SECURITY ADVICE
Securing your home
Crime reduction in the home extends beyond the four walls of your house. Gardens, sheds, garages, walls and fences all make up the boundary of your property and should form an important part of any home security plan.
Rear of property
The back of your property is sometimes the most vulnerable as burglars can access rear windows or doors without being seen. Placing a fence or wall approximately six feet high around the back garden will help to deter unwanted visitors, but make sure it is kept in a good state of repair.
Fences/walls/gates
Open-ended or weak trellis that is strong enough to support climbing plants, but not a person’s weight, can be attached to fences for extra security without affecting the look of your garden. Ensure all side entrances are secured with lockable gates and heavy duty hinges.
Plants and bushes
Plants and bushes with thorny stems or spiny leaves such as hawthorn, roses, butcher’s-broom and holly can provide inexpensive and unobtrusive security.These are just a few suggestions and the type of plants varies greatly according to your individual circumstances. Ask at your local garden centre or talk to your local crime prevention officer for more information.
Garden furniture/tools and ornaments
Any valuable garden furniture or ornaments such as statues or planters can be anchored to the ground and property marked with your postcode and house number. Make life difficult for the burglar by locking away garden tools or ladders in secure sheds or garages.They can be used to gain entry to your property.
Sheds & garages
Sheds are a popular target for burglars as they are often overlooked when security is being considered. Secure your shed door with a sturdy padlock and ensure it is hung on strong hinges that cannot be easily unscrewed.The fittings should be bolted through the door of the shed and reinforced at the back with a steel plate.The hasp should have concealed screws or coach bolts fitted.
Garages are frequently used for storing valuable property such as DIY power tools, sporting equipment and electrical garden items. Make sure any windows are fitted with locks. Doors should be lockable or secured by padlocks.
If you have a door that leads from the garage into the house, make sure it is as secure as your front or rear door. A simple method of securing up and over garage doors from the inside is to drill a hole in top channel above the wheels and insert a padlock into the hole.This prevents the wheel moving past the padlock and stops the door lifting even if it is being forced open. For external entry garages, use an outer bracket and floor eyelet welded or bolted to the bottom of the door and secured by a padlock.
External lighting
Adequate lighting is a worthwhile addition to any home security plan. Dusk to dawn lights fitted with photoelectric cells are preferable.They are energy saving, provide less obtrusive light and can be a cheaper alternative. All the lights can be fitted yourself but if you are not sure, ask a qualified electrical contractor for advice.
Alarms
Opportunist burglars tend to avoid houses with a burglar alarm fitted. They are relatively cheap to install and the most common are audible only systems.There are a wide variety of different alarms but all should be installed to meet British Standard 4737 so it is best to seek professional advice. Systems which are monitored by alarm companies are more expensive than many wire-free or DIY packages on the market but they are more reliable and conform to the Association of Chief Police Officers Security System Policy 2004.
The police will always respond to monitored alarm systems, however if they are excessively activated by accident, the priority level may be reduced.With over 90% of alarms being falsely activated, it is important the police ensure they respond to these types of incidents accordingly.
Audible alarms can be fitted to garden sheds and garages if you are storing valuable equipment.
Going on holiday
Make sure you don’t advertise the fact that you are not at home by taking simple security steps such as installing a timer switch.These are available from DIY shops and can be used to turn items such as radios or lights on automatically. Put all your valuables out of sight and don’t leave the curtains drawn all the time – it provides ideal cover for a burglar during the day and clearly shows you’re not at home. If you can, get a neighbour or friend to look after your home while you are away so they can take in the post, draw curtains at night, etc. Also, offer to allow them to park a car on your drive while you’re away. Remember to cancel milk and newspaper deliveries. The Royal Mail can hold your post for you while you are away. Telephone 08457 777888 for more details.
Keys
Never leave a spare house key under a pot or the doormat – a burglar will check these obvious hiding places first.
Make sure car/house keys are not left where they can be easily reached from the outside, such as near a letterbox, an open window, a cat flap, or in the lock itself.
Change the door locks if you lose your keys or if they are stolen.
Front door
Make sure both the door and the frame are in good condition, otherwise any locks could be ineffective. A solid door that is at least 44mm thick can be fitted with a five-lever mortice deadlock to British Standard EN 12209; any thinner and this type of lock will weaken the door. Install a good quality rim deadlock on doors that do not meet the minimum thickness.
