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SECURITY ▲ Top tip: Cancel newspaper deliveries during holidays and add a 'no junk mail' sign to the letter box. Papers or leaflets sticking out of a letter box can give burglars the visual clue that no one is home. 5 LIGHTS AT NIGHT The majority of break-ins happen during the day when homeowners are out, but some of the scariest crimes take place in the middle of the night while the family is sleeping. A motion-detecting outdoor lighting system can scare away nocturnal prowlers and alert the household to movement in the garden. Lights should be installed in areas easily seen from the house, such as the patio and front garden. H Top tip: Solar-powered outdoor lighting systems are available from DIY stores and online and can help save on electricity costs. ome is the haven for a family; four walls of personal space and a warm, inviting sanctuary full of life's memories. But whether it's a top-floor apartment or sprawling detached house, every home must be secure from burglaries or any kind of break-in - this should be the number one priority for homeowners. These 10 practical tips will protect homes from prowlers and give the whole household peace of mind. 1 PERFORM A LOCK 'MOT' OR INVEST IN NEW ONES Every home has locks on the windows and doors, but are they effective? A security expert or quality locksmith can check existing locks and advise if they need upgrading. Front and back doors should have two locks each, especially if the main one is a rim latch - they are notoriously simple to crack with small tools. Got to www. met.police.uk for more information. Patio and sliding doors can also have anti-entry devices added to stop them being removed from the frames. 2 MAKE IT A HABIT TO LOCK DOORS AND WINDOWS It's easy to overlook one window or assume the back door is locked, particularly in a busy household, so performing a routine check of windows and doors before leaving the house should be a family habit. Doors should be locked when people are at home, too - think about how many valuables such as phones and wallets could be snatched via a door. Lock up Top tip: A reminder on the kitchen notice board to check windows and doors daily can help jog everyone's memories. 3 THE MOST COMMON ENTRY POINT IS AN OPEN WINDOW OR UNLOCKED FRONT DOOR. NEVER HIDE KEYS IN THE GARDEN No matter how quiet a neighbourhood, it's never worth the risk of giving an opportunist burglar direct access to your home. Chances are the 'safe place' to hide the spare front-door key is also the first place a thief will look. Move keys from under the plant pot and leave with a trusted neighbour. 4 IF IT'S VISIBLE THROUGH THE LETTER BOX, HIDE IT Burglars have been known to snatch car keys through letter boxes with fishing poles. Hallway tables should be clear of valuables, and some super-secure households attach a cage to the back of the letter box for the post to drop in, or replace a traditional letter box with an outside post box. Go to Homebase (www.homebase.co.uk) for a selection of both. Chances are the 'safe place' to hide the spare front-door key is also the first place a thief will look www.athomemagazine.co.uk OCTOBER 2016 | 251 http://met.police.uk http://www.homebase.co.uk http://www.athomemagazine.co.uk

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