Keeping your home protected doesn’t have to be hard. With just these simple home security tips guaranteed to keep your home secure from intruders.
1. Light up the front drive and garden
Intruders like to operate under the cover of darkness, so illuminating the garden when dark is a good way to deter them. It can also make it safer for you and your visitors to navigate.
2. Increase gate and fence security
Don’t give intruders an easy way in thanks to an old gate or blown-over fencing.
We recommend that a garden gate is the same height as the adjoining walls or fences and securely constructed. Metal gates are more difficult to scale than solid wood alternatives and their open structure means they don’t provide cover for an intruder. Check that the hinges, bolt, and padlock are secured on the garden side. And, if possible, install two different locks on a gate.
Make sure that all of your fencings is in good condition – damaged panels could allow thieves to scope out the area and even gain access. Consider fixing trellis panels to the top of the fence or wall, or look for ones that have it built-in. These will be strong enough to support a climbing plant but not a climbing intruder.
If you have a garden gate, check that the hinges, bolt, and padlock are secured.
3. Secure your outdoor buildings
An outdoor building is often an easy target, so protect yours with secure windows and strong door locks. Also consider adding an alarm – they’re easy to install and ideal for protecting not only your shed but garage or outbuilding too.
And don’t forget the contents of your shed. It’s easy to think that there’s not much value in there, but the tools stored inside could be used to break into your home. To guard against this, lock ladders and step ladders securely to a post or wall with a chain and padlock.
4. Protect your bikes
Keep your bicycles safe by investing in a bike store. These require less space than a shed but are roomy enough to fit a couple of bikes and can be locked. For extra security, lock the bikes up with a heavy-duty D lock or chain.
5. Lockdown garden valuables
It’s a good idea to anchor any garden furniture or outdoor ornaments to a patio or hard surface with wall and floor anchors and a padlock. This can be especially important in the front garden where opportunistic thieves are more likely to pass by.
6. Top-up gravel paths and driveways
Noisy to walk on, gravel can help alert you to people approaching your home before they arrive at your front door. If you have a graveled front-drive, garden or pathways, make sure to keep them topped up so that it provides as loud a crunch as possible when walked on.
7. Keep valuables out of sight
Keep your valuables out of sight or locked away when you’re not using them. Invest in a safe to store your most important belongings.
When choosing a safe, look for those provided with heavy-duty bolts that can be secured to walls or floors.
8. Think about where to keep your keys
Intruders are known to use magnets to ‘fish’ for house and car keys through a letterbox so keep your keys away from the front door. Keyless cars could be stolen using a transmitter and amplifier. You can help prevent this hi-tech crime by keeping the keys in a metal key box to block signals.
9. Look like you’re home when you’re not
Empty homes are more likely to be targeted by thieves, so it’s a good idea to make your home look like it’s occupied while you’re out.
Fool opportunist burglars by switching on and off lights or turning on the radio to give them the impression you are at home, whilst away. You can use programmable timers to control appliances so that they automatically switch on and off.
10. Upgrade your window and door locks
The majority of forced entry burglaries that committed through the weakest point. This tends to be at the rear of the property, where passers-by are less likely to see what’s going on.
Make it more difficult for intruders to enter through vulnerable doors or windows by improving their security.
11. Protect the loft
If you live in a top-floor flat, semi-detached or terraced house, you could be at risk from burglars breaking in from your next-door neighbor’s home. Intruders could take advantage by entering through the loft hatch – especially if there’s no dividing wall in a shared loft.
Protect your home by fitting flush bolts to your side of the loft trap door to make it more difficult for anyone to get through.
12. Check for obvious flaws
You see your home every day, and it can be easy to overlook any weaknesses in your home security. Have a friend look around the outside of your home and see if they can spot any easy ways in.
13. Going on holiday?
Don’t forget to also cancel newspapers or milk deliveries so they don’t pile up and ask a friend or neighbor to check in on your home whilst you’re away. It’s also a good idea not to advertise your holiday on social media, especially if your posts are public.
14. Photograph and mark your valuables
Take photos of your valuables and security mark them with your postcode and house number. This can help the police to recover stolen items and improve your chances of getting them back in the event of loss or theft. Photos will also make it easier to claim on your insurance.
