Here are the Top Tips for securing your home:
1. Don’t make the purchase of security precautions a ‘grudge’ purchase, saying to yourself: ‘It won’t happen to me so why spend the money?’ Put the issue higher on your list, and get peace of mind. Many simple but powerful precautions can be taken by spending a small amount at your DIY store.
2. Install a Secure One burglar alarm, before the event. (80% of the alarms we install are for customers who have just been burgled.)
3. Fit and use good quality locks on doors and windows.
4. Always keep keys in a safe place away from doors and windows.
5. Don't forget to close windows on a hot day if you go out. Leicestershire Police, for example, have reported a doubling of burglaries during spells of very hot weather. (You may also invalidate your insurance if you leave windows open during the night other than those in occupied bedrooms).
6. Lock away ladders, garden tools and other items that burglars could use.
7. Make your home appear occupied when out or away by using timer switches or leave your lights on (the cost is miniscule).
8. Don’t open your door to unexpected callers – check their identity first using a door viewer or a door chain. All public sector employees who have to call on people's homes carry identity cards and so do employees of reputable companies, so if they haven’t got one or you don’t like the look of it - don’t let them in.
9. Always rip up your credit card slips, banks statements and cash machine slips so they’re unreadable before throwing them away, to avoid a fraudster using your identity.
• Spending money on security measures can seem daunting, but it's a good investment, will last a long time and can add value to your property.
• If you rent your house or flat, your landlord has some responsibility towards its security. If your home is not secure, ask your landlord if they will make the necessary improvements. It will be cheaper for them to fit window locks than to mend a broken window.
• Finally, when you’re planning home security measures make sure that you and your family could still get out safely in the event of a fire. [Back to top]

Burglar Alarms
• Government statistics have shown that around 60% of burglaries carried out on homes fitted with burglar alarms are unsuccessful. This suggests that burglar alarms are a useful deterrent for prospective criminals. Take a look around your area, and if most homes have an alarm and yours doesn't, you probably stand more chance of being burgled.
• The British Security Industry Association suggests that householders use a professional alarm installation company registered with a police recognised "alarm inspectorate" such as NACOSS (National Approval Council for Security Systems).
• There are a few different types of alarm system. The first, and most common, is the traditional "bells only" system. When professionally fitted these can cost around £500 to install, depending on the size and location of your property, plus another £70 or so per year for a maintenance contract.
• The more expensive option is a "monitored alarm", which may be worth thinking about if you have a lot of valuable property, or you live somewhere isolated. Monitored alarms are connected to an "alarm receiving centre" where someone will alert your local Police if an intruder is detected. They cost more to install and annual cost is higher as they have to be maintained twice a year to meet ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) rules and you have to pay for the monitoring charges also.
• The big difference between a bells-only and a monitored burglar alarm is Police response. The Police will not respond to a bells only alarm unless they receive confirmation from you, your family, or someone else nearby, that there is a burglary in progress.
• Police will however respond to a monitored alarm when an alarm-receiving centre notifies them. However, from October 2001 newly installed monitored alarms must also use "confirmation" technology to receive a Police response. Here, people at the alarm receiving centre check using either CCTV (to see an intruder), an audio connection (to hear an intruder) or something called "sequential confirmation". Sequential confirmation sounds a bit complicated, but basically this means detecting an intruder triggering sensors in more than one place in your property - to spot if someone is moving around. To find out more about monitored systems click here.
• Before deciding on the type of alarm to install, check with your insurance company first. They may offer discounts off your premium depending on the type you have fitted and the kind of installer you use. This could help make your choice a little easier. If choosing a professional installer, ensure it meets BS4737 standards, as Secure One alarms do. [Back to top]

