Crime in the community and methods of crime prevention.
Longer Nights mean your property is more vulnerable, In fact when the clocks are put back in late October British crime statistics can increase by as much as 50%. Overall domestic crime rates have increased by 10% and will continue to rise as unemployment increases and this recession continues to worsen. Theft from garages, sheds and gardens is also on the increase and compared to last year’s figures has risen by 13% to 15%. Property crime and burglary will inevitably increase in times of an economic down turn. Protecting your property has never been more vital than now. With the run up to Christmas and the longer nights, combined with the added pressures put on the cost of living the crime rate will continue to increase.
What is crime? Being burgled is very distressing, so what is burglary and what happens during a break-in? During the incident property is damaged, personal possessions are taken and a stranger has been in the home. Added to this the expensive cost and time it takes to sort out what was taken, repairs to doors or windows and insurance claims is something most of us would try to avoid if at all possible. Often when one house is successfully burgled the attempt is made again within a few weeks as the thieves know that items will be replaced. Also other neighbouring houses are then also targeted as the street because know as a good area to be burgled. Crime in the community, being a good neighbour is vital and having a neighbourhood watch scheme in place will also help to deter most thieves. Without being nosey keeping an eye out for any suspicious behaviour, an unfamiliar face hanging around, vans or cars that are parked in the street which are not recognised plus reacting quickly if a neighbours alarm is activated. Generally being vigilant at all times and making neighbours aware of any recent crime will help in making your home and street a safer place to live.
What is crime prevention at home? How to prevent burglary, steps we can take to make our homes less appealing to a would-be burglar? With the dark nights starting as early as 3pm burglars have longer than ever to break into your property. Although our streets are reasonably well lit the average house will stand out as a potential target if it is in total darkness. If you are generally not home until its dark then you need to make your house appear occupied. Leaving lights on all day is not an ideal solution; costs money damages the environment and can even have the opposite effect as a burglar may wonder why the lights are left on all day. Simple but effective methods of crime prevention include using a timer to switch the lights on in different rooms at varying intervals and maybe a radio as well. Outdoor lighting is also essential and using a combination of Passive Infer-red lights which are activated when approached and dust to dawn lighting will not only welcome you and any other visitors but will make it difficult for a burglar to hide in the darkness.
It’s important to ensure that your alarm system (if you have one installed, if not I highly recommend that you do) is working correctly and serviced regularly. An alarm system is your first line of defence as it will alert neighbours and passer-by’s that there is a problem and will shorten dramatically the length of time a burglar will spend in your property. If you also have retractable security grills for windows (known as “grilles”) installed as well then as the alarm is activated the burglar still need to bypass the grille again slowing them down to a point that in most cases a burglary is not even attempted. With security in mind now may also be a good time to look at the other areas of your home that may need some additional security. Particularly vulnerable areas tend to be at the rear of the property. An important point to remember here is not to make your property a prospective target for burglary and theft. Ensure that your garage and shed are well secured as any tools taken from them can be used to gain entry to your property. The patio or French doors are a favourite attack point for burglars. As most patio doors now have fairly good locks jemmying them can take some time. The other method is not quite so subtle and basically involves the smashing of the glass usually using any garden object within reach.
Using QSec security products like window bars and grilles can keep your home secure and make any break-in much harder. Installed internally, a retractable security grille can be extremely effective in preventing this this type of break in. Offering both a visual and physically deterrent retractable grilles offer the home owner an effective yet unobtrusive security solution. Retractable grilles can be used on any window or door that you feel may be vulnerable and being installed internally means that they cannot be tampered with by the thief and therefore work in conjunction with your alarm system.
Other physical security products that will give your home extra security include our range of fixed security grilles which are designed to resemble traditional leaded lights. This diamond design has been proven to be much stronger than traditional straight bar grilles. This is purely down to the lattice design of the grille which creates an extremely strong physical barrier. Using this lattice design enables us to manufacture the grille from lighter gauge steel which has no effect on the overall effectiveness of the grille but does mean that it blends in better within a domestic environment.
Thinking about security this time of year its worth remembering that vehicles are also vulnerable. Thieves can work unseen on driveways with the sole intent of stealing your car. QSec Security also provides security driveway posts for keeping your car secure at home. Using a telescopic vehicle post installed on your drive has numerous advantages. The domestic RTRD4 telescopic post is a highly visible deterrent that stand guard at the end of your drive protecting one of your most valuable possessions. Incredibly easy to operate as it easily retracts into the ground when you wish to go out in the car.
Here we have covered some of the steps you can take and products available from QSec Security systems for the home & we hope you have found this useful. The general rule this time of year is to fool thieves into thinking your home is occupied. A house in total darkness will stand out as a target to burglars. Follow some simple basic homesecurity steps and your home will remain as safe as houses!
If you wish to discuss your particular needs in more detail, or would like more information about the QSec Security range of products you can call FREE on 0800 999 6 777.
We look forward to hearing from you.
