According to statistics, in the year ending March 2022, just over 192,000 burglaries were recorded by the police in England and Wales. That is more than 500 burglaries a day.
Being burgled is deeply unpleasant; not only do you have to go through the inconvenience of having to make insurance claims, cataloguing what has been taken, and go through the process of replacing items, but some items are simply irreplaceable. Being burgled goes far beyond the material aspect of losing items; it can deeply affect some people as they lose items that are of great emotional, rather than monetary value, and they start to question their safety in their own home. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to help prevent burglaries and ensure the safety of your home and possessions.
Check your door
Your door does more than keep the weather out, it is the first point of protection for your home. Check that it is strong enough and that it doesn’t have any obvious vulnerabilities, such as glass panels above the locks. If you are not sure about how good your lock is, get a local locksmith to check it out – or even replace it for you.
Lock up properly
It’s not just doors that you need to be aware of. Locking up may be a no-brainer but it is surprising how many burglars are opportunists; people that see an open window or unsecure entrance and decide to take a chance. Before you leave the house check front and back doors, side gates, windows and garage doors. Don’t forget to lock your garden sheds too, especially if you have valuable equipment stored in them.
Stash your tools
Tools left in your garden are not only an easy gain for would-be burglars, but an expensive bit of kit left outside can attract opportunists, who might just try the doors and windows while they are there. Put all your tools away after use, and make sure they are well secured (this is good practice anyway as it will help your tools to last for longer).
Store your keys safely
Assuming that your doors and windows are locked and secure, it is important that any would-be intruders can’t get access to your keys in any other way. You might think that hiding your spare key under the hippo next to the front door is convenient, but a savvy burglar will look under pots, wellies and ornaments, as well as over the door frame and in any other obvious stash points. Invest in a key safe (and don’t have the code as your postcode or house number) for complete peace of mind.
Key position isn’t just important outside; don’t keep your keys inside in a place where a burglar could access them through, for example, in a key bowl or hook by the door that could be reached through a letterbox or smaller window.
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