Picture coming home from a quick run to the shops and seeing your front door open. Your gut drops as you immediately regret your decision to leave the door unlocked and realise a burglar has been in your home. Or imagine hearing someone rummaging through your shed late at night and not being able to see who it is—or what they might do next.
We know you wouldn’t intentionally put your family or home in danger, but you might do so without knowing it. Our goal is to educate you with commonly overlooked security risks—and how to correct them. With this knowledge, you can better protect your property from burglars and other criminals, all while making your home a safer place for your family.
Surprising Security Risk #1: Not Closing the Curtains
Unfortunately, something as simple as leaving your curtains open could put you at risk for a burglary because criminals are known to peer through windows and look for things to steal. If you live alone, open curtains advertise this fact, which could make you vulnerable to other crimes, too.
Solution:
Always keep curtains closed when you’re not home and use caution leaving them open when you’re inside. It’s also a good idea to draw them at night because interior lights make it especially easy for burglars to see indoors.
Closing your curtains is made even easier with home automation devices that allow you to control them right from your smartphone via our HensonControl+ APP. This way, if you’re all snuggled up in bed and remember that you forgot to close the living room curtains or blinds, you can do so without getting up. Take additional precaution by storing your money, prescription drugs, and other burglar wish list items out of sight. Consider investing in an Insurance approved safe to store jewellery or other high value items.
Surprising Security Risk #2: No CCTV Camera at the Front Door
You may not realise that many burglars break in through the front door. But, faced with security cameras, burglars and other wrongdoers are apt to think twice. In fact, there’s evidence that security cameras deter about 60% of opportunist burglars.
Solution:
Buy a standalone outdoor security camera or choose one that integrates with your home security system. Either way, we suggest choosing a security camera that can be monitored via an app so you always know who is at your doorstep.
Consult our Home Security surveyors for information about camera types, common features, and top-recommended brands. Then, consider further bulking up your home’s entrance by installing a high-security front door and smart doorbell.
Surprising Security Risk #3: Leaving Doors Unlocked
Even if your neighbourhood is considered safe, leaving your door unlocked puts your home and family in jeopardy. Before going to the trouble of breaking in, burglars will often check if your home’s doors are unlocked. They may also search for that spare key you’ve “hidden” under the doormat or in a plant pot.
Solution:
Keep your home’s doors locked at all times—even when you’re inside—and don’t leave a spare key in an obvious location. If you’re worried about your family getting locked out or just want to make locking and unlocking the door less of a hassle, consider buying an electronic keyless lock. These Bluetooth-enabled device allows you to lock and unlock the door right from your smartphone and comes with electronic keys to give visitors temporary access to your home.
Surprising Security Risk #4: Not Having a Home Security System
Some burglars case neighbourhoods looking for the easiest homes to break into. If you don’t have a burglar alarm, your house may be more attractive to criminals because they think there’s less chance they’ll get caught.
Solution:
We recommend getting a burglar alarm to help reduce the risk of a break-in and better protect your family and belongings. As an added benefit, our intruder alarm systems also alert you to fire, carbon monoxide, and other potential hazards, such as medical emergencies.
Once you get a home security system, don’t forget to set the system during the night and the day. Speak to our security consultants to arrange a free survey. Contact us on 0203 488 1699
Security Risk #5: No Outdoor Lighting
Burglars don’t want to be seen, so it’s not surprising that many residential burglaries occur at night. That makes a dark passage or garden a security risk—not to mention a safety hazard for your family.
Solution:
Fix this security risk by turning your porch light on and illuminating your garden with motion-activated lights. Security spotlights can detect motion up to 15 feet away in a 180-degree space. LED Floodlights are advised as the bulbs last a lot longer and they consume a lot less energy than traditional halogen ones.
Be sure to install motion-activated lighting on sheds or other outbuildings as well, as they often store tools that burglars want.
More Ways to Secure Your Home
In addition to implementing the five security solutions we outlined above, don’t make the mistake of thinking crime won’t happen to you or your family. While some communities are safer than others, it’s important to remember that crime happens in every neighbourhood. Don’t assume your home and family are safe.
Keep these tips in mind to help make your home a safer place.
Stay aware of local crime by joining or starting a Neighbourhood Watch.
Keep up to date on crime in your community with a crime tracking tool like the www.police.uk website.
Burglar proof your garden by securing ladders, bricks, hammers, and any other items a criminal may use to break into your home.
Report any suspicious person or activity to your local safer neighbourhoods team.
Get to know your neighbours so you can look out for one another.
Secure your house before holidays by stopping newspaper and mail delivery and setting lights on timers.
Don’t leave your garage or shed doors open for criminals to see lawn equipment, bikes, tools, and other valuables.
Trim the shrubs around the perimeter of your home so a burglar can’t hide behind them while breaking in.
For a free, no obligation security survey please contact us on 0203 488 1699 or at hensonsecurity.com/contact
