Top tips to keep out the ‘school run’ burglars

September is just around the corner, it’s that time of year when we’re settling into the new school year and wondering when to put the heating back on! Not only is it a perfect time to prepare your home for the cooler weather, but also to make sure it is safe and secure.

According to the Office for National Statistics Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) there were an estimated 423,000 incidents of domestic burglary in the year to March 2019. It’s therefore important to consider the security of your home especially when your home is unoccupied more after the summer holidays, whether you are at work or doing the ‘school run’, as burglaries are more likely to take place during the day, between 11am and 5pm.

Although many people have contents insurance cover, nothing can compensate for the stress it causes, or replace the personal items and gifts you may lose as a result of a burglary.

NHBC, the UK’s leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes, offers the following security tips to help you keep your home and possessions safe and secure:

– Improve the security potential of your doors: It is important to have robust locks on both the front and back doors. Ensure entrance doors to your home are fitted with securely fixed locks or a multi-point locking system with at least 1000 differs (the number of possible keys for a given lock). Also ensure that you have a latch and deadlocking system

– Lock doors and windows: Doors are the entry point in 70% of burglaries. New homes come with enhanced security features as standard – including robust window and door locks – but whatever the age of your home, make sure you lock doors and windows when leaving the house or going to bed. Don’t forget to check your sliding back doors either. These should be secured by a multi-point locking system and have an anti-lift device fitted so that doors cannot be lifted from their frame from the outside.

– Alarms: Install an alarm as a visual deterrent. An alarm on its own will not prevent entry to your home but will deter opportunist burglars as it’s likely to be part of a suite of security measures.

– Hide keys: Keep all your keys, including car keys, away from the front door and out of sight. It’s common for keys to be stolen using a device to hook them through your letter box. If you need to leave a spare key out for those forgetful family members, think about getting a secure lock box mounted to a wall rather than leaving them under the flowerpot!

– Secure outside: You’ve now made sure your home is as secure as possible, but don’t forget to check outside too. Keep sheds, garages and gates locked, repair broken fences and cut back overgrown hedges. Consider installing a security light that switches on after dark when someone is nearby; it’s highly effective in deterring potential intruders.

– Consider a video doorbell: A video doorbell allows you to see who is at your front door through a tiny camera mounted in your doorbell. You will be able to view the video from anywhere via an app on your phone. These doorbells alert you when there is a motion at your front door or if someone rings the doorbell. When interviewed burglars have said they would avoid a property if they saw a security camera.