Although burglary rates have fallen steadily over the past decade, becoming a victim is traumatic, disruptive, and generally expensive to rectify.
The good news is that there’s a range of ways to make your home safer by considering each possible entry point to your home, such as doors and windows, to see how they could be improved.
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### How good is your home security?
As well as opportunistic burglaries, some burglars scope out a property beforehand, sometimes working with other criminals. It’s therefore important to think about measures to ensure your home looks occupied at all times and that there aren’t any clear places where a potential burglar could hide to assess the house.
Also, don’t make it obvious that you are away on holiday. Consider using lights on timers or getting a friend or neighbor to occasionally pop around to check on your home. Also, avoid mentioning going away on any public-facing social media accounts as you never know who is browsing your profile.
In addition, ask yourself:
– Are windows and doors left open, even if they’re not easily accessible?
– Do your windows and doors have visible locks?
– Is there a spare key that’s easily visible or easy to find, such as underneath a plant pot or above the ledge on the door?
– Do you have high walls and hedges that could give burglars protection from being seen?
– Is accessing your house noisy for a burglar? For example, is there gravel around the property?
– Are there any ladders lying around that a burglar could use?
– How secure is the shed or garage? Is it always kept locked with high-quality padlocks and security locks?
### How does a burglar scope a house?
We’ve surveyed ex-burglars and spoke to security experts to discover exactly what really puts them off, including everything from dogs to different alarm brands.
Burglars look for the weakness in your security, and this starts with the front of your house. A potential burglar will look for signs that you aren’t security conscious: doors with a single cylinder or Yale lock, or a lack of window locks.
They also look out for tell-tale mistakes, such as keys left in a back door or window locks with the keys still inside.
A burglar will look for tools, such as ladders, that have been left lying around. They will also check if sheds or outbuildings are properly secured.
The ex-burglars we surveyed told us that they were most likely to target detached houses. According to our interviewees, this is likely due to ease of access.
Terraced houses are trickier. There are potentially more people about, plus it’s hard to make a quick escape out the back if the burglar has to navigate lots of fences.
They’ll also consider whether or not their access route is overlooked. One told us that they would look for high hedges and anything else that would protect them from a neighbor’s line of sight.
Once a burglar has chosen a property to target, they will often scope it out. More professional burglars will do this for two or three days, according to the ex-burglars we spoke to.
This could mean going through your rubbish for a name on your mail and then searching online to find a landline phone number and calling to see whether you’re in. They might also now check your social media or online presence.
Opportunists, on the other hand, can visit a promising neighborhood and break in the same day. One told us: ‘You can just knock, then pretend you’re from an energy company if someone is there.’
### What puts burglars off
In our survey, we asked what puts burglars off. The top five things were:
– 71% having a burglar alarm system
– 71% having a dog in the home
– 52% people in the property
– 46% CCTV
– 21% outdoor/sensor lights
There are various ways to protect your home. Here are our top tips, some of which cost little or nothing:
### Visible burglar alarm
If you have a burglar alarm system, make sure the external sounder or ‘bell box’ is clearly visible on your property to let potential burglars know you have an alarm.
Get advice on which type of alarm to buy in How to buy the best burglar alarm guide. Or see fully tested ‘bells-only’ and smart security alarms in our reviews.
Visit our page on [burglar alarm and installation costs](https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/burglar-alarms-and-smart-security-systems/article/burglar-alarms-and-home-security/burglar-alarm-and-installation-costs-aHiwc3y23nOF) for more advice on the types of alarms and prices, what to avoid if you’re thinking of getting one, and how you could save as much as nearly £400 on your burglar alarm cost.
If you can’t afford to get a full alarm system fitted, you can also get fake burglar alarm boxes, which cost around £15 to £20 instead.
### Door security
When fitting a lock to a window or door, use the strongest screws you can, not necessarily the ones supplied, and make sure they are all to British Standard BS7950.
Retrofitting UPVC and PVCU doors or windows with locks could weaken them or invalidate warranties. Sufficient locks fitted at the time of construction are safer.
If you want to change the locks on your current doors, you can find a recommended [local locksmith](https://trustedtraders.which.co.uk/) by using our Which? Trusted Traders service. Any trader who displays our logo has been through our rigorous checks.
In addition, follow the below advice:
– Ensure the door frames and doors are solid. Your external doors should be at least 4.4cm thick and hung with 10cm hinges.
– Doors should ideally be fitted with a five-lever mortise deadlock tested to BS 3621.
– Wooden doors can be made stronger with steel strips fitted to the frame and around the lock.
– Doors with glass panels are less secure but can be fitted with laminated glass or plastic glazing film for extra protection.
– If you’re getting new doors, get door sets (the door itself, frame, and locks) that are Pas 24 certified.
– Fit a chain or latch to the door and opt for a viewer so you can check who’s there before letting them in.
– Letter boxes should be fitted 40cm from the door lock, and valuables and keys shouldn’t be within sight of it – an internal cover plate will offer extra protection.
### Window security
Don’t leave windows open or unlocked anywhere in the house.
Easily accessible windows should ideally be fitted with double glazing.
Laminated glass or plastic glazing film is harder