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Protecting your HOME
Doors
If your front and back door are not secure, your house is not secure.
 The doors themselves should be of strong construction;
glass panels are vulnerable (don’t leave keys & valuables
in sight) – consider replacing with laminated glass.
Fit front and back doors with BS3621 or equivalent deadlocks (many
insurance companies will insist on this). Use them and remove
the key so a thief can not open a door from the inside.
Fit all exterior doors, top and bottom, with bolts; fit French
doors with mortice bolts top and bottom.
Ensure uPVC doors are fitted with good quality locks and have
a chain fitted from new as they are difficult to add later.
Also consider fitting hinge bolts, a door viewer and a letterbox
cage (never hang keys inside the letterbox).
Remember, whatever you do it must be possible to get out quickly
in an emergency.
 Windows
Secure windows force a thief to break the glass and risk attracting
attention.
Secure the most vulnerable windows first: ground floor windows
(this is often a minimum insurance company requirement), windows
which are out of sight of street and windows which can be reached
from a flat roof or drainpipe etc.
Even small windows such as bathroom windows and skylights are at
risk – a thief can get through any gap larger than a human
head.
Louvre windows are particularily vulnerable. Consider glueing
the slats in place with epoxy resin or better still, replace with
fixed glass.
 Patio Doors
These should have additional special locks top and bottom, unless
already fitted with a multipoint locking system. Also consider
fitting an anti-lifting device so a thief cannot lift the door off
its rails.
Burglar Alarms
Visible alarms make burglars think twice. Your insurance company
will usually require a system that conforms to either BS4737 or
BS6707 (for DIY systems).
Gates and Fences
A high wall or fence can put off a burglar and a thorny hedge can
also be a useful deterrent. Consider fitting a gate to any
side passages. Try to stop a thief getting to the back of
the house where they can work with less chance of being seen.
Garages and Sheds
Always make sure sheds and garages are secure; use a strong padlock
if necessary. A thief will often use your own tools to help
them break in. If there is an adjoining door to the house
then a thief could work on the inner door in privacy. Ensure
ladders are locked away or chained / padlocked to a sturdy bracket
to stop a thief using them.
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