Every town has areas where crime is more of a concern, and neighbourhoods change over time. If your home or business is in a place that’s become a hotspot, moving isn’t always realistic. The practical answer is to make your property a harder target.
The steps below are straightforward, affordable and worth taking wherever you are, but they matter even more where the risk is higher.
Know your neighbours
Whether it’s a house or a business premises, an alliance with those around you pays off. When neighbours look out for one another, suspicious behaviour is more likely to be noticed and reported, and offenders are more likely to move on.
Swap contact details, agree to watch each other’s property when someone’s away, and consider joining or starting a local Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
Add visible, working security
Good CCTV can deter anti-social behaviour and burglary, and gives you something useful to hand to the police if you become a victim. Modern systems can be viewed from your phone, so you can check on the property when you’re out. An intruder alarm adds another layer by alerting you, and potentially neighbours, if someone tries to get in.
Where the risk is higher, the aim is simple: be harder, slower and riskier to break into than anywhere else nearby.
Make your property less appealing
Simple steps that add up
- Keep valuables, stock and equipment away from windows
- Fit outdoor lighting at entrances, gates and side access
- Lock and check windows, doors and shutters every time you leave
- Keep gates, sheds and outbuildings secured, with ladders and tools put away
- Report incidents, even minor ones, so that patterns are visible to the police
Burglars look for the most valuable items with the least effort. Anything that adds delay or risk, such as a good lock, bright light or a visible camera, makes them more likely to move on.
Match security to the risk
The higher the risk, the more it makes sense to build up layers of protection rather than rely on one measure. We can survey your home or business, explain where your weak points are and recommend a proportionate plan that fits your budget.
