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Household burglaries increase over the summer months as more homeowners leave their properties vacant for summer vacations and days out. Now is the perfect time to review your home security, particularly if you have holidays booked or plan to spend longer outside of the house. With this in mind, we have compiled some helpful tips for homeowners to stay safe over the summer months.
Door locks should meet approved insurer standards such as BS3621 security standards, a lock standard by British Standards Institute (BSI) for thief-resistant locks. One way to check your front or back door locks are conforming to BS3621 is to look for the British Standard Kitemark (BSI) on the faceplate of the lock. The faceplate of the lock is viewable when you open the door; you should also see the specific standard number e.g. BS3621 stamped on the plate. Some of the most common type of door locks that meet approved insurer standards include:
The Five Lever Mortice Deadlock
The more levers a lock has the more secure it is. The Five Lever Mortice Deadlock is regarded as the most secure general house lock and is often fitted on wooden external front and back doors. A five lever Mortice Deadlock cannot be fitted on uPVC or composite doors.
Rim Automatic Deadlatch with Key-Locking Handle
A Rim automatic deadlatch (nightlatch) is fitted on the inside of doors, and is often paired with a mortice deadlock for additional security. This type of lock can be locked and unlocked from both sides and locks automatically from the inside once the door is shut.Fitting both a nightlatch and a Five Lever Mortice Deadlock to wooden external doors improves the security of a home.
Multi-Point Locking System
This type of lock is used mostly on external front and back doors. This lock can be found on Composite, UPVC, French Windows and Patio Doors. When the lock is used multiple bolts will engage into the door frame, usually with a minimum of three points and sometimes four or five.
Euro Cylinder Lock
Most often, these locks are to composite and UPVC doors and used with Multipoint locking systems. A Euro cylinder lock fitted should be SS312 diamond approved or TS007 3 Star.
It is also important to ensure your windows are secured by key operated locks and these locks are used whilst the property is vacant, even for a short time.
Motion activated security lighting on the exterior of your property can also help to deter burglars and offer more visibility around the outside of your home.
A ‘bells only’ alarm system can be useful to deter burglars, but those with high-value properties should invest in a monitored alarm system such as an ATS, which will offer the best protection for your home.
An alarm transmission system (ATS) product is used to transmit alarm signals to a continuously manned alarm receiving centre (ARC).
The installers of such systems conform to police rules and applicable standards which allows them to request a police unique reference number (URN). The award of a URN allows the ARC to directly contact the police force’s control room and request an immediate response to alarm activations, justifying police attendance.
There are many ways people unknowingly advertise their house as empty whilst away, which provides burglars with the ideal opportunity to strike. Avoid putting your holiday plans on social media or announce that you are away on answer machine messages. You should also cancel milk and paper deliveries, and don’t let post pile up – consider using the Royal Mail Keepsafe service to ensure your post is looked after while you are away.
When you leave the property, don’t leave curtains drawn as this is a clear sign your house isn’t occupied, instead more your valuables out of easy sight of windows.
You can also create the impression you are at home with security timer switches or smart lighting. Smart technology allows a homeowner to control lighting at home from anywhere in the world and can create a less obvious pattern than timed lighting as smart bulbs can be dimmed and switched on and off, lighting up rooms or areas of a house at different times, creating the impression of movement and an occupied property.
The value of property kept in sheds and outbuildings is ever increasing. The content also provides would-be burglars with all sorts of tools that can help them gain entry to the main property and the means for a quick getaway.
Concentrate on securing external entry points. Consider using deadlocks and a locking bar with close shackle padlock on sheds and garage doors. Fit grilles or bars to windows and consider painting or covering windows to hide any attractive equipment or furniture from view.
Make sure to secure tools and ladders so that they cannot be used to break into the main property, keep bikes covered so they are not visible from windows and pay special attention to any high value mobile items. Whilst your property is vacant you should also ensure cars are stored in a locked garage where possible and fitted with immobiliser alarms or anti-theft systems.
Tysers high-net-worth team can provide insurance cover and risk management advice for high value properties. We specialise in covering homes over £1m in value including overseas homes and property owners’ investment portfolios.
We have access to specialist high-net-worth markets and bespoke insurance solutions, including high value contents insurance and cover for prestige vehicles, super cars and classic motors. Find out more about high value home insurance here.
You can also get in touch with our team here:
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