Your home is likely to be your most valuable possession, which is why it makes sense to keep it secure. But this can mean a lot more than simply calling out your local locksmiths.
Having said that, locksmiths are probably the most important tradespeople you contact to help you protect your property.
Of course, you probably already have a lock on your front and back doors, but are they as secure as they could be? You should ask the professional you hire to check that the locks you have meet the British Standard PAS 24-1 for security.
Among the best type of security devices you can have on the entrance to your home is a five-lever mortise deadlock and you may even find that your buildings insurance provider requires you to have one.
In addition to the main lock, there are other ways to check this part of your property is not easy for unwanted visitors to access.
Remember that as well as testing whether a door is unlocked, a burglar may also attempt to break in by force. With this in mind, you could speak with a carpentry expert, who can examine your doors and determine whether they are sturdy and thick enough.
Should you have a door that features a decorative glass panel it is worth checking whether this is double-glazed or reinforced. If not, it may be easy to smash and break in.
You could replace it with a laminated pane or even purchase a sheet of plastic film to stick over it and make it stronger.
The other points of access to your home that could be targeted by a thief are the windows – and don’t make the mistake of thinking that just the ground floor ones pose a risk as it may be possible to reach those on an upper storey by climbing on a low roof or wall.
Key-operated locks are the best devices to have on windows and you should ensure that you secure them all if you are going away.
Remember to always close each one of your windows on your way out and not leave anything to chance – and never place the keys somewhere where they are visible, such as on the windowsill!
Should you want to maximise your home’s security levels even further there are many clever tricks you can try out.
A high fence or hedge around your garden will not only create a barrier between a burglar and your outside space, but also helps to keep a yard private from prying eyes.
While you may be keen to invest in a tall wall or fence around your garden, at the front of your home, it is better to keep any such feature low so that a burglar does not have a place to hide while they attempt to break in.
In line with this, security lighting is another useful purchase. You can invest in lights to fit at the front and back of your home that are triggered to come on when they sense a motion – and the last thing a burglar wants is to be illuminated for everyone to see.
You may wish to use your green fingers to deter thieves by training a rose to climb up your fence, or including holly in a hedge – as both contain prickles that a would-be criminal may not want to tackle.
Placing gravel on your drive, pathways and in your back garden is also wise as it crunches noisily underfoot and may alert homeowners to any intrusion in their garden.
Of course, one of the most obvious security devices is a burglar alarm and you will find plenty on the market to choose from.
The majority of these gadgets go off when they sense movement in the home. As they can only be quietened by entering a code that the homeowner has come up with, the thief is unlikely to be able to switch it off.
Furthermore, you can often get stickers to place in your windows or a flashing device to install outside your home that clearly shows that your property is alarmed, which may help to deter anyone from attempting to break in and causing costly damage to your property.
If you really want to get high-tech about protecting your address you could speak with an expert in stone veneer installation.
While this cladding can look attractive, it is also possible to invest in versions that have security cameras and lighting built in, helping you to keep your house safe in a way that is also subtle.
So, don’t leave things to chance – ensure your home is secure today.