Doors and Locks
• In 20% of burglaries the thieves don’t have to use force – they get in through an open window or unlocked door.
• Many doors offer as much protection from a determined criminal without a key as they do with one, so you could be at risk despite any other security measures you might employ. This is particularly true of outside doors that include any glass, which can easily be smashed to aid a thief's entry.
• Outside doors are safest when fitted with what is called a "five-lever mortice deadlock". You can buy these in most DIY shops, but be sure to look at the facing plate (that's the bit in the door where the bolt pops out when the key is turned) and for extra piece of mind, you should see a "kite mark" showing the British Standard and the words five-lever, or similar.
• In some cases, your external door may not be thick enough for a five-lever mortice lock, as the recommended thickness is 44mm, if it isn't, you should look for a "high security rim deadlock" also carrying the British Standard BS3621.
• Door hinges also need to be sturdy as thieves can easily remove them. It may be obvious (a lot of precautions are) but the hinges should be invisible when the door is shut, i.e. not on the outside of the frame. Make sure they are secured with good long screws, and for extra security fit hinge bolts to reinforce the hinge side of the door against attack.
• If you are considering replacing your whole door rather than the locks, consider a fibreglass door instead of timber and make sure the frame is sturdy. Glass in doors can be prone to attack (20% of entries are made by removing or breaking panels or glass in doors and windows) but you can minimise the risk by fitting toughened laminated glass (two sheets of glass with a plastic sheet between them).
• Fit a restrictor to the inside of your letterbox to stop anyone reaching through to release any locks and bolts, and fit a peephole, otherwise known as a "viewer", so you can see who's knocking before opening the door.
• All doors that you would usually lock from the inside should be fitted with mortice security bolts, one third from the top of the door and one third from the bottom. Laminated glass is the best security option for glazed areas and wooden beading should be glued and fixed with security screws. On modern double glazed units ensure the beading, which holds the glass in, is not on the outside as this makes it easy for a thief to remove the glass.
• Patio doors are especially vulnerable to break-ins, so additional security locks should be fitted at the top and bottom to stop the frame being lifted off the tracks, and ensure that the sliding section is always on the inside. A multi-lock system is recommended with mortice security bolts with removable keys at the top and bottom of both doors, and locks that prevent the doors from being lifted out of their runners. In addition to a multi-lock you should consider installing further security devices such as a burglar alarm or security lighting for overall protection.
• Remember, quality locks and bolts are only as strong as the door and the frame to which they are fitted. Check that the frame is well fixed, and if woodwork is weak or rotten make sure you replace it.
• Keys: Whatever you do, don't leave a spare key hanging inside the letterbox, under plant pots or doormats or anywhere else around your home. Thieves know all the hiding places and you will just make their job a lot easier. Don’t leave car keys on a hall-stand near the front door where thieves can ‘fish’ for them through the letterbox. This is a surprisingly common technique. Fitting a letterbox cage can stop this, but the best advice is never leave keys there; the first place burglars look after breaking in is here - for the keys to steal your car. The second place they look is the kitchen table or perhaps that handy row of hooks labeled ‘keys’!
• If you’ve moved into a new home, consider changing the front and back door locks – other people may have keys that fit. [Back to top]

Windows
• If they are timber framed make sure they are robust and free from wood rot. Also ensure they are fixed with wooden beading which is fitted with security screws rather than pins or putty. Metal-framed windows should be checked for corrosion and loose catches.
• Modern PVCu windows are less prone to deterioration, but have their own problems associated with security. Perhaps the best known of these is the positioning of the beading. Some PVCu units, especially the older ones, have the beading (these are strips that hold the window in place) fitted on the outside. Whilst this might make them easier to fit, it also makes windows easy for a burglar to remove. Glazing clips and security tape can help here.
• Security tests developed by British Standards help to indicate which windows are more superior. PAS 011 is a test of the whole system, including hinges and latches (but not the actual glass). Look for BS 7412 - PAS 011 for PVCu systems, or BS 644 - PAS 011 for timber. If displayed, these tell you that the windows have been tested and have reached the standard. BS 4873 applies to aluminum frames and BS 6510 to steel.
• Good key operated window locks make the overall security of your home much better, so get some fitted. Visible window locks deter thieves because they then have to break glass and risk attracting attention. Even small windows such as skylights or bathroom fanlights need locks – you’d be surprised at the agility of thieves to enter through the smallest of windows. Remember to remove keys from locked windows and to keep them out of sight in a safe place. Many insurance companies now insist window locks are fitted - so check your policy closely. PVCu systems tend to use locks. If not they can be retrofitted, but make sure this is done properly otherwise you may damage the unit, which could prove expensive.
• When it comes to the glass itself, it's worth noting that modern double glazed units are hard to break, although it's not impossible for a determined thief to smash them (we won’t say how here). Laminated glass offers the best protection. If used on both the outside and the inside, laminated glass is incredibly secure, but using it on the inside alone is enough. West Midlands police recommend laminated glass of at least 6.4 mm thick that conforms to PAS 011.
• Louvre windows are especially vulnerable because the slats can be removed easily from the frame. Glue the slats in place with an epoxy resin, and fit a special louver lock. Better still replace them with fixed glass.
• One excellent tip for making your windows even more secure is to have Venetian blinds fitted. These stop thieves seeing into your home during the day and being tempted by your DVD player, for example (remember, most burglars are spur of the moment opportunists). Burglars hate Venetian blinds because they’re awkward to get past and make a lot of noise, something no thief is all that keen on. [Back to top]

