Is Your Home Security Up to Scratch?

The West Midlands had the third highest number of home break-ins in the UK last year. With 43 burglaries happening in the region every day, only London and Manchester reported a higher number. And it means that in Wolverhampton, a house is broken into roughly every 33 minutes. It’s worrying. Especially when times are so tight. But there are things you can do to protect your home. So, before you start preparing for Christmas, it’s worth assessing your security standards.

Six Things to Check to Get Your Home Security Up to Scratch

Are your entrances secure?

According to the Metropolitan Police, most burglars are opportunistic. This means that if your doors and windows are not secured, you’re more likely to experience a break in. So, use locks, where they are fitted. Check locking mechanisms. And repair any cracked glass or damaged frames.

Do you use a burglar alarm?

A surprising number of people have a burglar alarm but don’t use it. This might be because they don’t know how – often the case if a system is inherited with a house purchase. Or because the settings have been inappropriate for their needs – perhaps it was regularly triggered by a new pet. But if you have a burglar alarm, it can act as a genuine deterrent. So, you should use it. Or get a new  burglar alarm installed.

Is your garden tidy?

While this may seem unrelated to security, having a tidy garden again removes hiding places. Particularly if you have shrubbery near the doors and windows. But it’s also worth remembering to keep any packaging from expensive purchases indoors until the day of your waste collection service. If you leave it outside, you’re pretty much advertising what you’ve got.

Do you have security cameras?

CCTV has become much more accessible in recent years. It used to be the remit of the wealthy alone. But there are now options for almost every budget. And they serve a dual purpose. They are both a deterrent and a collector of evidence. And if you select a monitored service, you have dedicated 24/7 support able to call for help when you can’t.

Are your valuables safely stored?

The more you have for a burglar to take, the more it’s worth them taking a risk. If you routinely leave your valuables out on display, and easy to see through the windows, the greater the temptation your home will be. So, it’s down to you to make your home as uninviting as possible. Put things away. And if you have things that you can’t move, consider the layout of the room to reduce visibility. Using window coverings can also help.

Home security needn’t be hard. It’s just a matter of taking sensible precautions. Because if your home is hard to access without detection and has few valuables on show, burglars will usually find a more appealing prospect.

Do you need help with your home security? Get in touch with Securvision.