12 things that make life easier for unwanted guests (stop the thieves!)

Will Sayner Will Sayner
Casa AT, Cenit Arquitectos Cenit Arquitectos Modern houses
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 A significant proportion of home theft happens during the day with no forced entry, meaning that the victim’s home must have been readily accessible so that the perpetrator could get in and out undetected without causing damage.

 The idea of unwanted guests snooping around your home while you’re out is quite unsettling! Even if stolen property is insured or later recovered, the prospect of having your home violated is very unpleasant indeed. Unfortunately, there’s no means of completely ensuring that you won’t fall prey to burglary, but there are means by which you can make it less likely, or more difficult for thieves.

 Today we’ll be running through things that make thieves’ lives easier, and what you can do to make your home more secure.

1. No gate around your property

 A gated property is not a guaranteed way to prevent a break in, but it certainly makes life more difficult for prospective thieves; it’s difficult to hop a fence without drawing attention to yourself as a suspicious character.

2. Accessible points of entry

 The sturdy bars on the doors pictured above would make this a property a difficult target for thieves. Make sure ground floor doors and windows are secure so that thieves can’t open a window to get in or break a simple lock.

3. Having valuables on display

 If you’ve got large windows at the front of your home with valuable electronics of antiques on display it could be curtains for you! Keep valuable possessions out of sight or hang drapes or blinds – as in the example above – so you’re not advertising your possessions to thieves.

4. Allowing mail to visibly build up

 Allowing mail to build up where it’s visible is a great way of letting thieves knows when you’re out of town. Make sure your mail can’t be seen, or have a friend or neighbour collect it for you while you’re away.

5. No dog

 Not everyone can or should own a dog, but they are a great deterrent and alarm for burglars.

6. Valuables left in the car

 Don’t leave anything on display in your vehicle as it makes for great targets for window shopping thieves.

7. Having easily accessible tools

 What’s worse that having your home broken into?

 Thieves breaking into your house using your own tools – such as a ladder lying around in your garden. Keep tools locked away out of sight.

8. Bikes, BBQs and lawn mowers in accessible places

 Don’t leave bikes, BBQs, lawn mowers and other such items in communal areas or out in the garden as they make an easy target for opportunistic thieves.

9. Simple locks

 Simple locks such as a single-latch lock can make life easier for a burglar. Single-latch locks can be opened by a turn-style knob on the inside of the door, meaning a burglar could break a nearby window and unlock the door from the inside.

 Deadbolt locks are a much better alternative as they need to be opened with a key and they’re not spring loaded, neither are they  connected to door handles, so the handle can’t be broken to gain access to the interior mechanisms. However, if you’re at all unsure about the locks in your home you should consult a professional.

10. 'Hiding' Keys

 Never ‘hide’ keys under doormats, plant pots or the like as they’re much easier to find than you might like to think!

11. Making it clear that you're not home

 Turning all the lights off may be better for the environment, but bad for your home security as it makes clear that nobody’s home.

12. Not reporting suspicious characters

 Getting to know your neighbours is great for a number of reasons, not least because you might recognise when an unfamiliar face is lurking around you or your neighbour’s property. Report any suspicious characters and possibly pre-empt a burglary.

 Read on for further advice on making your home more secure.

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