Simple steps to keep your home safe

When it comes to home security, people are rarely sure that they have taken all the steps they can to keep intruders out.

With the Office for National Statistics recently revealing an eight per cent rise in burglaries in 2017, compared to figures the previous year, it’s more important than ever that homeowners take the necessary precautions to keep their homes safe.

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Recent figures also revealed that the cost of a domestic burglary can reach an incredible £2,833, so investing in high quality security solutions from a reliable home security brand can help to save money in the long run.

As part of its new ‘Security made simple’ initiative, the team at Yale have highlighted a few easy steps to help keep your home secure.

A vital step in protecting your home is making sure that doors meet British Standards. There is a clear Kitemark symbol on the front of high quality cylinders, and this lets you know that the lock has undergone the necessary tests to protect your home against a range of attacks.

The advice for homeowners is that external timber doors should be secured with a mortice lock and/or nightlatch that meets British Standard BS3621. Alternatively, if you have a PVCu or composite door, then it’s suggested you upgrade to a British Standard Kitemark TS007 euro profile cylinder for additional protection.

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Another easy way to deter the opportunistic burglar is to keep expensive possessions out of sight, as this is just an open invite for thieves looking for their next target. According to recent research, jewellery, money and computers are the most commonly stolen items. So, simply keeping these prized possessions hidden, or, for added security, kept in a high quality safe, which is securely bolted to the floor or wall, can help to protect the things that matter most.

Valuables left in sight can also be a treat for a stealthy burglar, as shown with the current popularity in key fishing, or ‘letterbox burglary’ as it is also known. This is when burglars will use a piece of wire or simply stretch their arm through a letterbox to grab nearby keys, wallets, or mobile phones. The addition of a letterbox restrictor can stamp out any letterbox-related crimes and keep your belongings where they should be; with you.

One vital tip is to keep calendars, or notes suggesting you’re away from the home, out of sight of potential burglars. Many of us use calendars to note down our next holiday, day trips or mini break, and leaving these in plain sight can tell any potential thief that you are away from your home – giving them a free run of your house.

The experts at Yale would also suggest that all windows, upstairs and down, should be fitted with at least one appropriate key operated lock, to give your home the best chance of staying secure in an attack. Window handles provide an extra locking point and increase the level of security of your home, and many options also have a push button operation, with key deadlocking for additional security.

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By following these straightforward steps, you can help to keep your family, home and possessions safe and secure; it’s as simple as that. For more information and tips on how to upgrade your home security, visit www.yale.co.uk.