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Domestic burglaries are a harsh reality that many homeowners face. In the UK, one burglary takes place every 108 seconds, making it one of the most common crimes committed.
Any burglary can take a serious toll on your well-being, both financially and emotionally. According to statistics, the average burglary costs around £3,030, which is a huge loss and can turn anyone’s life upside down.
For many people, bouncing back from a burglary becomes a serious challenge and can pose some serious mental and emotional problems for them.
Thankfully, there are many ways in which you can protect your house from a burglary!
Step one is being informed. These key burglary facts and statistics are an eye-opener and are imperative in helping you make the right decisions for your safety.
Sadly, there is no way to stop burglars from committing such crimes, but the good news is that you can most definitely keep them away! Here are a few great ways to burgle-proof your house:
SECURITY SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT YOUR HOUSE FROM A BURGLARY
Security systems such as burglar alarms, CCTV cameras, and access control systems are one of the biggest deterrents for burglars.
Properties with security systems lose most of their charm to burglars since they know that such places would be difficult to break into and because the chances of getting caught would be way higher.
Most burglars closely monitor the area they choose to break into and 63% of burglaries happen in homes without a basic security system.
BURGLAR ALARM SERVICES
A burglar alarm is one of the most basic (and proven) security measures you can take to protect your house from a burglary.
As the name suggests, a burglar alarm alerts the homeowners in the event of burglars gaining unwanted access to their property. It acts as an active deterrent for intruders and also offers peace of mind for the family’s security.
They work using a series of sensors that go off as soon as they detect any unusual activity, notifying the person-in-charge to take necessary action.
At Calder Security, we offer home burglar alarm services that include installation, maintenance, monitoring, and repairing services.
A robust burglar alarm system serves as a very effective deterrent against burglars trying to break into your house and it offers peace of mind that your property is well-protected and safe.
The quality of the burglar alarm and the expertise with which it is installed are two crucial factors for the system’s overall health. Having a professional service install your system can significantly reduce the risk of faults and issues since they are experts in the field and know what they are doing.
All of our intruder alarm installations comply with British and European standards and we are SSAIB approved home burglar alarm installers, designing bespoke systems tailored to your requirements, dealing with only high-quality systems including Texecom, Visonic, Scantronic, Risco, and Pyronix that we know and trust.
Regular burglar alarm maintenance is one of the most important actions to take to ensure that the burglar alarm system works fault-free.
Annual servicing by reliable and qualified engineers, such as the ones we have, will check that all is working as it should change any batteries reaching the end of their lives, and detect any potential issues before they become a problem.
Burglar alarm security systems are a great way to keep all kinds of intruders away from your property, and having burglar alarm monitoring services just adds to that level of security. It offers an extra line of defence in ensuring that any trigger-event of the alarm is dealt with professionally.
A monitored alarm is connected to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) which is operated by experts who check and verify every alarm notification they receive.
This checking and verification process ensures that no alarm goes unnoticed, even when the owners are away. The system is also equipped to detect and verify false alarms, which can be caused by improper arming and disarming of the system, weak batteries, and even wandering pets.
At Calder Security, we use DualCom and BT RedCare GSM technology, the most secure alarm monitoring system and the largest supplier of intelligent alarm signalling services in the UK, to monitor your alarm system 24/7.
In the event of your burglar alarm being triggered, our highly experienced security specialists at the ARC notify the homeowners, nominated keyholders, and the relevant authorities ASAP.
In addition to alarm monitoring, we also offer professional keyholding services where a professional SIA guard is sent to your property to check the situation.
In the unfortunate event of the burglar alarm showing faults, it must be repaired ASAP. We can repair most burglar alarm systems, even if we haven’t installed them ourselves. We can repair burglar alarm systems to get them up and running again to work fault-free and to effectively protect you and your home.
CCTV SECURITY SYSTEMS
It’s human nature when people know they’re being watched, they tend to keep a check on their behaviour since they know that if they get caught, which is highly likely if there’s a CCTV security system in the area, they would have to face the consequences.
CCTV cameras are a powerful tool to deter anyone, especially potential criminals from doing anything illegal like burgling your house.
Experts believe that as many as 67% of domestic burglaries could be prevented if people had CCTV security systems.
At Calder Security, we give you the most competitive prices in Yorkshire along with your money’s worth by providing you with state-of-the-art CCTV monitoring security systems with qualified security specialist engineers, SSAIB approved installers, along with maintenance and repair services.
We are expert CCTV security system installers and only supply high-quality CCTV equipment from trusted brands such as Hik Vision, one of the world’s leading CCTV manufacturers.
We deal in both analogue HD and IP systems and can advise you on which system would be most appropriate for your home. We also provide full training on the equipment provided and always make sure our customers are comfortable with the equipment and know how to use it properly.
Our CCTV monitoring services work by sending the video data the camera picks up to a remote monitoring station via the internet. Our monitoring stations are designed to take rapid action and respond to any suspicious activity, protecting your property from all kinds of threats.
We recommend maintenance services for CCTV systems every year to keep them working as they should, fault-free. These routine maintenance and repair checks ensure the overall health of the system as well as early detection of faults which enables the right adjustments to be made before they turn into a problem.
HOME ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS
Home access control systems are also called Door Entry Systems (DREs). They are another very effective option to protect your house from a burglary.
The main idea behind these systems is to make your house hard to break in to. A keyless door entry system offers you control over who enters your home and it effectively eradicates the need for keys that can be lost or stolen.
Access control systems can be operated via intercom, proximity fob or card, keypad, or even a biometric system, offering a very flexible security system that allows you to set access permissions for individuals and track movements in and out of your house.
