Some news that will certainly ease the minds of British citizens is that following the coronavirus lockdowns, according to the offence statistics recorded by UK police, the number of burglaries has fallen since 2019.
Having said that, although burglary rates have fallen steadily over the past decade, becoming a victim is traumatic and generally can be expensive to rectify for you and your tenants/
As well as burglary prevention, it is important to ensure your home and investment property is as safe as possible from other things such as floods and storms, with a number of storms having hit the UK in recent months and having caused considerable damage to both private and personal property.
Simple things to do to make your home safer
Make sure you have a strong alarm or security system.
This may seem like the most obvious point, but when you’re in a hurry, it’s all too easy to run out your front door without setting the alarm and justify it by saying you’ll only be gone a short time.
According to recent statistics, most thieves can get in and get what they want in 10 minutes or less, so it’s important to set the alarm and ensure your alarm system covers all entry points, including doors and mid-to-large windows.
Close your blinds and curtains at nights.
After sunset, if your windows aren’t covered, it can be extremely easy for anyone to see into your home. This makes it possible for someone casing your house to see where the interior doors are and where your TV and other electronics are located. Block their view and they’ll move on to another house.
Fake a goodbye.
Even if you’re the last one to leave the house in the morning, pretend to say goodbye to someone as you leave. This gives the impression (to anyone watching) that there is someone home and likely will make them think twice about breaking in.
Securing your home whilst on holiday
Firstly, set some lights on a timer.
Having lights on in your home is one of the most obvious indicators that the home is not empty. However, if you’re planning to go away for several days, keeping the lights on for the entire duration of your trip will drive your electric bill through the roof.
That said, connecting your lights to a timer is a great, cost-effective option to make it seem like someone is home and you can certainly save money if you are using energy efficient light bulbs.
Keep a car in your driveway.
Unless you have to use your car to get to your vacation destination, leaving it parked in the driveway can be a great option for increasing your home’s security while you’re not there.
It’s all about creating the illusion that someone is home, even when that’s not the case, and having a car parked in the driveway is just another way to do that.
Get a friend or family member to do a weekly check on your home.
If you’re going to be away for a while, a smart idea is to have a trusted friend or neighbour come by to check up on your home a couple of times and push any overflowing mail through your letterbox.
Protecting from nature
Although burglary is the most obvious and perhaps intimidating thing to protect your home from, it is important to take precautionary measures for natural disasters too, such as floods or storms.
In the event of a storm…
Lock gates and secure loose panels where you can. See if you can safely remove damaged branches that look vulnerable to windy weather, but always approach such tasks with safety in mind, especially if it involves using a ladder, climbing, or using powered equipment.
If you have a garden or balcony, is there anything that could be blown over or damaged? It could be children’s toys and equipment, such as a trampoline, your BBQ, tools and garden furniture. It might also be worth moving window-boxes onto the floor.
You should also move your rubbish and recycling bins out of the path of the wind if possible, or make sure they are full and heavy enough not to be blown over.
If a flood warning is issued in your area…
Prepare to move upstairs or even move elsewhere if your safety is threatened, charge your phone & laptop and assemble a survival kit with food, water, medicines, blankets, torch and a radio.