Strangers at the Door
• Most people who call at your home will be genuine. But sometimes people turn up unannounced with the intention of tricking their way into your home. They’re known as ‘bogus callers’ or ‘distraction burglars’.
• They may say that their car has broken down and they need to phone someone for help. They may pretend to be a workman, saying that they need to check your electricity or water. They might even claim to be from the council and that they are carrying out a local survey. Whatever reason a caller gives, you need to be sure that they aren't just trying to get into your home to steal something.
• There are around 12,000 incidents of "distraction burglary" each year, where callers get into homes and then steal cash or valuables while the occupier is distracted in some way. Often they work in pairs, with one doing the talking while the other is stealing and they often target the elderly.
• Be on your guard every time the doorbell rings, or there's a knock at your door. Look out of your window to see who's there first and if you don't know who the person is, open the window slightly and talk to them that way, rather than opening your door. Alternatively, have a viewer fitted in your front door so that you can take a good look at who's there first. If your eyesight isn't so good, don't worry as you can now get wide-angle viewers to help you see better.
• Put the door chain or door bar on before opening the door and talk through the gap. You could even fit a small mirror to the wall next to the door so that you can easily see the person you are talking to.
• Make sure your back door is locked if someone knocks at your front door. Sometimes thieves work together with one coming in the back way, while the other keeps you talking at the front.
• Keeping the chain on the door, ask callers from the council or any other organisation to pass through some identification. Any such official will always carry an identity card and so will people from reputable companies that deal with people in their homes.
• If you need your glasses to check this don't think it's rude to close the door and go and get them. A genuine caller won't mind. If you're still not sure, ask the caller to leave and tell them to write and make an appointment so that someone else can be with you the next time they call. Don’t let the caller fluster you by saying they’re in a hurry. The basic rule is if you don't know the person at your door don't let them in. If you’re worried ring the Police.
• If you’re contacted by a salesperson, always seek advice from an independent source. Never sign anything on the spot.
• As part of the Government's "Stop, Chain, Check" campaign, local councils, social services and Age Concern centres have further information they can provide to older people. They can also help with door viewers, chains and mirrors, and in certain circumstances, may be able to supply a personal attack alarm that connects through to a control centre. [Back to top]

Bin Raiding
• All of us are more aware of credit card fraud these days (if only because we end up paying for it in terms of higher prices), but a new variety has now crossed the Atlantic in the form of bin raiding. It’s spreading rapidly across the UK but you can take precautions to avoid it.
• Bin raiding is where thieves search through people’s refuse sacks and bins looking for personal information they can use to commit fraud. They’re looking for credit card statements, receipts, utility bills, bank statements, etc. which can be used to steal your identity and ‘prove’ this identity to someone or a company to steal money, goods and credit.
• A recent survey in Nottingham showed that an average of one in five bins contains a bank account number and sort code that could be related to the full name and address of a household member. The survey also revealed that the local authorities which were asked did not deny that bin raiding happened in their area, and only 8% of households make any attempt to destroy private information they throw away.
• Simple precautions you should take:
o Never throw away whole receipts, bank statements, utility bills or any other documents that could be used by a fraudster.
o Always make sure personal information put into refuse bins is thoroughly destroyed ideally using a shredder.
o Always check your bank statements against your cheques drawn and cash machine withdrawal receipts to make sure there’s been no unauthorized transactions. It’s amazing how many people don’t bother to do this simple check.
o Similarly, check the transactions on your credit/debit card statements as soon as you receive them and report any unfamiliar transactions immediately to the card issuer.
o Never give personal or financial information to ‘cold callers’.
o When moving home, make sure you have your mail redirected by the Post Office so that personal information – and even new credit cards – are not misused or carelessly thrown away. [Back to top]