Because an access control system controls the locking and unlocking of the house’s main entry points, it is vital that they are professionally installed by someone who has experience and expertise in dealing with these systems.
We have been in the security system industry since 1976 and our specialist security engineers and MLA approved locksmiths can advise you on the best door entry solution for your home.
As is with any technology, access control systems require periodic maintenance to continue working as they should. We can conduct annual servicing to keep your system working well, plus we can add or delete fobs and cards whenever required.
While access control systems are very reliable, sometimes faults to arise due to several reasons, mainly irregular or no maintenance, and the security of your house can be compromised if these errors aren’t dealt with ASAP since they directly affect the locking mechanism.
We operate a 24-hour emergency repairing service and our specialist engineers can resolve all CCTV issues efficiently and effectively to ensure the maximum security for your home.
HIGH-QUALITY DOOR AND WINDOW LOCKS
The locks on your door and windows are your first line of defence against an intruder and therefore should be your priority in terms of your physical security, even before installing burglar alarms and CCTV systems.
67% burglars break in through the main door making it the most common entry point for intruders to gain access to your house.
What comes as a shock is that 21% of the burglars don’t even have to “break-in”. The doors are unlocked, and they just walk in. 29% break-in through a window, out of which one-third of the burglars use an unlocked one.
High-quality door and window locks are one of the best ways to protect your house from burglary, but if they’re left unlocked, they’re as good as no locks at all.
You must make it a habit to always lock your doors and windows, even when you’re inside the house. It takes a minute. Lock up or lose out!
For the cases where the doors are locked, burglars use a technique called lock snapping to break in.
Lock snapping is a very simple, easy, and quiet method where burglars use to “snap” open doors fitted with standard euro-cylinder locks. All it takes is a few seconds, some DIY tools, and a bit of strength. No special skills are required and what’s terrifying is that there are lock snapping tutorials available on YouTube!
We are members of the Master Locksmith Association (MLA) and can supply and work on a vast range of locking mechanisms that are hard to pick (anti-snap), thus protecting your home from burglars.
We, at Calder Security, offer a full range of domestic locksmith services including home lock installation, changing and repairing locks, gaining access when locked out, and key cutting.
We are official suppliers for leading lock brands including Chubb, Yale, Securikey, and Garrison, and can advise you on the best type of locks for your home.
SECURITY SAFES
Experienced burglars know exactly where to look for valuables such as cash, jewellery, and credit cards. A lot of people prefer hiding their valuables in cupboards, drawers, and under the mattress. These might seem like logical hiding places, but in reality, they are the riskiest – and the first places burglars look for.
Security safes provide an effective hiding spot for your valuables and state-of-the-art ones, such as the ones at Calder Security, will make unwanted access impossible. In addition to keeping your valuables safe from theft, security safes also protect them from the risk of fires and floods.
In addition to the aforementioned valuables that burglars are generally after, there’s something else that you must keep protected from the wrong hands; your data.
You may not realize this yet, but in the 21st century, your data is the most valuable asset you possess and must be protected at all costs. People don’t just hack into your computers to access your data. They might be after physical data too. Data that you store and keep in your house!
Important and confidential documents such as passports, bank statements, credit card statements, and birth certificates can all be stolen to mine your data for future burglaries, cybercrimes, and the lot.
We are qualified and experienced safe engineers able to install, repair, relocate, and remove, open, and maintain a range of home safes.
Professional installation of a home safe is mandatory since it maximizes the protection it offers. If a safe can be moved, it is vulnerable. Our engineers make sure the safe is installed by fixing it to the floor or a wall, or even underfloor.
Our expert team is familiar with a wide range of safes, cash boxes, and strong boxes, and can help you keep your valuables safe, away from burglars.
OTHER SECURITY MEASURES TO TAKE
In addition to having security systems and high-quality locks installed in your home, there are other security measures you can take to protect your house from a burglary.
- Keep Some Lights On
Burglars don’t like to attract unwanted attention and stealth is their biggest asset when burgling homes. What aids them in achieving stealth mode? The dark.
If you light up every inch of your home, burglars won’t stand a chance sneaking into your property since everything would be visible. Make sure the front of your house and the backyard are well-lit and illuminated.
Also, be sure to light up your driveways, garage, and other outdoor structures. You will not only keep burglars at bay but also reduce your chances of stumbling upon dangerous objects.
- Eliminate Possible Hideouts
Trees and shrubs can give your house curb appeal, but they can also provide a hiding place for burglars who often stalk their victims.
Burglars may only need a few minutes of cover before they break into your house. However, with no place to hide, they might just drop the idea completely since it’ll become riskier for them.
Be sure to trim your plants to make them less likely to harbour burglars. You could even plant thorny shrubs to make it not only difficult but also painful for intruders if they try to break in.
- Don’t Leave Tools and Equipment Outside
Most burglars don’t carry equipment and tools for breaking in. Instead, they use tools and equipment that you leave behind.
Intruders will look for handy equipment such as ladders and crowbars, along with other garden tools and furniture they can use to break-in.
The solution is to not leave such equipment for burglars to use and to lock up garages and sheds that might contain such tools.
- Keep Valuables Out of Sight
Keeping valuables in plain sight is like inviting burglars to burgle your home.
Most burglars keep close tabs on their victims and you might not even know when one is keeping tabs on you.
Expensive items such as cars, bikes, and grills mustn’t be left outside for everyone to see. Once used, they must be locked up in the garage. Make sure to install anti-snap locks on your garage doors to ensure lock snappers stay away.
Also, make sure to keep your valuable items such as electronic gadgets, jewellery, and credit cards away from windows. You never know when a burglar is lurking around outside.
Contact us now for a quick quote on our extensive home security systems!
Image by Joshua Miranda from Pixabay