How to Protect Your Home This Year

A new year is a good moment to look at what you can do better, and protecting your home and family should be near the top of the list. If you’ve been putting off fixing a lock or repairing the alarm, now is the time.

Perhaps you’ve moved to a new neighbourhood, or the intruder alarm has been faulty for a while. Here is a quick guide to the jobs that make the biggest difference to your home security.

Secure your doors and windows

Burglars look for the easiest and fastest way in, and that is usually a door. An old door with a single lock is easy to pick, and one that looks neglected may simply be kicked in. Look after your front and back doors and replace them when necessary. If a new door isn’t in the budget, extra locks make a real difference.

Windows matter just as much. Old-fashioned frames are easier to chisel open or smash, so make sure yours lock properly, consider double glazing, and keep them locked whenever you’re out.

Don’t advertise what you own

Thieves often wander a neighbourhood to decide which homes to target. Expensive items on show by a window, a flashy car on the drive or large electrical boxes left out for collection can all put you on the list. Think twice before positioning that new flatscreen TV opposite a front window.

Fit an alarm

A burglar alarm is a strong deterrent and helps with peace of mind when you’re asleep or on holiday. A visible intruder alarm often stops criminals trying at all, and if they do get in, the noise will usually send them straight back out.

Consider a dog

Security shouldn’t be the main reason for getting a dog, but if you love animals and can give one a good home, a loud dog puts off many burglars. It works best alongside the measures above, not instead of them.

Take these steps and you can rest assured you’ve done what you can to protect your home.