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Home burglaries are rife at this time of the year, increasing by as much 25%, which makes sense as thieves are more likely to try and break into properties in the darker, winter months.
You don’t need to spend lots of money to keep burglars at bay. Here are some low-cost (yet highly effective!) DIY home security ideas.
Invest in a more secure set of windows and doors
First of all, always make sure that your windows and doors are locked properly. We hear far too often about burglaries occurring because of an unlocked window and door giving a thief an open invitation to welcome themselves to other people’s stuff.
If you have an old set of windows and doors, they’re probably nowhere near as resilient as they used to be, and have a quite straightforward and easily breakable lock.
Exchange them for newer windows and doors, with greater durability and more advanced security features.
Secure Patio Doors
Patio door locks are easy to pick. Placing a chunky stick into the door track will force the door closed, but it looks rubbish and it is inconvenient to remove every single time you want to open the door. Fortunately, there’s a better way to get the security you need.
An auxiliary foot lock will fasten along the bottom of your door and has a bolt that fits into a grommet to secure the door. Another similar lock is the Door Guardian, which attaches to the top of the door. without compromising security. Installation takes about 10 minutes. You need to screw in the bracket which contains the pin to the door, thenyou should drill holes and insert grommets into the track, for the pin to easily slide into. Make sure all is working exactly as it should and if it doesn’t, get in touch with a UPVC door repair specialist and get the problem sorted ASAP!
Install an alarm system – a real one, not a dummy one!
You would presume that the majority of British homes have an alarm fitted, but you couldn’t be more wrong. Locksmith specialists, Yale, found that only 30 per cent of UK properties are alarmed.
It’s a serious risk not to have an alarm and a risk we suggest you don’t take.
The cost of an alarm can vary massively, and don’t be afraid to splash out on a decent one as it will be worth its weight in gold if it stops someone breaking in.
Move someone in when you’re on holiday
You can usually tell when someone is away from their home for a week or two – no car on the drive, post in the letterbox and curtains that are constantly closed.
A thief’s eyes will light up in this scenario, so ask a trusted friend or relative to live in the house in your absence, or pop in a couple of times a day to open and close curtains, remove post etc.
Secure sheds with screws
Your locked shed may look secure, but a clever thief can bypass the shed’s lock by using a screwdriver to remove the hinges and other tools with exposed screw heads. Stop potential thieves by using Torx allen, or hex head screws instead of the usual Phillips screws. You can also order increase security with screws that require specialist tools to remove the likelihood that an opportunistic thief is unlikely to have. You will also need to buy the special tool or bit.
There is so much more you can do when it comes to home security, you can never be too careful!
