Improve Your Home Security

Burglary is a crime of opportunity. Studies show that most burglaries occur during the day when high fences and shrubs obscure visibility from the street or when the building appears unoccupied. Entry is often gained through forced entry or through an unlocked or open door or window.

It isn't possible to make your home completely burglar proof but if you think of it from the burglar's perspective you can quickly determine the vulnerable areas.

You can take a few inexpensive steps to make your home more secure and less of a target.

Here are a few crime proofing tips for:

• Inside your home,
• Outside your home,
• Going on holidays, and
• What not to do.

Inside your home

The aim of crime proofing is to make your home secure and appear to be occupied at all times.

Secure your premises.

• Close blinds and curtains at night so as not to put your belongings on display.
• Lock all doors and windows before leaving.
• Lock windows so they can't be opened from the outside. If they can't be locked, drill a hole through both window frames and insert along nail or bolt. The nail should be removable in an emergency.
• Home burglar alarms are a good deterrent. An alarm provides another layer of security but is no replacement for common sense.

Make your home look occupied at all times.

• Use timers to maintain normal lighting patterns.
• Leave a radio on when you are away from home for short periods.

Protect your valuables.

• Consider marking your valuables indelible (engraving) with your drivers licence or Medicare number. These engraving pens can be borrowed from your local Neighbourhood Watch.
• Take an inventory of your home with a video tape and/or photographs.
• Keep jewellery and negotiables in a safety deposit box or an unlikely place (not your bedroom).

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Outside your home

There are many things you can do outside your house and in the yard to deter burglars.

• Keep the shrubs cut back so that they don't obscure the view of the windows and doors.
• Secure window air conditioners from the inside.
• Illuminate as much of your property as possible.
• Exterior doors should be solid not hollow. Metal doors provide the best protection against forced entry.
• Use a fencing style that would not conceal a burglar's activities.
• Secure any glass that is less than one metre from a door lock or replace with laminated or tempered glass.
• Exterior door hinges should have a non-removable centre pin that is tamper proof.
• Install deadlocks.
• Dogs are a good deterrent. Even a "beware of dog" sticker makes a burglar think twice.
• Lock sliding patio doors together when closed. Install patio door security bolts that bolt the door to the frame to prevent the door from being lifted off its track.
• Ensure the burglar cannot gain entry through the roof by a ladder left against the house or from high trees.

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Going on holidays

If you are away from home for long periods it is important to make your home appear inhabited. To fully protect your home you could enlist the help of friends, neighbours and relatives.

• Stop all mail delivery.
• Arrange for a neighbour to cut the grass.
• Cancel all deliveries during the time you will be away.
• Maintain normal lighting patterns with electronic timers.
• Ask a neighbour too put one of the garbage bags or bins in front of your house.
• Ask a neighbour to park in your driveway.
• Arrange for your letter box to be cleared. Junk mail builds up fast!
• Don't talk about your plans with strangers or service people.
• Use your work address on luggage tags so a potential burglar won't know where an empty house is.

Before you leave, tell someone you trust:

• that you will be away
• how long you will be gone
• whether or not you have a house sitter
• your contact number.

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What not to do

• Don't put a name plate on the outside of your house. A burglar can look up your number in the phone book and see whether you are at home.
• Don't leave a note on the front door or in the letter box telling a friend or family member that you are not at home.
• Don't leave spare keys in an obvious place.
• Don't leave cash and handbags on view from a door or window.
• Don't leave any doors unlocked when you are at the other end of the house or in the yard.

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