Keep burglars out of your property

Burglars will use a variety of ways to avoid being noticed. They don’t want to be seen or heard by a neighbour or passer-by because they will feel exposed and identifiable.

Distraction burglars will pretend to be someone they are not, so it’s important you are aware of the common methods they will use to get you to let them into your property.

Here’s some useful advice, firstly on helping to keep burglars out by giving them no hiding place and, secondly, on how to prevent a distraction burglary.

Keep it visible

You’d think that it would be best to make a property less visible from the street, and to keep it hidden from prying eyes behind overgrown bushes, trees, high fences or walls. In reality, all that this serves to do is make it easier for a burglar to get close to a home unnoticed, and provide somewhere to hide while carrying out a burglary or theft from the property.

1. Lower fences at the front around one-metre high are preferable to high fences as they allow for a clear view over the top and don’t provide cover for anyone wishing to hide.
2. At the rear and sides, taller fencing is recommended to prevent easy access.
3. Trellis, thorny plants, or a suitable anti-climb topping such as plastic spikes make it difficult for anyone climbing over a fence or gate.
4. Planting prickly or barbed shrubbery along boundaries and fence lines acts as an effective natural barrier.
5. Gravel driveways and paths will make sure you hear anyone approach.

Other ways to make it difficult for burglars

CCTV

There are many domestic CCTV systems on the market to help you protect your home and your household members. This includes video doorbells that can help you know who or what is at your door.  Be aware though that if you’re thinking of using one,  you need to make sure you do so in a way that respects other people’s privacy.  By using well-defined boundaries as a basis, CCTV can be a valuable tool. However, it doesn’t prevent a crime from being committed and does have limitations. CCTV linked to a smartphone will alert you to someone crossing your boundary.  Most importantly, CCTV is no substitute for good quality physical security such as secure doors and windows.  

Some cameras work by day and by night, and record when they detect movement. Some can be remotely viewed from a smartphone. Position cameras where they are best able to obtain good quality facial images. Could you recognise or identify someone from the footage?   There is legislation for home CCTV use, so always seek advice from an accredited installer first to ensure your system complies with the law.  Place signage up warning that CCTV is in use.

_Alarms

Consider an accredited burglar alarm system with audible alarm boxes mounted high at the front and rear of your home. Two visible audible alarm boxes are better than one. Mount them at the front and rear of your home, high up to resist tampering.

There are three types of burglar alarm, varying in capability and cost:  

1. Monitored – Once triggered, an alarm company or designated key holder can check to ensure it isn’t a false alarm.
    
2. Unmonitored – This type, once activated, will sound a loud alarm designed to scare off an intruder and alert neighbours but they are reliant on someone such as a neighbour checking the house.  
   
3. Auto Dialler – This system, once activated, alerts pre-programmed key holders with either a text or a phone call.  

The police will typically respond to a burglar alarm if requested to do so by a monitoring company but are less likely to respond to an unmonitored alarm.  

If you have an extension to your home remember to extend your burglar alarm coverage as well.  

Burglars have been known to use ladders to access upper windows that appear to be unlocked. This is to avoid intruder alarm sensors on the lower floor. To help protect your property from this approach, you should extend any alarm sensor coverage to upper rooms.

Signage is an effective deterrent if used with an active alarm system.

_Lighting

External lighting

Lighting is a good deterrent and is recommended at doors as it makes it safer for you when coming and going after dark.  A clear, low white light that activates at dusk to dawn is ideal for lighting a yard and garden and allowing any person to be clearly seen. Check to make sure that trees and plants do not obscure your lighting. It’s recommended that you regularly cut vegetation back. Take care to position these lights so that light pollution doesn’t annoy your neighbours. 

Internal lighting

Use an automatic plugin time switch to operate a lamp or light at pre-set times when you’re away.   Energy saving LED bulbs are best as they do not use as much electricity, last longer than conventional bulbs and do not generate heat, reducing fire risk.  In blocks of flats, automatic low energy lights that detect movement are recommended for corridors, stairwells and communal areas such as car parks and cycle stores.

Seven facts about residential burglary

Burglars are often opportunistic thieves who prey on houses and flats. They seek out any opening that they can take advantage of, specifically doors and windows that are left open or unlocked or are easy to force. Anything of value that they might spot through a window will only spur them on.

Burglar facts

• Burglars target homes that they think will contain valuables. A sure giveaway is leaving packaging from expensive items outside your front door
• Burglars often look for homes with windows or doors left open or with vulnerable features that they can exploit.
• Burglars are aware of the times when someone is expected to be away from their house such as during the school run or holidays 
• Burglars typically do not want to be seen or heard and if they feel that they would be noticed by a neighbour or passerby then they are more likely to feel exposed and may move on to find somewhere else to burgle 
• Burglars often choose a home because they’ve spotted a specific vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle they want to steal – and the keys are more than likely to be inside the residence
• Sheds and garages are often vulnerable as they are not that secure and contain tools which the burglar can use to assist them to gain entry to a home
• It’s a fact that many burglars return to homes that they’ve previously burgled because the homeowner failed to upgrade security following the first burglary. They sometimes return to an area to try to burgle a nearby home that they spotted while committing a previous break in. Even more reason for you to ensure you keep your home as safe as houses

Window security

Burglars target windows as they can offer easier access than doors. Check how your windows look from the outside, removing potential access points where you can. Are there walls, bins or garden furniture that could be used to reach windows? For windows that are within reaching distance such as ground floors, see our tips below.

