[AD] A Guide To Home Security

There were more than 402,000 burglaries in England and Wales during 2019 – 2020, according to Statista. Being burgled is something many of us fear and keeping our homes and our families safe is a top priority. While it may be impossible to stop burglaries altogether, there are many preventative methods you can take – we look at some of these in this guide.

Lock it up

Going back to basics is a good place to start with home security – and making sure you have solid locks is essential.

If you’re moving into a new home, that was previously occupied by someone else, it’s recommended you change the locks. If you’re just checking or increasing the security on your own home, there are a few things you can do:

• Fit your doors with deadlocks.
• Upgrade your locks to BS3621 British Standard; these locks are tested against techniques such as drilling and picking, and most insurance companies require these.
• Hire a locksmith to check the suitability and quality of your locks.
• Add a security chain to your front door as an extra measure.
• Fit your doors with alarmed sensors.

And, it may sound obvious, but the most important thing you can do to protect your home is to actually lock your doors. Alarmingly, it is estimated that up to 30% of burglars enter a home through an unlocked entrance.

Secure the windows

You’ve taken care of your doors, but don’t forget the windows. They provide an equally good opportunity for criminals to get inside your home. Make sure your windows are fitted with locks and consider adding sensors too. Double glazed windows provide better security, but if you’re particularly concerned about someone breaking in through a window, you may want to equip it with reinforced glass or a security window film.

Sound the alarm

Having an alarm system fitted on your property can act as a good deterrent – with it being estimated that 9 out of 10 burglars would choose to break into a home without an alarm system. But, should someone breach your property, the sounding of an alarm can alert you, and the neighbourhood, to the break-in early, potentially preventing anything being taken or anyone getting hurt.

Monitor activity

Equipping your home with CCTV cameras can provide peace of mind and can help you monitor any suspicious activity around the perimeter of your property. If anything was to happen to your home, CCTV footage could help the police by providing evidence of the perpetrator.

Author bio: Fire & Security Store stocks a huge range of fire and security products from all major brands and manufacturers. They are the only supplier of these products selling not only to fire and security companies but also directly to the public.