass the house by.
Get the Right Deterrents
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Making sure that your locks don’t look shabby or weak can be a great deterrent against crime, but it will only get you so far. Experienced burglars will be pretty well-versed in the makes and models of different locks, and will be able to gauge how easy one would be to pick or break. If your home has particularly old locks on the front door, it may be time for an update. Shop around for some locks that have blocking or centring pins, which will stop burglars gaining access with bumping keys or lock picks. You can even get cylinders with anti-drilling protection. Burglar alarms can also be a great deterrent, and if you are burgled they’ll improve your chances of bringing the criminal to justice. Here’s a post where Alarm Reviews compares Vivint to ADT.
Lock Your Door, But Don’t Forget the Windows!
Just as seasoned burglars will have some degree of familiarity with the locks on your door, there are a lot out there who know a thing or two about windows as well. If they see a nice big French window with thin panes, these criminals won’t hesitate to chisel it open and walk right in. To stop this from happening, consider investing in double pane lamination. This will not only deter opportunistic burglars, but will also keep out cold air, and make your home more energy efficient!
Strengthen your Shed Roof
Obviously, your home should be your main priority when you’re trying to protect your property from burglars. However, it’s also pretty common for burglars to target people’s sheds and steal anything of value they may be keeping there. If your shed has a rotten or weak roof that can be easily broken or prised open, then the padlock on the door isn’t going to do you much good. Have a look outside, and think about replacing the roof of your shed.
Make your Interior Less Tempting
While working on the outward appearance of your home can have a big impact on keeping burglars at bay, you don’t want to forget about your interior. Some burglars will gauge how easy it is to break into a home, and then get inside, worrying about the actual contents once they find out what they are. Others, however, will judge whether it’s worth the effort or not by peering inside and looking at what you actually have. That bone china that’s been in the family for generations may look great in a glass display cabinet, but it will also tempt burglars in if they can see it from the street. Place valuables like this in a safe, and keep that safe out of sight, or camouflaged with some inconspicuous wallpaper. You should also be reminding your kids not to leave their phones, tablets or gaming controllers lying around where it can be seen by passers-by, keeping your TV as well-hidden as possible, and closing all the curtains when it gets dark. These might sound like little changes, but they can really make all the difference!
Sorry if this post made you a little paranoid! Make these changes though, and you’ll be able to sleep that much easier.
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