– especially if it’s a creaky one! So, are your boundaries defined and secure (or capable of being secured) ?

Do you have outbuildings like a garage and /or garden shed with tools or other attractive items in ? If so are they secured or securable ?

Perhaps the most obvious question to ask yourself is : do you have good quality locks on your outer doors and ground floor windows – and just as importantly, do you use them ?

Burglars will be sizing up your home as a ‘break-in’ prospect by weighing up

You might think that your house isn’t worth burgling as you don’t have anything worth taking……if only I had a ?1 for every time I’ve heard that one! Unfortunately, I’ve yet to visit a house that wasn’t worth a burglar’s time. So do take this seriously.

Before you implement valid security measures you must first decide where your vulnerability lies.

As a Policeman I can tell you that the best way is to look at your home through the eyes of a burglar, identify the security risks and address them in a logical way, i.e. the most vulnerable areas first.

What would he be looking for do you think?

Well, as he will probably be operating during the day, when he would reasonably expect a house to be unoccupied (most burglaries occur between 11am and 5pm), he will want to go about his ‘business’ undisturbed and unseen. Therefore any property that will help facilitate this is most likely to be his target.

So, ask yourself the following:

Is your house overlooked by neighbours and can visitors / intruders be easily seen ?

If not, can this be rectified i.e. can tree branches, shrubs, hedges etc. obscuring frontages be cut back to allow a view ? The fear of being disturbed or seen and later identified by Police is in itself a powerful burglary deterrent factor. You may be wondering about the relevance of this advice if you’ve been told that burglaries are usually effected via the side or rear of the house. The main reason is that generally, burglars will test that a house is unoccupied by knocking on the front door first (and making an implausible excuse for knocking if the occupier answers).

Tied in with this factor is the opportunity for a quick and unhindered escape. Does your house back onto a service path or fields? If so, is it possible to block this route off or to create an unwelcome obstacle course?

Believe it or not there is a psychological deterrent to burglary in having well defined boundaries i.e. fences and gates. Some burglars won’t approach a house if it means going through a gate first – especially if it’s a creaky one! So, are your boundaries defined and secure (or capable of being secured) ?

Do you have outbuildings like a garage and /or garden shed with tools or other attractive items in ? If so are they secured or securable ?

Perhaps the most obvious question to ask yourself is : do you have good quality locks on your outer doors and ground floor windows – and just as importantly, do you use them ?

Burglars will be sizing up your home as a ‘break-in’ prospect by weighing up

ical way, i.e. the most vulnerable areas first.

What would he be looking for do you think?

Well, as he will probably be operating during the day, when he would reasonably expect a house to be unoccupied (most burglaries occur between 11am and 5pm), he will want to go about his ‘business’ undisturbed and unseen. Therefore any property that will help facilitate this is most likely to be his target.

So, ask yourself the following:

Is your house overlooked by neighbours and can visitors / intruders be easily seen ?

If not, can this be rectified i.e. can tree branches, shrubs, hedges etc. obscuring frontages be cut back to allow a view ? The fear of being disturbed or seen and later identified by Police is in itself a powerful burglary deterrent factor. You may be wondering about the relevance of this advice if you’ve been told that burglaries are usually effected via the side or rear of the house. The main reason is that generally, burglars will test that a house is unoccupied by knocking on the front door first (and making an implausible excuse for knocking if the occupier answers).

Tied in with this factor is the opportunity for a quick and unhindered escape. Does your house back onto a service path or fields? If so, is it possible to block this route off or to create an unwelcome obstacle course?

Believe it or not there is a psychological deterrent to burglary in having well defined boundaries i.e. fences and gates. Some burglars won’t approach a house if it means going through a gate first – especially if it’s a creaky one! So, are your boundaries defined and secure (or capable of being secured) ?

Do you have outbuildings like a garage and /or garden shed with tools or other attractive items in ? If so are they secured or securable ?

Perhaps the most obvious question to ask yourself is : do you have good quality locks on your outer doors and ground floor windows – and just as importantly, do you use them ?

Burglars will be sizing up your home as a ‘break-in’ prospect by weighing up

ders be easily seen ?

If not, can this be rectified i.e. can tree branches, shrubs, hedges etc. obscuring frontages be cut back to allow a view ? The fear of being disturbed or seen and later identified by Police is in itself a powerful burglary deterrent factor. You may be wondering about the relevance of this advice if you’ve been told that burglaries are usually effected via the side or rear of the house. The main reason is that generally, burglars will test that a house is unoccupied by knocking on the front door first (and making an implausible excuse for knocking if the occupier answers).

Tied in with this factor is the opportunity for a quick and unhindered escape. Does your house back onto a service path or fields? If so, is it possible to block this route off or to create an unwelcome obstacle course?

Believe it or not there is a psychological deterrent to burglary in having well defined boundaries i.e. fences and gates. Some burglars won’t approach a house if it means going through a gate first – especially if it’s a creaky one! So, are your boundaries defined and secure (or capable of being secured) ?

Do you have outbuildings like a garage and /or garden shed with tools or other attractive items in ? If so are they secured or securable ?

Perhaps the most obvious question to ask yourself is : do you have good quality locks on your outer doors and ground floor windows – and just as importantly, do you use them ?

Burglars will be sizing up your home as a ‘break-in’ prospect by weighing up

ront door first (and making an implausible excuse for knocking if the occupier answers).

Tied in with this factor is the opportunity for a quick and unhindered escape. Does your house back onto a service path or fields? If so, is it possible to block this route off or to create an unwelcome obstacle course?

Believe it or not there is a psychological deterrent to burglary in having well defined boundaries i.e. fences and gates. Some burglars won’t approach a house if it means going through a gate first – especially if it’s a creaky one! So, are your boundaries defined and secure (or capable of being secured) ?

Do you have outbuildings like a garage and /or garden shed with tools or other attractive items in ? If so are they secured or securable ?

Perhaps the most obvious question to ask yourself is : do you have good quality locks on your outer doors and ground floor windows – and just as importantly, do you use them ?

Burglars will be sizing up your home as a ‘break-in’ prospect by weighing up

– especially if it’s a creaky one! So, are your boundaries defined and secure (or capable of being secured) ?

Do you have outbuildings like a garage and /or garden shed with tools or other attractive items in ? If so are they secured or securable ?

Perhaps the most obvious question to ask yourself is : do you have good quality locks on your outer doors and ground floor windows – and just as importantly, do you use them ?

Burglars will be sizing up your home as a ‘break-in’ prospect by weighing up the factors outlined in the above paragraphs. Very often though they won’t look at a home at all if it bears the hallmarks of a security conscious family…… so if your street is in the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme (NHWS), then advertise it. Put up the relevant signs and stickers, available from your local Police and reap the benefit – according to the NHWS, your risk of burglary drops from a national 1 in 12 chance to 1 in 72, for scheme members.

Best of all, if you have an intruder alarm system ( burglar alarm), whether professionally fitted or DIY, advertise it by making sure the alarm bell boxes are prominently situated. The average burglar won’t take on a house with an alarm fitted - as long as door and window locks are secured of course!

That concludes this part of Home Security.

In the next instalment I’ll be sharing some top tips to help you achieve good sound security in your home.