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Protect Your Home

• Always lock your doors: Most homes are burgled between 8am and 5pm, so get in the habit of always locking your doors and windows when you go out.
  
  
• Never leave ladders outside your home: Ladders provide easy access for an intruder.
  
  
• Use your garden to protect vulnerable windows: Planting rosebushes or cactus in front of windows can make getting close to them an unappealing prospect
  
  
• Do not hide your keys outside: Burglars know the best places to find hidden spare keys.
  
  
• Keep your letterbox clear: A full letter box is a dead giveaway that you are not at home. Ask a friend or neighbour to remove your mail while you are away.
  
  
• Light up your home: A badly lit doorway is an opportunity for someone to hide. A security light over your front door can help deter burglars.
  
  
• Install timers: Make it look as though your house is occupied by installing timers which switch lights or radios on and off automatically.
  
  
• Mark your equipment: Marking all electronic equipment with a permanent etching or your name and post code will help to identify equipment and makes it harder for the thief to sell.
  
  
• Do not label your house keys: If you should you lose them you don’t want that information getting into the wrong hand.
  
  
• Make a record of your assets: Keep a list and photos of your valuables somewhere safe.
  
  
• When you are not at home: Encourage a neighbour to park on your driveway and if you are going out after dark, draw the curtains, leave some lights on and a radio playing.
  
  
• Secure your shed and garage doors: Fit strong padlocks, bars to windows and hardware and make sure that the doors are solid enough not to be kicked in.
  
  
• Do not leave notes on the door: Notes to service people or family members on the door will act as a welcome mat for a burglar.
  
  
• Dogs are good deterrents to burglars: Even a small, noisy dog can be an effectively deter burglars as they create unwanted attention.