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The clocks go back this Sunday (25th October), so from next Monday, most businesses will end the working day in the dark. In 2025, Devon and Cornwall Police recorded 1,370 burglaries of business and community premises, almost four a day across the two counties, not including attempts. Longer evenings mean more hours when your premises are empty and poorly lit, so now is a good time to carry out a quick security check.
Cameras that perform well at midday might struggle as the light fades. Review your footage from after dark to see whether it’s good enough to identify a person or read a number plate. Common culprits for poor visuals include:
If the footage isn’t good enough to be useful, it’s worth speaking to your installer about whether the cameras need adjusting, cleaning or upgrading.
When the clocks change, most alarm panels and CCTV recorders update themselves, but some don’t. If the time is an hour out, it can cause confusion when you need to match an alarm event to CCTV footage, or hand evidence to the police or your insurer. On Monday morning, check that the time and date are correct on your security systems.
If you have lights on a timer, you’ll need to reset them after the clocks change, or they may come on an hour late. Lights with a daylight sensor adjust automatically, but the sensor needs to be clean and functioning. Walk around the outside of your premises after dark and check for:
Locking up in the dark feels very different from locking up in daylight, particularly for those who work alone or finish late. Make sure there’s a clear closing routine, that exits and car parks are well lit, and that your keyholder details are up to date. If your alarm is monitored, check that the contact numbers for your keyholders are still correct.
Most of these checks take a few minutes and can be carried out by someone on site. If you find a fault or are unsure whether your system is working as it should, we’re happy to help.
At Tamar Security, we install, service and maintain intruder alarms, CCTV and access control for businesses across Devon. Get in touch if you’d like your system checked before the evenings close in.
To book a free intruder alarm consultation and quote, please call us on 01392 368830 or complete our contact form.
