Home Security Survey Self-assesment-1

Home Security Survey
Self–Assessment Checklist
We are keen to help you to reduce the likelihood of your home being targeted by
criminals. Below is a list of some of the points you should consider. The aim is to
answer ‘yes’ to most of the statement. Where the answer is ‘no’, do take
appropriate action to address it where possible, and practical.
Remember, most burglaries are committed by 'opportunist' criminals ‐ they will not have
been watching you or your home but may be passing by and notice a window left open, or a
house that looks unoccupied, has little or no obvious security, or where there is natural
‘cover’ so they think they won't be seen.
Home Office figures show nearly 80% of household burglaries happen during the daytime.
Doors and Windows
Installing 'Secured by Design' doors and windows can greatly enhance the security of a property.
The strongest doors and windows can still be overcome if you do not ensure that they are locked
whenever necessary. A sound routine should be established to prevent a burglar taking advantage
of an open window or insecure door:
Yes
No
All external doors should be fitted with a lock or locking mechanism which
meets either British Standard 3621 or British Standard EN 1303 for cylinder
locks.
Before replacing locks, check the condition of the door or window. It may be
better to invest in a good quality door or window with built in locks instead.
If you need to replace a door, door frame or window, please check with the
supplier that it complies with the British Standard PAS 24 ‐2012 for security of
doors or British Standard 7950 for windows. Manufacturers of these
standards of doors and windows can be found at www.securedbydesign.com
or The Master Locksmiths Association” www.locksmiths.co.uk
If you have UPVC doors you must lift the handle and turn the lock to fully
secure the door.
External Wooden doors should be fitted with at least two locks to the
approved standard.
Patio doors are potentially vulnerable. An anti‐lift device could be installed to
prevent sliding patio doors from being lifted out of their tracks. Locks fitted to
patio doors should also meet the standards highlighted in the previous
paragraph.
Window locks are strongly recommended for ground floor windows and all
other windows which are easily accessible from the ground, for example,
where they can be reached from a flat roof extension.
If you don't have a window in your front door, or some other way of check
who's calling, fit a door viewer.
Consider fitting a letterbox cage or other restrictor, which prevents thieves
from putting their hands through the letterbox and trying to open the latches
from the inside.

Alarms
Installing an alarm can help protect your home. There are two main types: audible only alarms and
remote signalling alarms. Audible only alarms, when activated, can deter criminals from continuing
further and can attract the attention of passers by and neighbours. Remote signalling alarms will
be monitored by a monitoring centre who will notify the keyholder and, if registered with police,
will inform police who will respond. Consider the following advice prior to fitting an alarm system:
Audible alarms rely to some extent on there being someone in the vicinity to hear
them, so in remote areas these alarms become less effective.
The alarm box itself should be fixed to a prominent position on the outside of your
home in order for it to act as a visual deterrent
The alarm should meet any conditions set by your insurer
Both types of alarm need to be regularly maintained as false activations can
become an annoyance for your neighbours and a waste of police resources. Several
false alarms from the same location may mean that police stop responding
Marking Property
Property is often recovered in circumstances which lead the police to suspect that it is stolen but it
can be difficult to trace the rightful owner. Security marking is one way to help ensure that the
police can return your property to you if it is found and to prove an offence has occurred, which
may lead to a successful arrest and prosecution.
Yes
No
Property should be marked using an ultra violet pen or by engraving
Use your postcode and your house number in brackets. If your home does not
have a number use the first two letters of your house name
Always mark the back or underside of items.
If you move home, security mark all your items again
Items which cannot be marked by conventional means, such as jewellery,
should be photographed. Place something next to the item to give an idea of
scale (e.g. a coin) and keep the photographs in a safe place
Register all your property for free on www.immobilise.com . If your phone,
bike, computer or other registered item is lost or stolen, immobilise informs
the police, insurers and the second hand trade and helps in the recovery of
your property.
Garages & Sheds
Garages and sheds are often full of expensive tools, which are not only of value to a thief but ideal
to use for breaking into your home!
Yes
No
Never leave a garage or garden shed unlocked, especially if it has a
connecting door to the house. A thief could get in and work on the door
inside without being seen.
Fit strong padlocks to shed and garage doors and make sure that the doors
are solid enough not to be kicked in
Lock ladders inside your garage or shed to stop a thief using them to reach
upstairs windows. If there is no room in your garage or shed, chain or
padlock them horizontally to a sturdy bracket on an outside wall
Consider having lockable steel boxes fitted to the floor to store your tools in,
or anchor posts fitted to the floor to secure larger tools and equipment
Visibly and permanently mark property you keep in sheds and garages
Consider purchasing a low cost shed/ garage stand alone alarm system

Gardens
Yes
No
A thorny hedge along the boundary of your property can put thieves off. But
make sure that passers‐by can still see the front of you home so that a
burglar can't work without being seen
Burglars don't like gravel, it's noisy to walk on
Don't build pergolas, gazebos and so on too near to the house, they can help
thieves reach upper windows
Fencing
Fencing is often the first line of defence when it comes to deterring a thief. It can offer a barrier
which is either difficult to climb or helps define your property. Please consider the following
advice:
Yes
No
A low level fence and gate (approximately 1m high) at the front of your
house allows any potential burglar to be seen by you and/or your neighbours
At the rear of your house a fence approximately 1.8m high with an open
trellis provides good security and is difficult to climb
Strategic planting can also deter intruders. Consider planting Berberis,
Blackthorn or Firethorn, or any other prickly bushes
Gates leading to the rear of the house should ideally be in line with the front
of your house. This increases the chances of you or your neighbours seeing
someone trying to access them
Lighting
A burglar will do everything they can to avoid being seen. During the hours of darkness, a home
without any lights on indicates not only that a home may be empty but that neighbours are unlikely
to see anyone approaching. Consider the following lighting advice for your home:
Yes
No
Either use ‘Dawn to Dusk’ lighting or PIR (passive infrared) lighting.
PIR lighting activates when movement is detected, both these types of
lighting can be very effective. Lighting your home sends out a clear message
to the potential thief that the householder has put in place security
measures. If you use PIR lights then ensure you positioning these lights on
your house so that the sensor cannot be tampered with.
Use timer switches on internal lights so they switch on and off automatically
and make it look like there is someone at home
When you’re away
Yes No
Cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries
Cut the lawn before you go – if possible, ask someone to cut it again if you
are away for some time
Don't put your home address on luggage labels when travelling to your
destination
If you can, get a friend or neighbour to look after your home while you're
away. Ask them to collect your post, draw your curtains at night and open
them in the mornings, and generally make the place look lived ‐ in. Be
prepared to do the same for them
Avoid discussing holiday plans where strangers may hear details of your
absence from home
Consider leaving important documents and valuable items with other family
members or a bank, or lock them in a safe
If you normally leave valuable pedal cycles or similar items in your shed,
consider putting them in the house for extra security while you are away
For further crime prevention advice speak to your Safer Neighbourhood Team by calling 101
or visit www.herts.police.uk