Before leaving the house, we ensure we do key safety checks– shutting all the windows, locking the door, setting an alarm. Usually, that's enough. There are however simple mistakes we make every day that can actually expose our homes, making them more vulnerable to burglaries. Being aware of the easy fixes you can make to your home can help keep your home, the one we've all worked so hard to get, safe. Here we highlight some of the more obscure mistakes we’re making that could be putting our homes at risk.
- AN UNRELIABLE BURGLAR ALARM
Maybe you have a typical home alarm system installed in your home already. This can deter some potential thieves. They know the ones that aren’t as reliable.
If you’re looking to invest in a home security system, ensure that it provides all-round protection. Consider systems that have motion sensors, can be controlled with ease through an app (great for if you’re away on holiday), and even those which include remote monitoring and response, which makes it more likely that your intruder will be caught.
- LEAVING A ‘TO LET’ SIGN UP
If you have a ‘to let’ sign up, a burglar watching your house, can check the website for the number of bedrooms and keep an eye out for when that same number of people leave and work out when the house is empty.
If you’ve only just moved into your property and you spot a ‘to let’ sign outside your house, ask your landlord or estate agent to take it down to be on the safe side. After all, they’ll want to avoid a burglary just as much as you do.
- LEAVING NOTES FOR THE DELIVERY PEOPLE
It’s easily done – you order online without thinking twice about whether you’re going to be in or not. You stick a note on the door, telling them you’re not in and giving instructions as to where they should leave your parcel. (More often than not now they are left and photographed!) What about anyone else snooping around? They’ll soon see that nobody is in and, before you know it, you’ve been broken into or your parcel taken. Plan ahead where possible and time your deliveries for when you’re home, just to be on the safe side.
- NO WORKING DEADLOCK
If you’re not sure what the deadlock is and where it’s located, it’s typically the rectangular shaped lock found underneath the handle. It’s very important to check it’s working properly. If it doesn’t actually go all the way into the door frame, burglars are able to get into a property without leaving a trace. They can simply use a plastic card to slide it through and open the door. So, even if you think you’ve locked up, it still might not be burglar proof. Modern doors may be compatible with Kubu which is a smart sensor that monitors your door locks in real time and will alert you if you’ve left home and the doors aren’t locked via an app.
- BEING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
This might seem more obvious to those who have grown up with social media and know the risks involved when posting anything online. But, it’s still important. Be sure your profile is private if possible, but if you really want it to be public, there are some things you need to make sure you’re not doing. Avoid posting any group holiday photos, at least until you’re back home from your holiday.
It’s worth double-checking what you’ve already shared online when it comes to your address, and deleting anything that may point the burglar to the right place.
