Hi all,
So with the darker evenings now upon us, its time to think of your Home Security. To ensure you’ve protected you and your home as best you can. As you are more likely to get burgled between now and Christmas. Why ? well burglars love the cover of darkness. Not only that, but burglars know we will be all buying gifts for our loved ones. The average gift being around £50-£100 you are most likely going to have a couple hundred pounds worth of gifts. Phones, iPads, TV’s, Jewellery, Designer clothing.
So an ideal time for them to get high value items that are still boxed. That will be sold on for silly money compared to the prices that you paid for them goods. These people are ruthless and will rip open presents that are wrapped. They will reek havoc and not care for a moment. So there is a few things you can do to protect your home security and make it less likely to be a target.
Locks in the City, carry out many home security surveys, weekly.
Firstly and most importantly DONT MAKE YOURSELF A TARGET. Dont advertise you have expensive gifts. It’s so easy to advertise on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. All social media is dangerous. As it doesn’t necessarily just go out to people you class as friends, it can be seen by anyone in the world if your security settings are not set. You may have people who you have met once or twice but you don’t necessarily know or can trust. They could be passing info on. Be weary. Photos of bags, is dangerous as it advertises where you’ve been shopping. Telling people that your off shopping is another advert your home will be empty for a couple hours. These people need minutes so think before posting.
Secondly before you go out ensure you have secured your property. Lock your windows, hide the keys. Lock your other doors, many people still lock the door but leave the key in the door. If they get in through a small window, then they can open the door and walk out off loading the big items with ease out of the door. Lock it and hide the keys, where they are least likely to be found. If doors and windows have additional locking points and devices then use them. If they are going to get in, then you want to make it as hard as possible. The more resistance and noisy the better, they will more then likely walk away.
Also if you have a Christmas tree up then either put it out of view, of all windows and view points where possible. If they look through a window, or are walking past and see a tree. They then look in, presents are in view its like showing a child sweets. The decorations won’t be the only thing lighting up !!!!!!. if the tree can’t be put out of view then don’t put the presents under the tree. Put them in the loft if you have one. High value items hide away, in places where they wouldn’t usually go. Kitchens, bathrooms, hidden cubby holes. These people will usually riffle through high value rooms/ spaces. Bedrooms, living rooms, garages etc.These people will go through chest of drawers, wardrobes, bedside cabinets.
Safe and sound
We advise you look at installing a safe to store your high end goods such as watches, jewellery, iPads and documents. We can help select and instal the right safe for you. One issue we have come across is people buying digital safes but not securing them down. So the burglars will just carry them away and open up after.
If your planning on going away during the day and evenings look at purchasing a Response Fake TV. It gives the impression of a TV flickering light, an unpredictable pattern of flashing light.
Also if your away for a night or so try have a neighbour keep an eye out. If your friendly enough and trust your neighbours ask them to pop in and turn on and off different lights. Park their car on your drive etc.
Bright Ideas to help improve your home security
Also invest in External L.E.D Flood lights with P.I.R sensors. These will pick up people walking up to your property, flooding the area with light. The L.E.D ones you can get now are relatively cheap now and are low wattage and power consumption compared to the old halogen ones. Fitting these in dark areas will also add as a visual deterrent. Also securing side gates, fitting locks that require keys or coded padlocks. Simple slide bolts can just be opened. Secure fences and repair any hole or broken panels. Look at creating high fencing by adding trellis, to make it more awkward and a less of a deterrent. Store and secure ladders and tools away that can be used to aid in gaining entry into your property. Anything that can be used to stand on to climb through windows etc move away.
One other crucial thing that will help is to install an alarm. Many people have them installed but fail to use them. Using your alarm will benefit you hugely. As the alarms today are more reliable, more advanced with options that people don’t realise are available. We supply and fit alarms often. Sadly though we fit them to properties after they have been burgled. We will come out and do a survey on your property, we will look at areas that are vulnerable. Best advise where to put sensors whether its a motion sensor or a window and door sensor. We will create a bespoke set up for each individual property for each and every customer for their home security . We supply alarms that are smart. These alarms can be installed relatively quickly as they are wireless apart from one power lead and a phone line. Once installed the alarm if triggered will call you !!!! not an alarm monitoring centre. It cuts out the middle man and keeps you in control. The alarm when triggered can call 3 telephone numbers. It will ring one number, if no one does then it will ring the next one. It will cycle through the numbers until the call is accepted and acknowledged. We can also eliminate the need to type in codes to arm and disarm the alarm. We can supply remote controls that you can put on your keys. Keep in your pocket etc. Then the press of a button arm or disarm your alarm. If you away from home and you can’t remember if you set alarm !!! no issue you can ring into the alarm system and check its status, arm, disarm or even set to home mode. For more info contact us regarding your home security.
CCTV seeing is believing
Another popular addition is CCTV, its getting cheaper as an option now. the cameras are getting smaller and the quality higher. You can buy DVR’s that store 100’s of hours of footage. Apps that allow you to remotely view your cameras on your smart phone or tablet. So you can always check in. These are also getting cheaper to buy and are a great visual deterrent. Again contact us for more info or queries, regarding your home security.
We can attend your property at a pre-arranged time to suit you. Carry out a free survey and home security check and point out any areas of concern. We can then carry out the works if agreed swiftly at a time thats convenient to you. So be prepared and don’t have your Christmas spoiled.
On that note, we at Locks in the City would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.