Over recent months, we've received several enquiries for home security following a spate of burglaries across East Devon. House burglary is often an opportunistic crime, so making your house less attractive to a potential burglar is a good defence against a break-in.
Here are eight tips to improve your home security:
1. Install an intruder alarm
A visible, professionally installed
alarm system is one of the strongest deterrents. Many burglars avoid homes with an intruder alarm. An added benefit of an alarm is that it could lower your home insurance premium.
2. Mount CCTV cameras
As with intruder alarms,
CCTV cameras are a visible deterrent to would-be burglars and capture evidence of unwanted or criminal activity around your property.
3. Secure doors and windows
Ensure all your external doors have reliable locks (mortice and multi-point locking systems are the best) and fit locks on your windows. Remember to lock the windows and doors when you leave your home.
4. Use lighting
When you go out in the evening, keep a few lights on in the house. If you're away overnight, use a time switch or 'smart plugs' to programme lights to switch on and off while you're not there.
Mount motion-activated lights outside your home in entrances, side paths, and dark corners.
5. Keep valuables out of sight
Don't tempt burglars by ensuring valuable items such as cash, car keys, electronics, and jewellery are out of view.
6. Don't hide keys outside
Use a secure outdoor key safe if you need to leave a key outside your home. Don't hide keys under flower pots or doormats!
7. Keep tools locked up
Ladders and garden tools could help a burglar get into your home, so keep them locked up and out of sight.
8. Make the house look occupied
If you'll be away from home for an extended period, ask friends and family to help prevent your home from looking empty – by collecting the mail, mowing the lawn, moving the car on the drive, etc.
If you'd like to improve your home security and would like a no-obligation assessment and quote for an intruder alarm or CCTV system, please
get in touch.
