During the winter months, the longer darker evenings give burglars an extended cover of darkness to target residential areas. Most burglars are opportunists looking for the easiest targets. Whether it’s homes that are clearly unoccupied or ones that don’t have a visible home security system.

Over a third of burglaries take place between November and February making winter a prime time for them to strike. Here we will look at some simple measures you can take to reduce the risk of your home being targeted this winter:

Fit a Home Security System

It’s a surprising fact that only 1 in 4 homes are fitted with a home security system, yet it is the single biggest deterrent against burglary. A professionally fitted, well-maintained alarm at a visible point on your house may well be enough to make any thief think twice about breaking into your home. In addition, having an alarm system or CCTV security system in place when you are away from home will alert your neighbours and your security company of any issue - Giving you added peace of mind.

Invest in Outdoor Lighting

Dark houses with no exterior or interior lights on are another ideal target of burglary. Nothing says ‘we’ve gone away’ like a pitch-black house for nights on end. Consider installing external security lights that will light up your home and spot any unwelcome visitors at night. Similarly, if you are away for more than an evening, set up some timers for inside the house or smart lighting that can be controlled from your mobile device. This will give the appearance that someone is home and a burglar is more likely to move on.

Lock Up

This may seem obvious, but how many of us have left the back door unlocked while we are home and doing something elsewhere in the house or in the garage, or even just left your side gate open? Make sure you lock all the windows, doors and lockable access points every time you leave home even if it’s just for a minute or two. It’s also worth investing in double locks or deadlocks. If a burglar tries your door and it moves a millimetre or two they know your locking system is weak giving them a green light to attempt a break-in.

Get to Know Your Neighbours

Living in a community where everyone knows everyone’s business really does have its benefits. If your neighbours know you and your family they are more likely to be able to spot an intruder on your premises. Good neighbours are an extra set of eyes on your house. We are all on different schedules with working patterns or school hours so some are likely to be around when you are not especially if that’s in the dark evenings making them a valuable asset to home security.

Don't Give Burglars a Reason to Break In

Hopefully, you use curtain and blinds to keep eyes off your property to any potential thieves in the neighbourhood. There’s another thing that would give a thief an idea of what kind of goods you might have inside your home and if it’s worth the risk to them of breaking in - your rubbish. Are there boxes of newly acquired high ticket items such as TV’s, games consoles or laptops in your recycling bin? Don’t leave them outside, you don’t know who might be watching.

If you’d like more information about home security systems, get in touch today and find out more about the wide range of options available to you.