Night time habits can make you prone to burglary

Night time habits can make you prone to burglary

Do you have a nightly routine – a series of things you do by habit? Maybe you take the dog for a walk, or fetch the cat in. Perhaps you have a cuppa, or go round the house making sure all the kids’ gadgets are switched off. We all have our routines, and they’re formed partly by our household environment.

People who’ve recently moved house are at the highest risk of burglary, partly because their routines have been disrupted. If home security doesn’t factor into your night time regime, maybe it’s time to change habits for good.

Windows and Doors

Burglars love open windows and doors. They’re by far the easiest way to get in to a property without permission. An unlocked door is always a risk, but can be difficult to detect from the kerbside. However, an open window is a real danger; it’s practically an invitation to a burglar to climb in.

At night, go around and make sure every window is closed. Don’t leave them open and unlocked – you’d be surprised how small a gap someone could squeeze through, and even if they can’t, they could potentially use a tool to remove keys from the inside of the house.

All windows should be locked in the evening, with sash jammers used for any vulnerable spots. Make sure everyone in the house knows where the keys are in case there’s a fire (ideally, they should be stored in the same room as the window – just not in plain sight).

Before you go to bed – check everything is closed and locked.

Alarms

Many householders have alarms. How many actually use them? Not enough. Just having an alarm is no good if its broken, or needs a service.

Some householders fear setting their alarms because they have pets, but many can actually be used despite the fact animals are roaming around. Special pet-friendly sensors can be positioned around the house to ignore the resident canines and felines. If you’re not sure whether your alarm is pet-friendly, give us a call and we’ll check it out.

Whatever you do, don’t buy one of those cheap and nasty dummy alarms. To you, they might look fine. Burglars instantly know they’re not real; for a start, they don’t have anybody’s phone number on. A little flashing light is not enough to make an empty box look like the real thing, and your empty box will not be any good if the burglar does gain entry.

Before you go to bed – set the alarm.

Routine Changes

According to scientists, it takes around one month for new habits to become ingrained. If you’re not used to securing your home, you could be at risk in the meantime. Or if you’ve recently moved house, you might be underestimating an obvious security risk.

No matter what the risk, or the routine, get in touch with Angel Security today. We’ll help you secure your property and develop habits that will keep your family safe.