Deterring burglars in the winter months
The winter months mean more than the advent of colder weather. Longer periods of darkness can provide extra cover for burglars and vandals. Securing your home has never been as vital as it now.
Fortunately, effectively securing your home is easy to do and doesn’t cost the earth. These initiatives, combined with sensible precautions, will make your home more difficult to break into.
You can get a handyman in to fit any of the home security improvements shown below, but even a first-time DIYer will be able to carry them out themselves, following advice from the supplier. Good DIY stores carry a range of free help leaflets and B&Q and others produce DIY handbooks that cover a wide range of household jobs.
There are several key entry points to your home and garden, which should be a good starting point.
Doors
Your front door should be fitted with a mortise lock that carries the British Standard Kitemark, rack bolts top and bottom, a viewer and a door chain. Mortise locks shoot a hardened steel bolt into a keeper recessed into the frame when the key is turned. Obtain greater security by fixing one to front and back doors. They are not very expensive, less than £20 each.
Door viewers cost around a fiver but for that extra technological edge, spyhole camera kits which transmit the view of your doorstep to your TV can be bought for under £40.
Outside
Security lights are ideal for illuminating darkened areas such as pathways to the rear of your property. Security lights that become activated through movement sensors start from well under a tenner and are ideal for side or back doors, where burglars generally prefer to break in, where they are less likely to be seen. Make sure you don’t buy over-bright ones that create dark shadows for burglars to hide in and make sure you fit them down-ward facing so they don’t cause a nuisance to your neighbours or light pollution.
Windows
Your windows, as well as your doors, will also need securing. Fit window locks to all frames – particularly if they are easy to access. Laminated glass or double glazing is more difficult to break through quietly. Make sure your putty or glazing beads are in good order so that a pane of glass cannot be easily removed. If you have French windows, each closing door should be fitted with locking bolts top and bottom. Make certain that sliding doors cannot be sprung or lifted off their runners.
Alarm system
Every home should be fitted with an alarm system. Not only do they provide peace of mind, but the presence of an alarm box on the side of your property is a strong deterrent to any potential intruder. There are several choices when it comes to installing security alarms in your home. Infrared movement detectors fitted high up in the corners of each room will activate the alarm if they sense a door opening or the movement of an intruder, although these can be triggered by pets moving about. Alternatively, magnetic contact detectors installed on doors and windows trigger the alarm if the magnetic plates are disturbed.
There are types that work by wireless so there is little or no wiring to install around the home.
Further sensible precautions
If you are leaving your property empty for any significant period, it is a good idea to invest in a few timed light fittings to place around the house which will switch on and off automatically, as if someone were there.
It is also a good idea to ask a neighbour to park their car in your driveway if your driveway is empty.
Portable valuables may be best transferred to your bank or safety deposit centre, or install your own safe.
Invest in a UV pen and write your postcode on possessions, such as TVs, DVD Players, and other valuable equipment.
More information
It is a good idea to contact your local Crime Prevention Officer via your local police station for further advice and information. Staff at your local DIY store should be able to help too. Larger B&Q DIY stores even run training courses on various subjects – some just for women.
The winter months mean more than the advent of colder weather. Longer periods of darkness can provide extra cover for burglars and vandals. Securing your home has never been as vital as it now.
Fortunately, effectively securing your home is easy to do and doesn’t cost the earth. These initiatives, combined with sensible precautions, will make your home more difficult to break into.
You can get a handyman in to fit any of the home security improvements shown below, but even a first-time DIYer will be able to carry them out themselves, following advice from the supplier. Good DIY stores carry a range of free help leaflets and B&Q and others produce DIY handbooks that cover a wide range of household jobs.
There are several key entry points to your home and garden, which should be a good starting point.
Doors
Your front door should be fitted with a mortise lock that carries the British Standard Kitemark, rack bolts top and bottom, a viewer and a door chain. Mortise locks shoot a hardened steel bolt into a keeper recessed into the frame when the key is turned. Obtain greater security by fixing one to front and back doors. They are not very expensive, less than £20 each.
Door viewers cost around a fiver but for that extra technological edge, spyhole camera kits which transmit the view of your doorstep to your TV can be bought for under £40.
Outside
Security lights are ideal for illuminating darkened areas such as pathways to the rear of your property. Security lights that become activated through movement sensors start from well under a tenner and are ideal for side or back doors, where burglars generally prefer to break in, where they are less likely to be seen. Make sure you don’t buy over-bright ones that create dark shadows for burglars to hide in and make sure you fit them down-ward facing so they don’t cause a nuisance to your neighbours or light pollution.
Windows
Your windows, as well as your doors, will also need securing. Fit window locks to all frames – particularly if they are easy to access. Laminated glass or double glazing is more difficult to break through quietly. Make sure your putty or glazing beads are in good order so that a pane of glass cannot be easily removed. If you have French windows, each closing door should be fitted with locking bolts top and bottom. Make certain that sliding doors cannot be sprung or lifted off their runners.
Alarm system
Every home should be fitted with an alarm system. Not only do they provide peace of mind, but the presence of an alarm box on the side of your property is a strong deterrent to any potential intruder. There are several choices when it comes to installing security alarms in your home. Infrared movement detectors fitted high up in the corners of each room will activate the alarm if they sense a door opening or the movement of an intruder, although these can be triggered by pets moving about. Alternatively, magnetic contact detectors installed on doors and windows trigger the alarm if the magnetic plates are disturbed.
There are types that work by wireless so there is little or no wiring to install around the home.
Further sensible precautions
If you are leaving your property empty for any significant period, it is a good idea to invest in a few timed light fittings to place around the house which will switch on and off automatically, as if someone were there.
It is also a good idea to ask a neighbour to park their car in your driveway if your driveway is empty.
Portable valuables may be best transferred to your bank or safety deposit centre, or install your own safe.
Invest in a UV pen and write your postcode on possessions, such as TVs, DVD Players, and other valuable equipment.
More information
It is a good idea to contact your local Crime Prevention Officer via your local police station for further advice and information. Staff at your local DIY store should be able to help too. Larger B&Q DIY stores even run training courses on various subjects – some just for women.
posted by tony at 3:32 PM
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