TOP 10 TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR HOME SECURITY

Being the victim of a burglary is very stressful, just the thought of having someone else rustling through my personal belongings is a very distressing thought. In October, It becomes darker earlier and for longer periods making your mornings dark too. With this in mind, It’s now the perfect time for burglars to break into your home so let’s keep them at bay with these top 10 tips for improving your home security.

Save Money by installing extra home security.

It really does pay to keep our homes safe and secure. Insurance companies often offer discounts if you have alarms fitted, locks on windows and approved locks on doors.

Only recently a friend of mine who went out for the day shopping with her family came home to find the back door to her property had been forced open allowing the burglars to take electrical goods and jewellery.

Her home security was quite good with security lighting and locks on the window. unfortunately, they used the euro cylinder profile method to gain entry. Basically, her locks were not up to standard with the cylinder in her UPVC door. Criminals adapt and unfortunately, we must do the same to keep them away from our personal possessions.

Neighbourhood Watch in your local area

Discounts on insurance can even be offered if you are part of a neighbourhood watch group, If not, why not! Maybe you could consider starting your own Neighbourhood watch group in your local area. The ethos of Neighbourhood and Home Watch is to build closer communities and Neighbourhood Values. Not just that but your neighbours become a little like part of your home security making sure you all keep an eye on any suspicious activity in and around your neighbourhood.

If you feel like you’re ready to start upgrading and tweaking your home security then here are my top 10 tips for improving your home security.

10 tips for improving your home security

1. Consider installing CCTV at your property. This is becoming more popular as costs reduce. The security systems can deter potential burglars, keeping your insurance premiums down. Domestic CCTV can be installed for as little as £50.
2. Always place the keys to your home well away from the door. Make sure they are hidden in a draw or at the side of your bed. This way they are easily accessible for you and your family if required in an emergency. Remember that potential intruders will be looking for the easiest method to gain access to your home. You don’t want them simply opening the letterbox and having access to your Window lock keys because you have left them too close to the door or window.
3. Fit blinds to windows. Venetian blinds or vertical blinds can act as a significant deterrent as they can be a noisy obstacle for burglars attempting to gain entry. This method will deter the burglar because if they can’t see what’s inside of your home, then they probably will not want to take the risk of coming away with nothing. This tip actually came from one of our local Police Community Support Officers.
4. If you are planning to go on holiday, Use a timer switch to have a radio and lights come on and off to give the impression there is someone home at all hours of the day. You can pick up a security timer switch for as little as £7.
5. Have a spy hole and a chain installed to your doors and never open the door to unexpected visitors, especially on the run-up to Christmas when it’s dark outside. Always check their Identification and if you are really unsure, ask them for a phone number and confirm who they are via the telephone.
6. Consider having composite doors fitted to your property. Made with a solid internal construction composite doors are manufactured to be thermally efficient and ultra-secure. Composite doors also feature high-security multi-locking systems. We have recently done this and yes it can be expensive, but they do provide you with that extra peace of mind.
7. Ensure all your windows are manufactured with the latest high-security features and have window locks fitted. Keep your windows locked, especially those on the ground floor. Look for a company that manufactures all of their windows with the latest high-security features and is rigorously tested to exceed current industry standards. Here is the company I found when I was searching for good quality yet affordable double glazing in Yorkshire. You can also take a look at doubleglazed.com if you need more information on whether or not double glazing reduces noise or not?
8. Check your insurance policy to see the level of security required on your home. Check the small print and phone them up if you’re not sure.
9. Install a good security alarm in your home. Again these can cost as little as £50 and shop around will seriously help keep the cost low. I would recommend a professional to install the alarm only because you want to know it is set up correctly and generally they are installed at a high level. I personally do not fancy going up a set of ladders to install the alarm box. Moreover, a company like Verisure can help you with setting up an alarm as their home alarms are connected directly to an Alarm Receiving Centre, where a team of specialized professionals works every day to ensure your protection. Check out the Vivint cost for the most complete monitored home security system on the market.
10. Last but not least security lighting. Someone attempted to break into our shed only last year. My husband woke up and found the young lad hid in a corner of the garden from our bedroom window. The lad had set the security light off and he couldn’t move because he didn’t want to get seen. He actually got away, but if the security lighting hadn’t been installed it wouldn’t have triggered and woke my husband up. You can find plenty of security halogen lights in-store and online with some even under £10.

*This is a collaborative post, all thoughts and opinions are my own*