Protect your home against opportunist burglars by remembering to ‘lock up, lights on’ when the clocks go back and the nights draw in.
Dark evenings can provide perfect cover for burglars who can easily spot an open window in an unoccupied room, see your valuables through open curtains or blinds, or try their luck with an unlocked door while you’re distracted by fireworks. Try to make your house look as occupied as possible when you are not there.
Make sure to always set your security system even if popping out for five minutes!
Don’t leave your house and vehicle keys in the lock or on a side table in view of a window making it easy for a thief to fish them through your letterbox
Don’t leave items in open porches that could be used to enter your home, for example, curved-handled umbrellas to open doors or keys through letterboxes
Always lock your front door from inside – in particular UPVC front doors that have handles, as they are often left unlocked when people are in their house. Burglars know this!
Check your UPVC or Euro cylinder door lock to see if it is snap resistant. I should be stamped with a three star Kite Mark. If it is not, you get the lock changed to either a SS312 Diamond Approved Cylinder, TS007 3 Star Kitemarked Cylinder, or a 1 Star Cylinder with 2 Star handle for maximum protection.
Cancel newspapers and milk if you’re going away for a few days and ask a trusted friend or neighbour to keep an eye on your property, pushing post sticking out of the letterbox inside fully
