Home Security Month

National Home Security Month is going out with a bang in the build-up to Halloween and Bonfire Night – statistically the worst time of year for burglaries with domestic damage skyrocketing by 160%! This is mainly down to opportunistic burglars who take advantage of the dark nights, fancy dress costumes, noise and distractions, and clearly highlights the importance of keeping your home protected. * To prevent any unsolicited ‘tricks’, invest in a TS008 letterplate restrictor to stop thieves from fishing keys or accessing your door lock. * If you do not want to be disturbed over the Halloween period, display a preventative ‘No Trick or Treaters’ sign on your front door (available from most local police constabularies).

With this in mind, as UK homeowners wind their clocks back in week four, we’re looking forward to all things smart security. With a smart door lock you can access your home via PIN code, key card, key-tag, remote fob, or even your smartphone. Indoor IP cameras provide high definition still images and live video streaming, straight to your smartphone or tablet. Smart plugs For added peace of mind, turn home appliances on/off remotely using a power switch via your smartphone – ideal for giving the impression you’re home when you’re away.

In the most recent ONS survey, it was reported that two in 100 households had been victims of domestic crime. A recent survey by All About Safes found that 78% of 1,200 British respondents did not believe that the police would recover their goods. It is not surprising that recovering items is difficult, particularly when most crimes are crimes of opportunity that last just a few minutes and often leave no witnesses or CCTV footage to provide clues to the police. Some of the simplest to implement include: ● Fitting a home alarm system and clearly displaying that you have one ● Installing CCTV cameras ● Securing valuable items and important documents, such as passports and birth certificates, in a home safe ● Marking your property and registering with Immobilise ● Ensuring that valuable items are not left on show to passersby

For 24-hour protection, ensure your CCTV system has infrared LED night vision, enabling you to keep an eye on your property around the clock Security lighting not only increases visibility, but also acts as a great deterrent for those thieves who are shy in the spotlight Secure gates with a heavy-duty, weatherproof padlock, trim hedges for improved visibility and make sure fences are in good repair * NHSM headline sponsor, Yale, offers weatherproof padlocks with a solid multi-layered steel body to protect against erosion and saw attack, plus a keyway cover cap to prevent rusting. Heavy-duty padlocks are recommended for shed doors, whilst anchor locks and cables can secure individual items of high value inside an outbuilding.