Home burglaries can be some of the most traumatising things to happen to homeowners. The thought of an unwelcome guest entering your private home and snooping through your things. It is a major cause for concern and the last thing you want is to feel uncomfortable in your own home.
Although the most recent data from June 2021 displayed a 31% reduction in home burglary offences compared to the data collected in 2019, it is still a very pressing issue. You’ll want to do all you can to protect your home from criminals and more importantly, keep you and your family safe.
Here are the best ways to keep your home safe from burglars.
Install a security system
During the day, you can take the necessary precautions to keep your home safe – especially if you’re in the house. Keeping doors locked and ensuring no items are left on show that may tempt criminals into breaking in for example. However, with the most home burglaries occurring between midnight and 6am, you may be asleep when they strike.
To combat this, install a security system. This can be set before you go to bed. Once set and someone invades your home, an alarm will sound which may spook them away, leaving your items safe. Some alarm systems can also alert the police directly for added peace of mind.
Store your items securely
The house is filled with useful spots where you can store your most prized possessions. According to a survey completed by Hammonds UK, 78% of Brits keep their most precious belongings inside their home, with 34% of them opting for a safe.
Utilising the storage options available will make it harder for thieves to find the possessions you love the most. Whilst 11% of people choose to store their values under their bed, 34% of Brits opt to store items inside their wardrobes. Chose places such as a compartment in a walk-in wardrobe and sleep easier knowing burglars will find it harder than ever to find them.
Insure your items
Home content insurance is a great way to feel safer in your home. Whilst Hammonds research found that 68% of those surveyed value sentimental items such as family photos and heirlooms as their most prized possessions, 13% would choose to try save a TV, laptop or other tech item in an emergency. Luckily, these more popular tech items that burglars will want to steal can all be replaced. With insurance, you can do just that.
Without insurance, the homeowner may attempt to put up a fight with the invader to ensure they don’t get away with their possessions. This could put lives in danger so it’s best to take out an insurance policy, allow the thief to take the items then claim back replacements the following day.