Five Mistakes that Make your Home More Vulnerable to Burglaries
You may do all of the usual checks before leaving the house – like shutting all the windows, locking the door, setting an alarm – and think that’s job done. Even though your house may be locked while you’re out and about, it doesn’t necessarily mean all your contents will be safe.
Although you might not even realise it, there are simple mistakes we make every day which can actually expose our homes, making them more vulnerable to burglaries.
That’s why a team of home security experts from www.Boundary.co.uk have highlighted some of the more obscure mistakes we’re making that could be putting our homes at risk.
That burglar alarm may not be as reliable as you think…
You may already have a typical home alarm system installed in your home, and although this can deter some potential thieves, they’ll be able to spot the ones that aren’t as reliable. It’s important that if you’re looking to invest in a home security system, that it provides all-round protection. Look out for 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 automatic police response, which makes it more likely that your intruder will be caught.
Having a To Let sign up that shows the number of bedrooms
If you’re a university student, this one will apply to you more so than anyone else. Say you move in with four of your friends, that’s typically a five-bed house, right? That means if a burglar is eyeing up your property and sees the five of you heading for a night out – and there is a sign outside confirming it’s a 5-bed property – they’ll know that the house is most likely 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.
Sticking a note to the door for the postman when you’re not in
It’s easily done – you make an order online without thinking twice about whether you’re going to be in or not. You stick a note on the door to the postman, telling them you’re not in and giving instructions as to where they should leave your parcel. But what about anyone else snooping around? They’ll soon clock that nobody is in the house and, before you know it, you’ve been broken into. Be sure to plan ahead where possible and time your deliveries for when you’re in the property, just to be on the safe side.
Check your deadlock is working
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 so important to check this is working properly, because 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 debit card to slide it through and open the door, so even if you think you may have locked up, it still might not be burglar proof.
Double check what you’re posting on social media
This one may seem more obvious to those who have grown up with social media and know the risks involved when posting anything online, but it is important. Make sure your profile is private if possible, but if you’re adamant on keeping it public, there’s a few things you need to make sure you’re not doing. Avoid posting any group holiday photos, at least until you’re back home from the trip. It’s also 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.
SOURCE: Property Wire