Top Tips
By following our useful tips you can help prevent unwanted guests
Implement as many of these simple measures as you can to keep those burglars at bay.
Is Your Home & Business Secured?
Remember that burglars are lazy and look for the easiest target. If you can show that you’ve taken precautions to secure and protect your home or business, then the likelihood is that they’ll go and target someone who hasn’t been as security-conscious as you. Here are our Home & Business security tips to keep you and your belongings safe…
LOCK WINDOWS AND DOORS
Sounds like a simple task, but there are still so many people who don’t do this. Go and check your windows right now! Especially any ground floor windows. Also, it’s a good idea to add a security bar to sliding glass doors to discourage entry.
USE A SAFE
OK, you might not have an extensive jewellery collection like The Queen, but a safe is still a good idea for any valubles you happen to have, plus things like important documents, passports etc. Insurance companies often give discounts if you have security measures such as a safe.
TIME SWITCH LIGHTS
Time Switch Lights are another simple and cheap way of making your home or flat looked lived-in, even when you’re out. Even making sure your curtains are drawn-closed, so that prospective burglars can’t study the interior of your home.
DON’T HIDE KEYS
All it takes is a burglar to be monitoring your house when you get home and watch where you get the key from.
Leaving a spare key outside your door is a definite ‘No!’ It’s better to leave a spare key with a neighbour or make sure all residents have their own key and never lend it out. Insurance companies warn about giving contractor’s keys. Don’t do it.
ADD A SECURITY SYSTEMS
You don’t have to spend a fortune these days to get an effective security system. They possess a variety of functions which burglars hate: bright lights, noise and video recording. Even basic CCTV devices can transmit images to your mobile, tablet or laptop.
If you have your home or business fitted with a good security system, make sure you let your insurance company know, as you are likely to receive a discount.
LIGHT ENTRYWAYS & KEEP GARDEN TIDY
Make sure there is effective lighting by doors, and use flood-lights to put-off burglars.
Make sure any furniture and equipment (BBQs/lawn-mowers etc) is packed away for the winter and double-lock your shed and/or garage.
Keep any shrubs or large plants trimmed so burglars can’t hide in the shadows
CCTV & DOORBELL
Having a CCTV system installed at your home provides a step up to a higher level of home security. There are a variety of cameras systems available to suit differing needs, all allowing you to continuously keep an eye on activity in and around your home
View live with remote viewing via smartphones or playback footage using your phone and with a doorbell when pressed your phone rings and you can see and talk back to who it at your door.
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WATCH THOSE WINDOWS
Police statistics reveal that “around a third of burglars enter houses through back windows,” so making sure windows and doors are securely locked will minimise the risk of being a target. Add a burglar alarm or motion-sensor security lighting is another way to deter a potential burglary.
LADDERS
Lots of people have a set of ladders in their garage or shed. If burglars can get in to these places, then they can use your own ladders to gain access to your own house or business. Don’t make their life easier. Any ladders on your premises need to be securely attached to a wall or locked away.
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
It may seem a bit 1980s, but Neighbourhood Watch is still an effective way of adding an extra-layer to your home or business security. As long as you have neighbours who can unite, then it’s worth doing.
THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR
Your dotty next-door neighbours may sometimes be a bit annoying, but they can also play an important role in your home security. Let them know if you’re going to be away for a period of time and make sure they have your mobile number for any emergencies.
DEFROSTING
Leaving your car running to defrost on winter mornings helps speed up the process of getting to work, but car thieves love such situations. A car with its engine running and a key in the ignition is like a dream come true for a car thief. They can drive off in a second – and to make matters even worse, this type of car theft is not covered by most insurance companies.
DON’T LEAVE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN YOUR CAR
It’s tempting to leave Xmas presents in your car overnight to stop kids getting a sneaky look at what Santa might bring, but it makes your car an attractive option for theft. Even just leaving presents on full view in your car for an hour or two while you continue Xmas shopping is not a good idea. Over the festive season, many cars are broken in to in broad daylight.