Ensure a burglar is not able to break a pane of glass and simply turn the latch to gain entry.The screws and framework holding the door need to be strong and in good condition and backed up by bolts at the top and bottom.
Glass panels on or around the door are vulnerable and should be replaced with laminated glass if possible. If you have wooden panels, make sure they are made from good quality external plywood.
Letterbox cages can be useful for preventing people from interfering with your locks and door viewers. Door chains can provide additional peace of mind when opening the door.
Modern UPVC doors normally incorporate deadlock shoot bolts or multi-point locking systems as they are generally unsuitable for retrofit security devices; check with your supplier if you are not sure.
Patio doors
To secure sliding doors, fit at least one but preferably two patio door locks to support the hook lock. Using a spade as a lever under the bottom rail of the sliding panel is one method used by burglars to break in through these doors. Most modern patio doors have an “anti-lift” device fitted; to check, open the door and lift the door upwards while holding the handles. If there is excessive movement then an anti-lift device needs to be fitted to the top channel.
French windows
These can be less secure than the modern patio door unless suitable security measures are taken. Each door should be fitted with mortice rack bolts (fitted within the door and operated internally by a threaded key) in the top and bottom frames.They should always be installed at 90º to the grain of the wood to reduce the likelihood of it splitting under pressure. Surface-mounted locking bolts (push to lock, key to open) top and bottom can also be fitted as an alternative.
Modern UPVC French windows usually incorporate deadlock shoot bolts or a multi-point locking system as they are generally unsuitable for retrofit security devices, but check with the manufacturer or installer if you are in doubt.
Back door
The rear door should be just as secure as the front; this is a common entrance route for burglars as it is often not overlooked. Make sure both the door and frame are in good condition before fitting any locks. Install a five-lever two bolt mortice sash lock and consider fitting mortice rack bolts top and bottom (90º to the grain of the wood to reduce the likelihood of it splitting under pressure). If the door opens outwards, fit hinge bolts top and bottom.
Glass panels on or around the door are vulnerable and should be replaced with laminated glass if possible. If you have wooden panels, make sure they are made from good quality external plywood.
Windows
All window frames need to be kept in good condition to support both the glass and any additional locks. There are several different types of window available and the security devices alter accordingly.
Wooden casement – fit locks that secure the frames together rather than simply secure the handle or stay bar. If the window is flush to the frame, fit mortice rack bolts at 90º to the grain of the wood to reduce the likelihood of splitting under pressure. For locks that secure to the window, use this simple test to decide how many you need:
With the window closed, press each opening corner. If there is any movement, fit a suitable lock such as a push lock at each corner on the opening side. If there is no movement, a lock fitted to the centre of the opening frame will suffice.
If you are considering replacing your existing windows, look for the British Standard 7950 kite mark.
Wooden sliding sash – you cannot rely on existing sash fasteners. Sash stops are strong and convenient to use and do not need to be removed from the window when it is fully opened.An alternative lock is the dual screw which effectively bolts the two sashes together.The window can also be made more secure by screwing or gluing the beading which holds the glass in place.
All single-glazed windows within easy reach should ideally be fitted with laminated glass of a minimum thickness of 6.4mm.
UPVC/PVCU – in many cases you cannot retro-fit any extra locks to these windows as the material is not strong enough to support a metal lock with steel screws. It could also damage the window and invalidate your warranty. Most modern windows are already fitted with multi-locking systems that include both the handle and the frame. Check with your supplier/installer if you are considering additional locks.
Metal crittal – either the window or the handle can be secured.This type of window has a narrow frame, making it difficult to fit security devices and in many instances the only option is to secure the handle. A fanlight lock will secure the top window.The standard recommendation of 6.4mm would be unlikely to apply in this instance as the frame would not take the depth, so a narrower laminated glass is more suitable.
Aluminium – it is possible to fit extra locks to aluminium windows, but you need to ensure there is enough metal around the window to fit the lock without coming into contact with the glass. If you have a sliding window, fit a key operated clamp on the bottom rail of the frame and, for ventilation without compromising security, fit a sliding window lock to the bottom rail.A narrower laminated glass would be needed as the standard recommendation of 6.4mm may not apply.