At Home with Sarah Beeny Autumn 2015 - 236

Beat the

BURGLAR
T

Don't let your home become a magnet for thieves, keep it safe as houses with these practical tips

Lock it up

Keeping windows and doors closed
and locked at night is an obvious
security measure and yet it's one
that many homeowners fail to stick
to. As RHG Insurance Brokers
comments: 'More than 60% of
burglaries happen because people
don't use the security protection
they already have in place.
In one third of all house burglaries,
thieves manage to get through an
open door or window without even
forcing an entry.
'One of the ﬁrst things customers
are advised to do is to make sure their
home has basic security features, such
as good window and door locks.
These not only help reduce the risk
of being targeted, but they can also
lower insurance premiums.'
Quality door locks are essential,
but must be matched by strong
doors and frames. A rim latch is
236 | NOVEMBER 2015

your ﬁrst port-of-call, but it's not
adequate on its own.
A deadlock (ﬁve-lever mortice
or rim automatic) also needs to be
ﬁtted, which must meet British
Standard 3621. You may also wish
to install a door chain for an extra
layer of protection.

Be switched on

The lights are on, but nobody's
home - but this can be enough to
keep burglars out as they won't be
willing to take the risk. It's quick
and cheap to install plug-in timers
to lamps, so you can control when
they come on in various rooms
around the house.
Installing security lights outside
Get alarmed
your home is another great way to
Around 94% of thieves would avoid
deter intruders, as they are
houses that have a monitored
alarm, according to
ﬁtted with passive infrared
research from security
(PIR), which triggers
company, ADT. So,
the lights to come on
Are you wired?
when activated by
having an alarm
HOUSE NETWORKS
movement. Quick
installed is one of
ALLOW YOU TO HAVE
and easy to have
the best ways to
installed to replace
avoid burglary.
REMOTE ACCESS SO
existing lights, this
However, the
YOUR HOME WILL BE
is an effective way
modest house
to ward off unwanted
alarm has been
SAFE, EVEN WHEN
visitors
at night.
upgraded in recent
YOU'RE AWAY
Next, tackle the
years. As technology
obvious. If a burglar looks
has developed and
through your front door or
become more mobile, home
window what will they see? Try and
automation systems (an electronic
ensure any valuables are out of sight.
network that can connect electrical
Use a cupboard to hide expensive
items in your house) can keep your
equipment and refrain from leaving
home safe, even while you're away.
mobiles or laptops in view, or your
This 'smart house' network allows
keys on the hall table.
you to have remote access to your
Burglars often use surveyor rods
security system - so you can check
(that are long and ﬂexible) and hook
in on your home using your mobile.
nearby keys through the letterbox,
This type of system can also be
which means they can make off with
programmed so that, if an intruder
your car without even taking a step
enters your home, all the lights in
inside your house!
the house will switch on or ﬂash.
And hide that calendar, especially
Your gate and garage door control
if you've marked on when you're off
can be linked into your security
on holiday or away for the night!
system, too.

WORDS: KIA HANSEN | ILLUSTRATION: GETTY IMAGES

hieves are
opportunists.
They will go
for anything
that's easy to
steal and there's
no harm in
ensuring your home is as safe as it
possibly can be. So, it's essential
that you keep items like passports
and other important documents
stashed away safely and use locks
on doors and windows.
With millions of crimes happening
in the home every year in the UK, it's
extremely important to play it safe.

At Home with Sarah Beeny Autumn 2015

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