It is everyone’s right to feel safe in their home but the reality is over 40,000 burglaries take place in the UK every year. While this is a worrying statistic, there are many things that you can do in your home to keep your possessions and (most importantly) your loved ones protected.

Understanding home thefts
When you think of a typical burglary, the first thing that may come to mind is a balaclava-clad man sneaking around in the late hours of the night. Contrary to this popular held notion, the truth is actually the opposite. Most robberies occur in broad daylight, usually between the hours of 10am to 3pm. These are crimes of opportunity that take full advantage of most people’s regular working hours. It is normal at this time for people to be walking in the neighbourhood therefore many burglars use this to their advantage, hiding in plain sight.

Another exception to the conventional wisdom is what the thief is after. Many would quickly assume a television set or jewellery would be their first targets. More often than not, your personal identification data is the biggest score for a home intruder. Be sure to keep important documents secured as well as your laptop or any forms of identification. These items are easy to carry and can be worth much more to the thief than a sound system. Finally, many criminals don’t carry around large equipment to break into your home. They are trying to look as inconspicuous as possible and therefore look for subtle cues in households that indicate a swift and easy break-in. Be sure to keep all windows closed during the day and lock away any gardening tools or large accessible items that could be used to assist the robbery. It may seem trivial but 47% of burglaries are not planned and happen in the moment. Every little thing can help reduce the likely hood of your home becoming a target.

Simple tips for your home security

1. Install multiple locks on your doors and windows

The aim is to make access to your property as difficult as possible. Most burglaries occur in less than 10 minutes. The more secure your entry points are, the more effort it will take for the criminal to break-in. Multiple visible locks are a clear indicator to any would-be thief that your property is not worth the effort.

2. Always lock your doors (even when you’re home)

Shockingly, 28% of burglaries occur while someone is in the house. Particularly during summer, a thief may use an unlocked or open front door to easily access your property. The same rule applies for windows. If your home also has a large cat or dog door, be sure these can be secured as well.

3. Install sensor lights

Good lighting can make all the difference to the safety of your home. Sensor lights are a cheap and easy deterrent that can help you or your neighbours to quickly identify an intruder.

4. Consider purchasing a home-safe

The reality is that break-ins can happen and while it important to take every precaution to prevent them, they may still occur. If you do have a lot of high value items in your home, a personal safe can be the difference between replacing a window or having your identity stolen.

Keeping people safe is what we do at Guardforce security, if you need any information or advice on how to improve your personal safety we are happy to help, contact us today on info@guardforcesecurity.co.uk  or 020 8597 7149