Beat the Burglar This Christmas

It's the most wonderful time of the year and, as such, the burglars are out in force helping themselves to your hard earned belongings.  Don't make it easy on them, here's our top tips on protecting your property this Christmas.

Sacha recently woke to find her car ransacked outside her home - on the driveway for goodness sake - and she'll admit freely that it took her a while to realise it wasn't her leaving it in a chaotic mess!  Luckily, there was nothing to steal and the burglar got away with nothing more than a tinge of disappointment but it still touched a nerve to know that someone was in her car, rifling around, uninvited and absolutely unwelcome.  In this 2-minute read, we look at how you can protect yourself from being targeted by burglars with home security advice from a reformed burglar (who is NOT Sacha!).

It is a known fact that autumn and winter nights drawing in brings the burglars out.  Burglaries rise in the autumn and winter months as the extended periods of darkness give criminals more cover to carry out their crimes unhindered and sadly the lead up to Christmas is a busy time for these unsavoury characters.  But fear not, there is plenty you can do to protect your home, your belongings and your loved ones.

Security consultant Michael Fraser, host of TV’s Beat The Burglar, is well placed to offer advice – he used to be the burglar and is now fighting such crime head on.

Here are some tips from him, mixed in with a little extra of our own, on how to keep your home safe this autumn and winter.

Mind Your Back

Burglars love dark back gardens as they provide them with plenty of cover to sneak around to find the easiest and least watched access point. Install a motion-sensitive outdoor light to send out a clear security signal and ensure you change those bulbs!

For the Love of Lofts

Burglars absolutely hate lofts. Most won’t venture up there for fear of being trapped if someone returns unexpectedly. So, lofts are the ideal place to store precious items you don’t need to display or have out often.

Out of Sight Out of Mind

Burglars often peep through letterboxes to check it out and see what's easily available.  Horror stories of keys being lifted and arms wedged through letter boxes to open the door are out there in cyberspace for you to read. Don’t leave anything on display that can be seen through yours.  Better still get a grill or cover for your internal letterbox AND ensure you get a holder of some sort that blocks signals for keyless entry – burglars are out using signal blockers to get in your locked car without a key, something Sacha found out the hard way only recently.  

Lock the Shed

If you have a shed – lock it. Burglars dislike coming armed with tools to a property because it slows them down and if they are spotted by the police, holding tools is very difficult to explain at 3am! Also, sheds often have a range of things criminals can use to break into your home – don’t help them out - keep it locked.

Beware of the Pets

Have a sign up saying ‘Beware of the Dog’?

That might be a bad move.

Burglars will know that this means you are unlikely to have a movement-sensitive alarm as pets trigger these.  Instead put up an alarm box, or even better, install a pet sensitive alarm that allows movement below a certain height and really scupper their chances.

Make it Hard Work

Burglars want an easy life, and many are callous opportunists so whatever you do, don’t make their lives easy. By having an alarm on show, window locks in place and signs saying you are part of a Neighbourhood Watch or have your property security marked, you are signalling your property isn’t an easy touch.

Shut Up

In the nicest possible way of course. Always ensure your front gate and back gate are closed and where possible, locked. This is a small but significant psychological thing. Burglars are hard-wired to look for the easiest option.

Dispose of Rubbish ON BIN DAY

Want to advertise that you have the latest Apple device or biggest TV screen in the road?  No?  Don't leave your boxes out all week then!  Ensure boxes for high value items are only put out on bin day to avoid dangling a delicious carrot in front of those cruising burglars that spend their days looking for their next job.

Light up you Life

Smart plugs and switches are becoming less and less expensive and are a great way to deter thieves over the festive period and beyond.  Not all burglars turn up at 4am, some of them stop by at 10pm when you are out at gran's for a sherry and a mince pie.  Leave lights on and set up a few that go on and off during the night so that anyone watching will think there are people indoors.

Be a kind neighbour

If you spot it, report it and if you can, set up a group of likeminded neighbours to keep watch over the Christmas period when you are out enjoying the festivities.

The good news is by following these, and the many other security tips available online with a simple search, you dramatically reduce the risk of being targeted.  Stay safe this Christmas lock up and look out for each other!