Now the clocks have changed, bringing the dark evenings with them, we have to prepare for the sadly inevitable increase in burglaries.

Time and again I hear the phrase: You will never stop the determined invader getting into your home. This is true, but your aim is to make life so difficult for him, he goes on to an easier target. If he gets in through a window, make sure he has to leave through that same window while he is carrying his ill-gotten gains and hopefully he will cut himself on broken glass leaving DNA evidence. The police are hard stretched to even investigate most burglaries, so any evidence you can provide will be a good thing, and while it might not get your possessions back, a very nasty person might just be prevented from stealing someone else’s  irreplaceable family heirloom.

Smart technology is making life easier, but too many people think it is out of their price range. That is simply no longer true. DIY kits can be bought on line with cameras small enough to not be seen. If your parents or anyone you care about are technology illiterate, why not set them up a system that sends images to your mobile phone? Not only can you keep them safe from invaders, but also keep a check on them if they fall. Obviously professional installations are better, but no one needs to be unprotected. Doorbell cameras synched to your mobile phone allow you to not only see who is at your door, but talk to them too, even if you are on the other side of the world. This technology allows you to vet whoever comes to your door without you needing to get up from your chair, a great defence against door step scams and distractors.

Bright sensor lights always make burglars jumpy, so make sure there are no dark spots around your perimeter. Good ones can distinguish between humans and smaller animals so they are not going off like discos. Window locks are required by insurance companies on ground floor windows and usually first floor windows as well. But make sure these are visible to someone scouting. In all honesty, most window locks are fairly easy to bypass, but cable restrictors add a second line of defence and are especially good upstairs in summer for rooms you want aired, but without danger of children managing to open the window enough to fall out.

Your door locks should always carry a British Standard Kite Mark. It is required by your insurance company if you have a wooden door, but anyone who has seen me bypass a door with multi-point locking mechanism in seconds will always upgrade to a kite marked cylinder without hesitation. Again, you can buy these in DIY stores, but it takes a professional to know which kite marked ones are best. Even some of the kite marked ones can now be bypassed with a cheapish tool, so contact your local locksmith before buying any old lock, even if you trust the brand name. Also beware of smart locks. In some cases, making life easier by switching to a keyless lock is also making life easier for the burglar. By ditching the key, you may well also be ditching security. Smart locks are a new thing and a good locksmith will be able to show you the good from the bad. I personally have several orders on hold because I awaiting the launch of a smart lock that will be perfect for wooden doors.

With the run up to Christmas, don’t forget to keep yourself safe in the crowds as well. Put your wallet in different pocket to usual so you will feel it more if someone tries to pick pocket you. Put cards and cash in separate places about your person so if one gets stolen, you still have the other for emergency use. Keep bags zipped up and a tight hold on straps. Wear straps across body as this makes them harder to cut for the bag thief.

If parking in a roofed car park, park with your boot facing outwards. That way, anyone trying to open it will be easier to spot by cameras and passers by. When you open your boot, take the extra seconds to pocket your keys rather than putting them down in the boot. No one wants to add the cost of an auto locksmith having to come and open the car that has been locked with all keys still in the boot. Yes, it does happen a lot.

If you have any questions regarding the above or any information in any of my blogs, please do not hesitate to contact me via me via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading!