Home Security Spotlight

Home Security Basics  create a secure boundary - make it hard for the burglar to even set foot on your property use security lights to expose the intruder make sure you have strong doors, windows and locks to repel and frustrate the criminals instal effective alarm and CCTV systems combat identity theft protect your property

Home Security... Where To Start

First 
Assess the present level of security of your home. Do a survey of its security strengths and weaknesses.

Second
Pinpoint the main weaknesses and act now to fix them.

Third
Systematically improve every layer of security for your home - do as much as you realistically can.

Basic home security measures to protect your home against intruders

Choose A Safer Location
If you are moving to a new town or city and know nothing about it find out about local crime e.g. from estate agents who know the area. The obvious starting point to increase you home security is to buy your home in a low crime area.  

Work Out What Makes Your  House A Easy Target
A burglar looks for an easy target - why go for a difficult one when there are plenty of houses to choose from.  Imagine a burglar observing your house checking out what is available for him to steal and how he might gain access to your home.

Control Access to Your Property
If a criminal cannot gain access they cannot commit a crime.  It is not possible to make property absolutely secure, but you can reduce the ease of access and control access to make it as secure as you reasonably can.

Improve Boundary Security
Good boundary security will usually stop a passing opportunist thief or burglar, because they want to be in and out quickly and easily and a wall or fence will slow them down. It is best to have high fences at the rear of the property to prevent the criminal getting in. If fences and gates make it difficult for him to get to the rear of the property he is less likely to target the premises.

Instal Electric Gates
A great advantage of electric security gates is that they deny the potential burglar the opportunity to casually wander on to your property to check it out as a potential target. Another is that they prevent the easy removal of parked cars and other property from the house.

Secure Your Back Garden
Check out your garden security.  Check the state of the fences and how easy it would be to get into the back garden of the property.  Is there easy access from fields, parks, footpaths?  Is there overgrown bushes that could provide a hiding place for an intruder?

Garden Shed Security
Summer is a busy time for garden shed burglars. Check your shed security and make sure it is locked up and made as secure as possible.

House Security
The purpose of taking measures to improve the security of your house is to make you and your house a less tempting target. The more difficulties you cause for the potential burglar. the more likely he is to move on to a softer target.

Secure Your Doors and Windows
Once you have assessed the security needs of your property boundary and outside space you then need to turn your attention to the house itself. Pay attention to potential access points: door and window security, basements and lofts/roofspace. Doors are the criminals' favourite means of entry so give these particular attention.

Locks
The effectiveness and security of a door (or window) largely depends upon the design and quality of the locks used to make it secure, how many are used and how well they are installed.

Replace Your Locks & Keys
There is little point in improving the security of your home if you are not sure who possesses a set of keys. If you have not changed all the locks and keys since you moved into your home you have no idea of the number or type of people who have possessed, or may still possess keys to your property.

Choosing A Burglar Alarm System
Intruder alarms help prevent you becoming an easy target and are known to deter burglars. One of the best ways of choosing an alarm installation companie is by recommendation from a satisfied customer.

Instal CCTV
There are essentially two types of video cameras available for home security: those that are wired and those that are not. Both  use television cameras together with internal monitors, alarms, and keypads in order to improve the security of your home.
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Protect Yourself From Identity Theft?
Your personal information is valuable to criminals. If they can steal your identity they can use them to open bank accounts and get credit cards, loans, state benefits and documents such as passports and driving licenses in your name.

Mark Your Possessions
The best thing you can do is to protect your home against intruders. But if someone did break in and steal your property how could you identify them? So mark your possessions.

Remember you can always get independent advice on all aspects of home security and crime prevention from your local Crime Prevention Officer who can be found by ringing your local police station.