1. Laminated glass or security film is recommended for ground floor and accessible windows.

2. Sash stops prevent anyone opening the sash window enough to climb through.

3. Key operated locks are recommended for window types that open out, rather than up, and any ground floor or accessible windows. Remember, window locks are only effective if used, so check that you have locked them before you leave home or go to bed.

4. Window opening restrictors allow you to ventilate your home but make sure they can’t be picked and unlocked from outside.

Further advice

Burglars have been known to use ladders to access upper windows that appear to be unlocked. This is to avoid intruder alarm sensors on the lower floor. These ladders are either found in a garden or brought by the suspect. You should make sure windows on upper floors have locks or sash stops. You should also extend any alarm sensor coverage to upper rooms.

If you’re replacing your windows, always consider a security accredited product as these windows are tested to British standards and are insurance approved. A good standard is PAS 24 2022. 

Door security

Your home is only as secure as its weakest point of entry. That’s why it’s so important to have doors and windows that are as secure as possible. Follow our advice and help keep potential burglars out.

Whether you live in a flat or a house, your front door will always tell a thief the levels of security surrounding your home. If it looks really secure and burglar-resistant, then they’ll think twice about trying to gain entry. Sliding patio doors are vulnerable to forced entry, so do check that yours have an anti-lift device fitted so they can’t be lifted out of the frame.

Some uPVC doors are fitted with locks that protrude from the frame on the outside (euro profile locks for those in the know). If yours do, then consider getting a locksmith to change the lock to a shorter one that can’t be snapped off.

1. If your door has a letterbox, a guard fitted to the rear of the door will prevent someone reaching in with a stick and a hook to fish for any nearby items such as a handbag or keys – which should never be kept near exterior doors. Consider cat flaps and dog flaps too.

2. Windows can be reinforced by using special film or by installing laminated panels.

3. Spy holes and security chains are recommended so that anyone visiting can be identified before you open the door.

4. Always remember to use both locks and check to make sure that the door is double-locked every time you leave your home.

5. A simple turn of a double-locking nightlatch gives you added security and peace of mind.

6. Door bars, such as a London Bar or Birmingham Bar greatly reinforce the doorframe and provide excellent protection against anyone trying to force a door open or kicking it down.

7. A lockguard does exactly that; it protects the keyhole and lock from being tampered with and is a great deterrent.

If you are putting in a new door, always fit security accredited products as these are tested to British standards and approved by the insurance industry. Talk to your locksmith about standard PAS 24 2022.

If you are a building manager responsible for flats that are situated within larger buildings (for example, within apartment blocks), you should familiarise with up to to date fire safety requirements prior to any changes to front doors.

Double secure

Simply shutting the door won’t prevent burglaries. Double-lock the door every single time you leave the house.

Modern multi-locking and uPVC doors use a system of hooks and latches to secure the door but these only work if you lift up the handle and then remember to turn and remove the key. Remember – lift, lock and remove.

Checklist for securing your home when you leave it

It’s vital to leave your home secure whenever you leave it. Getting into an ‘exit routine’ can help ensure that you don’t forget obvious, important things, like not leaving your valuables near windows, or no lights on if it will be dark before you get home. Here’s what you should do just before you go out.

Become a creature of habit

Try to get into the habit of following your own course of action when you lock up your home. This will ensure that you don’t forget anything.

Here’s what we recommend you do before you go out:

• close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you’re only going out for a few minutes
• double-lock any door
• make sure that any valuables are out of sight
• keep handbags away from the letterbox or cat flap and hide all keys including car keys, as a thief could hook keys or valuables through even a small opening
• never leave car documents or ID in obvious places such as kitchens or hallways
• in the evening, shut the curtains and leave lights on
• if you’re out all day, then it’s advisable to use a timer device to automatically turn lights and a radio on at night
• set your burglar alarm
• make sure the side gate is locked
• lock your shed or garage
• lock your bike inside a secure shed or garage, to a robust fitting bolted to the ground or wall, like a ground anchor

Here are five tips to help you keep your home and belongings stay safe while you’re away:

1. if you’re off on holiday and wish to post anything on social media, make sure your posts aren’t public and that they’re only seen by your friends
2. leave lights and a radio on a timer to make the property appear occupied
3. get a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property or join a Neighbourhood or resident Watch Scheme
4. consider asking your neighbours to close curtains after dark and to park on your drive
5. remember to cancel newspaper and milk deliveries

Mark your property to deter burglars

A determined burglar can be difficult to discourage. Good-quality doors, windows and locks are excellent deterrents, but there’s even more you can do to stop burglars in their tracks.

Mark it

Make your valuables less attractive to thieves by using a property or police approved forensic marking solution only visible under Ultraviolet (UV) light. This can take the form of a special marker using ink or paint. Mark or etch your property with your postcode, house or flat number or the first three letters of your address. All of these measures help police identify stolen goods, making it harder for thieves to sell. So make your mark.

Register your property for free on Immobilise – it helps the police identify the owners of recovered property. You can register anything that has a serial number with Immobilise.

Record it

Register your valuables using an accredited property database; these can be found on the Secured by Design website. Take photographs and keep documents like receipts related to your property so you can prove ownership.

Register your bike

If you value your bike, then register it with an accredited cycle registration database and make sure it is marked to advertise this. To find such a database, visit the Secured by Design website.

Flag it

If you value it, then mark it as protected. Window stickers and signage are extremely effective and are proven to be a powerful deterrent against burglary.

Join your Neighbourhood Watch

By becoming part of your local Neighbourhood Watch, you’ll be joining other like-minded neighbours who, by keeping their eyes and ears open, help to keep potential criminals out of the area. 
Going away?

Published with kind permission from the Metropolitan Police Service.