National Home Security Month 2018

With the pressures of day-to-day life, home security is often overlooked. That’s why National Home Security Month (NHSM) is here to raise awareness around the importance of home security so you can be safe in the knowledge that your home, family and belongings are protected.

Taking place in October, NHSM will be offering seasonal tips and advice to help protect the nation’s homes, families and possessions.

Week 1 – Raise the alarm

Week one of National Home Security Months kicks-off with a focus on home alarms. From the traditional to the smart, we’re exploring how the popular alarm not only acts as an excellent visual deterrent, but also provides protection for your property.

• • Over 81% of burglars admit to stopping
    or selecting another target if the property
    has an alarm installed.
  • Get instant alerts. Smart Home Alarms can now send notifications, emails and even images
    to your smartphone when triggered by motion.
  • Some Smart Alarms will even integrate with third party devices to create a superior security suite to scare away any would-be thieves.
  • Do you have a pet and worry about false alarms? Invest in a pet-friendly alarm
    with PIR cameras so your furry friend
    can pass-through unnoticed.

Week 2 – Setting the standard

Did you know… homes with no security measures in place are five times more likely to be burgled than those with simple security measures. Despite this alarming statistic, 25% of Brits
admit to having no home security at all!
Week two sees us delve into security standards, exploring window and door locks in particular, as well as how you can secure your valuables inside your home. Burglars are opportunists and they notice areas of weakness. Don’t get caught out, learn how to keep your home protected for complete peace of mind.

• Ensure external timber doors are secured
  with a mortice lock and/or nightlatch that
  meet British Standard BS3621.
  If you have a PVC-u or composite door, consider upgrading the cylinder to a British Standard,
  TS007 Kitemarked model.

Top tip! By installing simple security measures that meet the required British standard, you can reduce home insurance premiums by up to 5%.

• All windows, upstairs and down, should be fitted with at least one appropriate key-operated lock.
• The most commonly stolen items in domestic burglaries are electrical devices, jewellery, and cash. Keep these protected in a home safe that
  is securely bolted to the floor.
• Mark your property with your postcode and house number and register items for free with Immobilise, the UK’s National Property Register. This makes it easier for police to return
  stolen items.

Week 3 – Lights, camera, action

As the evenings begin to get darker, we’re helping you secure your great outdoors ready for winter. To fortify your exterior, week three focuses on CCTV, lighting and outdoor security.

• • For 24-hour protection, ensure your CCTV system has infrared LED night vision, enabling you to keep an eye on your property around the clock.
  • Security lighting not only increases visibility, but also acts as a great deterrent for those thieves who are
    shy in the spotlight.

Top tip! Use automatic timer-switches to turn lights on or off when you’re out to make the property appear occupied.

• Don’t make the perimeter around your property easy to access. Secure gates with a heavy-duty, weatherproof padlock, trim hedges for improved visibility and make sure fences are in good repair.
• As the weather cools, don’t leave ladders, tools or garden furniture lying around outside. Lock these items away with a heavy-duty padlock. For extra peace of mind secure individual items with anchor locks and cables.

Week 4 – Future focused

Research shows that when the clocks go back burglaries spike by a huge 38%! With this
in mind, as Brits wind their clocks back in week four, we’re looking forward to all things smart security.
Smart security is making the way we live easier. The rise of automated homes means this week we’ll be looking at the latest security gadgets available to protect your home. Starting with how smart door locks are transforming entry to our homes.

• No more lost keys! Consider a smart door lock that allows you secure access via PIN code, key card, key-tag, remote fob, or smartphone. You can even keep track of who comes and goes through your front door when the lock is connected to a smart hub system.
• CCTV systems allow remote viewing of your property from any location using a smartphone app. Recorded footage can also be saved on a computer and used as police evidence in the event of a break-in.
• Turn home appliances on/off remotely using a power switch via your smartphone – ideal for giving the impression you’re home when you’re away. Receive instant image alerts to your smartphone when motion is detected with an IP camera.

Week 5 – Dark knights descend

National Home Security Month goes out with a bang in the build-up to Halloween and Bonfire Night – statistically the worst time of year for burglaries with domestic damage skyrocketing by 160%! Here, we will be providing seasonal advice to make sure you’re set to beat the midnight monsters this winter.

• Ensure you lock your doors and windows when going out for the evening. A startling 20%
  of us admit to leaving our front doors unlocked, therefore making us vulnerable to theft.
• To prevent any unsolicited ‘tricks’, invest in a TS008 letterplate restrictor to stop thieves from fishing keys or accessing your door lock.
• If you do not want to be disturbed over the Halloween period, display a preventative ‘No Trick or Treaters’ sign on your front door (available from most local police constabularies).

Top tip! Don’t share your plans for the festivities on social media until after the event. Burglars can use this information to know when your home will be left empty and vulnerable.

Mark Doyle Locksmith & Safe Engineer

Mark is a Qualified Master Locksmith (QML) and Professional Safecracker with over 20 years of experience in the security industry.

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