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If you are going away Go to Leaving your Home checklist |
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Outside: |
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Walk round your property both in daylight/at night to see weak points: |
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Is the front of house/front door clearly visible |
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Are the front windows clearly visible |
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Are there hedges/trees/shrubs/walls for persons to hide behind |
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Are the accesses to the sides/rear of the house easy |
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Can someone see into the shed/garage |
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Are there things for someone to stand/climb on/break glass with |
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Are there gaps in the boundary fencing, could be 1.8m high |
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Are rear doors/windows in permanent shadow/hidden from view |
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What lighting exists/your own/street to illuminate hiding places |
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Consider fitting permanent/switched movement sensor lighting |
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Keep outside well maintained |
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Ensure all locked doors look sturdy |
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Ensure hinges/padlock hasps are tamperproof from outside |
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Consider bars for ground level windows |
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Chain up appliances/mowers/ strimmers especially ladders inside sheds |
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Consider growing prickley plants to make access difficult e.g. pyrocantha |
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Discuss boundary security with neighbour |
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Consider painting drainpipes with anti-climb paint |
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Consider extra locks/bars to windows near flat roofs/balconies |
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Move anything that would assist a climber trees/bins/parked car/caravan |
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Consider fitting a lockable gate/bar/bollard to prevent vehicle access |
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Do not leave access to tools that would assist a burglar |
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Do not leave ’hidden’ keys in case you get locked out. |
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Govt. Crime Reduction site |
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INSIDE |
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Do not leave accessible windows open. Consider bars |
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Ensure all doors to outside are locked and bolted |
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These doors should have more than one lock each and one 5 lever mortise to BS3621 Link to locksmiths |
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Ensure all door and window frames are in good condition |
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Fit hinge bolts to outward opening doors to prevent hinge pin removal |
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Consider extra bolts to inside of up & over garage doors for holidays/trips away |
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Reinforce (sheet steel) access doors through garage |
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Outside doors should be thick (44mm) without panels that can be kicked in |
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Glass panels around/in access doors should be reinforced/barred |
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No keys/valuables should be visible/reachable (even by long sticks) through panels/letterboxes |
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Keys in house—keep out of sight/label with code known only to you |
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Front doors should have a chain/peephole to scrutinise callers |
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No unexpected caller should be admitted without ID/phone verification |
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Patio door -fit steel bar to channel of to prevent opening |
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Patio door --investigate device to prevent opening section from being lifted out |
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Patio door—investigate additional locking mechanism |
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All windows should be in good condition and be lockable |
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Consider screwing shut seldom used windows |
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Ensure smoke alarms in appliance rooms/kitchen/halls/stairways and tested |
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Install burglar alarm to BS4737—(DIY to BS6707) check with insurer Alarms |
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Consider fitting floor safe |
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Consider building strongroom with steel door |
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Mark (postcode) photograph (with ruler in shot) video or list all your possessions Postcode your possessions |
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Keep important computer files backed up and hidden elsewhere |
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Keep your movements confidential except to those who need to know |
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Keep your keyholders list up to date |
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Keep up with/start a neighbourhood watch scheme Neighbourhood Watch |
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Keep your insurance up to date on contents value/rebuild cost Calculator |
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Other burglar alarm info |
