Home Security Tips.

There are some very simple ways you can put any would be thief off, remember most burglars are opportunists, so the moment you make something slightly difficult for them, chances are they will move on to another property.

The gardens are usually the first place an intruder will come onto your property, so make sure any gates you have are closed and locked securely. Fences around your property are a great way of keeping people out, they should ideally be at least 6ft high. Always make sure fence panels are in a good order. Fitting trellis will also be a good measure to take.

Any hedges you have in your front garden should be kept ideally below 3ft high so any intruders may not use this to hide. One of the most common deterrents is to install security lighting near any doors, linked to movement, or PIR sensors. Couple this with a gravel driveway and/or patio for double the effect. No sneaky burglar will want to make any noise.

All outside doors fitted should have locks confirming to BS3621 with a minimum of 5 locking points on each. When doors are closed from the inside consider also fitting mortice bolts at the top and bottom of the door. Every household window should be lockable, with a key, and patio doors need suitable locks to avoid them being slid open or being lifted off the tracks. There are also devices available for letterboxes, such as cages or restrictors that can stop anyone from reaching inside.

Burglar alarms are possibly the best first option for improving home security, offering both an obvious visual deterrent as well as high functionality. Even having a dummy box visible is often enough to deter many thieves.

But perhaps the most important thing to remember is simply common sense, always put any valuables out of sight of any windows, never make it obvious that you are not home, and always ask a neighbour to keep an eye out for you!