Secure your home

What could be more important than securing the four walls in which you and your family reside? Your house is an integral part of your life, full of your possessions, memories and loved ones. Unfortunately, criminals pose a threat to this sanctuary whether they be thieves or something much worse.

It's therefore essential to do all you can to secure your home to make it a safe environment and reduce the risk of unwanted attention. There are numerous aspects to home security, but the main issues are as follow:

Doors
The majority of home intruders use doors to enter their victim's homes so you must secure all the doors in your property including any side or porch doors you may have.Try to use a sturdy external door as the thicker the door, the harder it is to force. Solid locks are vital, and make full use of extra door security options such as chains and spy-holes.

Windows
Over 30% of home intruders gain access through a window whether it be forcing a flimsy side window or crawling through an unlocked rear window. If possible, all windows in your home should have their own locks, and the thicker the glass the harder it is smash. And whenever you leave your home, always close all the windows. Even if you're just popping out for five minutes, remember that a home intruder only needs thirty seconds to climb through a window,

Alarm systems
An alarm system works on two levels. Firstly, it alerts the neighborhood and the police (if the system is monitored) to a break-in. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, it acts as a deterrent to thieves. Most criminals search for soft targets - easy pickings. A visible alarm system might just be enough to make them think twice about targeting your home and property.

Lighting
Criminals love the night because there is substantially less chance of being detected. Over 60% of home break-ins occur at night time so don't give them the luxury of cover of darkness. Fit external lighting around your property, preferably motion detecting security lights. Anyone approaching your property will be lit up like a Christmas tree.

Although home intruder crime is present in every town and city across the country, the chances of becoming a victim are low. It's not something to lie in bed worrying every night about but nevertheless, you should still take the necessary steps to try to prevent it. Take a look at more home security advice to help avoid becoming another crime statistic.