Burglary Reduction

Top Tips on keeping you and your property more secure. 
 
Anti-Intruder paint
This is a black sticky paint that does not dry, so if burglars try to get a grip on your drainpipe or on top of a perimeter wall, they will not get very far! Visible warning signs MUST be put up all around your property when using this paint.
 

Automatic deadlock
This locks automatically when the door is closed. 
 
Burglar Alarm
If a burglar can see a burglar alarm, it will make them think twice about breaking into a property. There are many different types of alarm available - find the one that is best for you. 
    
Car keys
Think about taking your car keys with you to bed at night. Burglars can break into homes to either steal keys to high performance cars and then pushing the car away from the drive before driving the car away or using YOUR car to carry away YOUR video, DVD, TV, etc. 
 
 

Chain or door bar
These can help you to speak to strangers at the door without letting them in. Remember, if in doubt, keep them out! Buy a chain and use it every time you open the door.

Doors
Make sure the doors and frames are strong and in good condition. Doors should be solid and at least 44mm thick.
 
Check that the front and back door hinges are sturdy and secured with strong, long screws. For added security, fit hinge bolts. These are cheap and help to reinforce the hinge side of a door against the use of force.
 
Buy and use a door viewer - look through this to identify callers before you open the door. 

For UPVC doors to be safe and secure the mechanism must be fully set, which is normally achieved by pushing the handle up. You must then lock the mechanism with a key, and remove the key from the lock.

Entry gates
Gates should be in place where anyone can access the rear of your property through a side alleyway. They should be at least 6 foot high, made of durable material (such as solid wood or metal) and have a good padlock attached, which should always be kept locked.
 
Hide valuables
If a burglar managed to get into your property, DON'T make it easy for them! Always hide your valuables in a place that only YOU would think to look for them. For example, do not leave spare house or car keys on display or in a key cupboard, as this would advertise where you keep all of your keys.
 
Insurance
Insurance will take away the financial worry of replacing stolen goods and many insurance companies offer reduced premiums for people with good home security. Ask your insurance company which security systems it recommends.

Letterboxes
Never hang a spare key inside the letterbox. This is an obvious place that a thief will check. Consider fitting a letterbox cage, which prevents thieves from putting their hands through the letterbox and trying the latches from the inside.
 
Money
Never leave out any amount of money on display in your home - this includes large empty bottles to store small change in because an opportunist thief may not be able to resist it! Do not hide money under your mattress or bed, as this is another popular place where a burglar will check out first. 
 
Mortise deadlock
Fit a five-lever mortise deadlock about a third of the way up the door. Most insurance companies are happy with one Kite marked to at least BS3621. You can only open a deadlock with a key, so a thief can't smash the nearby glass panel to open the door from the inside. If a thief gets into your home through a window, they can't carry your belongings out through the door. 
 
 

Natural Surveillance
Walls/hedges and or fences at the front of your property should be no more than approximately 4 foot high, and preferably lower, so that neighbours can see into your front garden and everybody can see if there is anything suspicious occurring. Do not let overgrown trees or bushes hide a burglar! 
 
Neighbourhood Watch
This is a scheme for local people to get together to help prevent crime and make their neighbourhood a safer place. They often begin with people sharing crime prevention advice, keeping an eye on each other's properties, and learning to communicate effectively with the Police. Individual schemes all over the country can point to reductions in crimes such as domestic burglary. Get in touch with your local police station if you want to find out more. Click the NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH logo to go to the website. 
 
Patio doors
These doors should have special locks fitted to the top and bottom, unless they already have a multi-locking system.
 
Prickler wall spikes
Fit these to the edges of your gate/fence/walls where they are more than 2 meters high. These are (approximately) two foot plastic strips with small cone shaped spikes, which are very difficult for potential burglars to grip onto. Visible warning signs MUST be put up all around your property when using these spikes.
 
Prickly plants
Plant prickly plants under ground floor windows and around the perimeter of your property to make would-be burglars think twice before trying to climb over or through them. Prickly plants are great deterrents, as the last thing a burglar would want is to leave vital DNA or catch their clothing on the spikes to leave important clues for the police to use and track them down.

Property Marking
Thieves find identifiable property dangerous to handle and difficult to sell on. As a result, you can put them off by marking your property with your postcode and house or flat number, by a method that should someone try to remove it, it would damage the property of affect how the item performs. Please look on the PROPERTY MARKING page to find out the best methods for different items.
 
Rear walls/fences
Walls, fences and hedges should be at least six ft high so that it is difficult for a potential burglar to climb over. Trellis can be attached to make fences and walls higher.
 
Rim latch
Most front doors are fitted with a rim latch which locks automatically when the door is closed. You can open these from the inside with a key. For extra protection, you should consider installing an automatic deadlock, a chain or door bar and a mortise deadlock. 
 
Security lights/sensors
Burglars do not like to be seen so install security lights particularly around the back of the house to automatically switch on when movement is detected. By lighting up the back of your home, not only is the burglar disturbed, but anyone nearby who can see the light come on will also be aware that someone is at the back of your property as well as noticing the light yourself. 
 
 
Smoke detectors
When you are fitting security devises, you must consider the risk of fire and means of escape. Fit at least one smoke detector on every floor of your home. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. 
 
 

Time switches
These are readily available from most DIY stores. Time switches help to make your property look as though someone is at home when you are out. You can plug in a small lamp and/radio to switch on at certain times during the day or in the evening and it will also switch off at a specified time.
 

Trellis
Fix trellis to the top of walls and fences to add height to the perimeter. It also helps to stop burglars trying to climb over because trellis will not be able to support any weight put on it and will break. Burglars do not like trellis!
 
UPVC windows
Are your PVC windows externally beaded? Some PVC windows are not glued in to the unit, therefore it is relatively easy to remove the beading holding in the glass to take out the whole window. You can get your windows checked by a UPVC specialist who will be able to advise you on whether your units are sealed. 
 

CRIMESTOPPERS have put together Crime Prevention advice with the help from the Home Office, APACS, and the Office of Fair Trading. You can follow some simple tips to prevent yourself from being a victim of crime. Click the CRIMESTOPPERS logo to go to the website.