General household security tips
Locksmith Essex, believe you can never have enough advise on securing property. To that end, here are some security tips to give added protection to your property.
Gardens Fences work best as a deterrent when they are six feet high, in a good state of repair and supported by some prickly plants.
Side gates should be securable and locked when leaving the property. Again a nice high gate is more effective than one that can just be stepped over.
Garages and sheds should be locked when leaving the property, ideally with good locks. The better locks will offer far more protection than standard or cheap ones.
Tools should always be put away and, in many instances, these should be locked inside where they are being stored. Garden and DIY tools are often used to enable a burglar to break – in, so why make it easy for them.
Security lights are a good deterrent, and low level lighting takes precedent over spot lights as these cast too many shadows. Burglars can hide in these.
Gravel drives are noisy, and no burglar likes to make a noise.
The House Letterboxes can have cages fitted to them, which stops a burglar reaching through to unlock the front door, and – or to remove security devices such as bolts and chains.
Windows should have good locks fitted to them in addition to any built in security. They should be key operated. The amount of locks a window needs is often determined by its size.
Sash windows should be fitted with sash bolts, or secured permanently from the inside if they are never opened.
Louvre windows should be replaced. They are very easily forced as they are glued into position.
Wooden doors should be fitted with a 5 lever mortise lock that conforms to British Standard BS3621. It can be the case that the door is too thin too accept these, in which case they should be fitted with the rim mounted deadlock version, that conforming to BS3621.
UPVC doors should have a minimum of five locking points built in to the door. If they have less, additional locks should be fitted, or sash jammers or other similar devices should be used.
Lockable security bolts should be fitted to:
- External wooden doors that are opened from the inside.
- French outward opening doors, should have the bolts fitted to at least the last opening door. Ideally both should be fitted with lockable bolts.
- Sliding patio doors. These should also be fitted with anti lift devices, and the opening door should be on the inside. The bolts should be fitted to the opening leaf of the door.
Keep valuables and possessions that are easily stolen out of view. If they are especially valuable, they should be stored in a safe. Most burglars just want to be in and out stealing as many valuable items as they can. Laptops, digital cameras, jewellery, anything that can be sold quickly is fair game. If a burglar can look through a window and see an item like this, then your house could well be the next one he or she targets. Keep them out of sight at the very least.
To that end do not leave keys, wallets, or anything of a similar nature near windows and doors. Especially if you tend to open the window near where they are situated.
If you are going on holiday, cancel any regular deliveries for the time you are away. Milk, newspapers, anything that is going to indicate the house is empty should be cancelled.
Security is about deterrent, and the harder you make life for the burglar, the better deterrent you have in place.