Burglary Proofing Your Home
Use this checklist to take simple measures to keep your property secure.
Perimeter – fences, walls, gardens, garages, outbuildings
- Are sheds, garages and outbuildings always locked?
- Does the perimeter to the front of the house allow good surveillance from the road?
- Are expensive items ie from laptops, tablets, phones, games consoles, hidden from public view? We have a number of residents who have open view windows or shutter blinds which gives passers by a view into their homes and contents
- Are vehicles at the premises secured when not in use?
- Do keyless vehicle owners have signal blocking pouches? Signal Blocking pouches can stop access to your vehicle by blocking your car key fob from transmitting its code to the vehicle, as the pouches are lined with layers of metallic material.
- Are items always removed from vehicles when they are not in use ie laptops, tools or cash?
Shell – main building, locks, spare keys, alarms
- Are spare keys left in a secure place – ie NOT under a plant pot, doormat or stone?
- Are ground-floor and accessible windows closed and locked?
- Are garden side and back door gates kept locked with padlocks?
- Recent burglary incidents on CHP suggest intruders have gained easier access into resident’s homes via side and back door gates without suitable padlocks…..
- If there is a burglar alarm is it always used? Even for short trips away from the home.
Interior – high-value items, keys, timed lighting
- Are doors kept locked with the keys removed, kept out of sight/reach, but to hand in case of emergency?
- Are attractive items such as jewellery, car keys, laptops, iPads, cash and phones kept out of sight?
- Are chargers and cables for laptops/iPads kept out of view?
- Car Keys are at Risk in the Home As Well! Statistics show that thieves are increasingly breaking into homes to steal car keys so do not make it easy for them by leaving keys in view
- Install Light Timers! Consider installing a number of light timers around the house so it appears someone is home, as opportunist thieves can often approach houses that look like nobody is at home