Over the last year, burglaries in England and Wales have dropped by a whopping 30% – the lowest level in the last 20 years. However, as we enter darker nights and many offices are encouraging staff to return, burglaries are expected to rise by 20%.

We’ve spoken to ex-burglars and unfortunate victims of theft, to uncover what draws a burglar to someone’s home and put together our top five security tips for keeping them away this Autumn.

Repeat Business

According to ex-burglars, they come back to the same houses quite often. They do this due to a number of motives. It’s guaranteed that the people they robbed replaced the stuff they stole the first time, and often these replacements are of better quality than the original.

If a burglar has been to the house prior, it’s likely they’ve had time to assess the whole property, and know the layout of the house – so can be clinical in their approach.  Ensure that you take extra security measures such as CCTV, Alarms and Locks to prevent it happening again.

Packing

We know that going on holiday is really exciting and you want to let everyone know, or take your time packing the car to ensure you have everything. But many households have been victims of theft when they have been on holiday or away on a trip. When taking a trip or going on a winter break, swiftly take the luggage to the car or taxi. The longer you take to pack up a car, the more chance a burglar has of seeing that the homeowner is leaving the property, giving them optimum time to plan their theft, and potentially tell other people too.

Exterior Lights

Ex-burglar’s have admitted that they’d always skip the house with big outdoor security lights.

Turning on all exterior lights at night where possible. A house in the dark could appeal to a burglar as it looks like nobody is in the property, and there could be an assumption that the owner is asleep or not at home. Any dark or shadowed areas are ideal for a burglar to try to approach the house undetected, making security lights essential in the new season.

Help from a Neighbour

Burglars can tell if a family has gone on holiday. From full letterboxes, to forgotten milk deliveries and left out wheely bins, the signs show that the property is vacant. If you are going away for an extended period of time, ask a trusted neighbour or friend to maintain any elements that could be an advertisement for burglars.

Although we’re seeing a decline in burglaries, the winter period is predicted to spike in theft, and we want to ensure people feel safe and secure. We offer a full range of security options in order to help keep your home secure this season.

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