Keeping Your Property Safe

Having been “confined to barracks” during lock down don’t forget to lock up your home securely when you do go out. Whether going for your daily exercise, or to get your provisions, or with some now beginning to return to work its important get back into the habit of locking up when we leave our homes unoccupied.
Even if you are at home still consider your home security for as it gets warmer, we get to see a rise in the number of “Creeper Burglaries” where burglars take advantage of open gates, windows and doors.

An open or insecure garden gate will provide the thief with access to the back of your home. If you have unoccupied rooms that are accessible to others from outside or off flat roofs make sure the windows are closed, if you need ventilation in these rooms whilst at home at least lock the larger window and only have the small window open even during the daytime. If you only have just bigger windows consider a lockable window restricter and a small alarm sensor on the window to detect entry.
Leave any accessible door open or insecure and an opportunist thief will pop in and anything lying around will be gone. You may have only popped out, or down the end of the garden or having a quick shower; it only takes a second for a thief to steal.

A few tips for keeping your home secure:

• Don’t attract a thief with insecure pedal cycles or cars or gates.
• Keep side or rear gates, sheds and garages shut and securely locked.
• Doors closed and locked? Don’t forget that with a PVCu multi-locking door you may have lifted the handle but until you turn the key or thumb turn on the inside you have not locked all the locks in place. Before going out or turning in for the night don’t forget to check all doors, someone may have closed it but did they lock it?
• Windows – lift the blinds or open the curtains and check they are closed, the sun may have been on the TV when it was hot, and so the curtains were drawn with the window open. Remember the above advice about open windows. Make sure in case of fire that keys to windows and doors are readily accessible to occupants but not in view of possible burglars.
• If you have an intruder alarm activate it when going out and activate the zone for the unoccupied area whilst in.
• Car keys – don’t take them to bed with you, where possible leave them in noisy drawer/location. Keep the keyless fob in a “Faraday” bag.
• If you do hear a suspicious noise in the house that you are not happy with dial 999 and make a noise, shout out, it could cause any intruder to flee, they may not have known you were home, remember your life is more important than your property. If safe to do so get a good description of the person/s and if possible the car index number and direction of travel.

For more Crime Prevention advice please visit Essex Police