THE darker nights are creeping up on us – and while many of us leave for, and return from, work in the dark, there may be other times when our homes are empty and our property and belongings vulnerable.
How many of us go away for the weekend and fail to lock the back gate, perhaps forget to set the alarm or miss putting a light on?
Statistics published at the start of 2018 by Neighbourhood Watch revealed a 30 per cent increase in domestic burglary.
The latest crime figures for the UK from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) paint a conflicting picture – there has been a rise in recorded crime, and it’s rising more steeply than has previously been the case.
Thankfully, while some types of crime have fallen (such as computer misuse), instances of theft have increased.
However, as with most things in life, prevention is better than cure – and by cure we mean not only eliminating the financial loss and impact, but the psychological trauma and long lasting effect on the whole family.
As burglars, opportunist thieves, scammers and rogue traders become more brazen and sophisticated in their crimes – we are pleased to say that so do the many security measure which are available to home and business owners.
Our tried and tested Safe Local Trades security members in and around PE1 have years of knowledge and experience to advise you on the right measures for you.
In the meantime – here are some tips on how to ensure you home remains your castle – and keeps the bad guys out:
- Ensure you keep your doors and back gate locked – even when you are at home; a thief can strike when you are out of ear shot or are upstairs.
- Make sure sheds and garages are securely locked – and don’t leave a garage door open if your bikes, kids’ scooters and other valuable items are on display to passers-by.
- Motion sensitive lighting to the front and rear of your home is a great deterrent if it is dark, as is a gravel path leading to your front door.
- If you are going away for a short time, make sure a neighbour knows you are away so that they can look out for suspicious visitors, and always leave a light on to give the impression someone is at home.
- When you receive an unexpected knock at the door, try to look through a window or spy hole to see who it is – and if you feel nervous or uncomfortable opening the door; then DON’T. Genuine callers will call back or contact you by another method.
- Installing CCTV cameras can also give you additional peace of mind and many systems can link up with your mobile phone so you can tune in and see what’s going on throughout the day.
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