How secure is your home from break-ins? Find out what action you can take to reduce the risk of burglary.
Here at Axxess 28, we found this rather interesting article from those very intelligent people over at WHICH magazine - links and more at the end of this article.
Aside from installing a burglar alarm system, there's a range of ways to make your home safer. Consider each possible entry point to your home, such as doors and windows, to see how they could be improved. If you'd like to get a burglar alarm, take a look at our page on the type of burglar alarm systems, as well as our guide to the top-rated burglar alarm companies, according to our latest survey of more than 2,083 burglar alarm owners*.
How good is your home security?
As well as opportunistic burglaries, some burglars scope out a property beforehand, sometimes working with others. It's therefore important to think about measures to ensure your home looks occupied at all times, that there aren't any clear places where a potential burglar could hide to assess the house, and that their entrance to the house is visible and difficult.
Ask yourself:
Is it obvious when you're on holiday or away from the home?
Are windows and doors left open, even if they're not easily accessible?
Do your windows and doors have visible locks?
Is there a spare key that’s easily visible, or easy to find, such as underneath a plant pot or above the ledge on the door?
Do you have high walls and hedges, which could give burglars protection from being seen?
Is accessing your house noisy for a burglar? For example, is there gravel around the property?
Are there any ladders lying around that a burglar could use?
How secure is the shed or garage? Is it always kept locked with high-quality padlocks and security locks?
We've surveyed ex-burglars and spoken to security experts to discover exactly what really puts them off, including everything from dogs to different alarm brands. Read more in our burglar secrets revealed.
How to make your home secure In January 2019**, we asked 1,330 Which? members about the extra security measures they have in their homes, from alarm systems to CCTV. The largest proportion, 65%, have a deadlocks on doors, 57% have outdoor security lighting and 45% a burglar alarm.
42% have multiple locks
34% use timers to turn indoor lights on and off when they're away from home.
23% have security chains on doors
17% have a dummy alarm box
16% have a dog in the house
10% have reinforced windows.
As well as buying security equipment, which can be costly, there are other ways to protect your home. Here are our top tips, some of which cost little or nothing:
Window security
Don't leave windows open or unlocked anywhere in the house.
Easily accessible windows should ideally be fitted with double glazing.
Laminated glass or plastic glazing film is harder to break, so consider this for easily accessible windows.
New windows should be in line with the British Standard 7950 or PAS 24.
Ideally get locks that secure the window to the frame, rather than ones that just secure the handle.
Door security
Ensure the door frames and doors are solid.
Your external doors should be at least 4.4cm thick and hung with 10cm hinges.
Doors should ideally be fitted with a five-lever mortise deadlock tested to BS 3621.
Wooden doors can be made stronger with steel strips fitted to the frame and around the lock.
Doors with glass panels are less secure, but can be fitted with laminated glass or plastic glazing film for extra protection. If you're getting new doors, get door sets (the door itself, frame and locks) that are Pas 24 certified.
Fit a chain or a latch to the door, and opt for a viewer so you can check who’s there before letting them in.
Letter boxes should be fitted 40cm from the door lock, and valuables and keys shouldn't be within sight of it - an internal cover plate will offer extra protection.
When fitting a lock to a window or door, use the strongest screws you can, not necessarily the ones supplied, and make sure they are all to British Standard BS7950. Retrofitting UPVC and PVCU doors or windows with locks could weaken them or invalidate warranties. Sufficient locks fitted at the time of construction are safer. If you want to change the locks on your current doors, you can find a recommended local locksmith by using our Which? Trusted Traders service. Any trader who displays our logo has been through our rigorous checks.
Security Lights
Outdoor lights, either ones that you switch on manually or those that are set off by movement, are a good way to ensure a burglar is more visible, which will help to put them off. Generally, a single light can cost anything between £8 and £100. But take care to direct these downwards so as not to annoy neighbours, and make sure they won't shine into drivers' eyes if your home is near a road. For indoor lighting, the key thing is to make sure that a burglar thinks people are in the house, even when they're not. Timers that can turn lights on and off around the home, as well as TVs and/or radios, cost as little as £5. Just make sure these are in sync around your home, such as turning the light off five minutes after the TV goes off.
Visible burglar alarm
If you have a burglar alarm system, make sure ‘bell boxes’ are visible on your property to let potential burglars know you have an alarm. You can also get fake burglar alarm boxes, which cost around £15 to £20, if you can't afford to get a full alarm system fitted. Visit our page on burglar alarm costs for more advice on the types of alarms and prices, what to avoid if you're thinking of getting one, and how you could save as much as nearly £400 on your burglar alarm cost.
Burglar-proof your garden
Gravel around your home is a great deterrent, as it makes it harder for burglars to approach without alerting the occupant.
Make sure hedges are trimmed back so your property is not hidden from view.
Do some defensive gardening – plant shrubs with thorns at the borders of your home so burglars aren't able to hide in them.
Put in strong gates or fences to any part of your garden accessible from outside, ideally 2 metres high and with 30-45cm of open-ended trellising at the top - if they jump the fence and break this, it will be heard.
If you've bought new valuable items, don't leave the packaging out with your recycling for an extended period of time, as it can be a clue as to the value of your possessions.
Use padlocks on shed doors, and consider fitting them with a small, battery-powered alarm, which can cost as little as £15.
CCTV and wireless home security cameras
CCTV or wireless security cameras (either indoors or outside) can be an extra security measure to put burglars off, but they're not for everyone - only 16% of our members surveyed have one or more of these. Read our guide to find out more about home CCTV.
Smoke alarms and carbon dioxide monitors
As well as all the above security measures, consider installing a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide monitor, too, to protect yourself from other hazards. You can buy these on their own, or as part of a package with some burglar alarms. It's also worth remembering that while you want to make your home as secure as possible, you need to make sure this won't stop you from being able to escape – or be rescued – in an emergency such as a fire.
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