Sadly, most homeowners and apartment dwellers in Bristol and the rest of the UK don’t think about home security until it is too late. Yet if you are serious about protecting yourself and your family, that has to start with your home. There is no need to lock it down like Fort Knox (unless you do happen to have a stock pile of gold) but some basic tactics will go a long way to giving you and your family a secure home.
Change the Locks – One of the first calls you make before moving into your new house is to a find a locksmith in Bristol. Not because you don’t trust the nice people who lived in the house before you, but because you have no idea who they trusted with the keys. A good locksmith should come out on moving day and replace all of the locks on your doors with new ones. This is also standard if anyone in your family accidentally loses their keys in the future.
Install Dead Bolts at Entry Points – A professional Bristol locksmith can also help you choose dead bolt locks to give you an extra level of defence. One that requires a key turn from either side is especially helpful in homes that have windows installed around the front door jamb.
Have an Alarm System Installed – Next to good locks on the doors and windows, an alarm system is your best defence against home invasion and burglary. Inexperienced robbers will typically shy away from homes that exhibit signs that an alarm system is in place, and if that doesn’t deter them the loud noise on entry usually does. Most alarm systems these days are set up to alert the authorities immediately of any unauthorised entry, and with some you will even be informed through a text message if you are not at home.
Keep Your Outdoor Wiring Covered – Experienced break and enter artists will try and cut off electrical or phone wiring to make it easier to gain entry into your house. Make sure your outside connection buttons are completely covered and secured with a sturdy lock.
Always Show That Someone Is Home – If your house is often empty until after dark, or you are frequently out of town, give the appearance of someone being inside by using timers on your lights. A kitchen or bedroom light is all you need to make a would-be burglar think twice about trying to get inside of your house.
Take Advantage of Outside Lighting – The exterior of your house should be well lit. Motion sensor lights are a good way of attracting attention to movement outside of your house without it putting a drain on your utility bill. All outdoor entry points should also have a light that can be easily turned on if you hear someone fiddling with the lock.
Light Your Way – One scary tactic of burglars is to enter the house with you. When coming home, always take a good look at your surroundings before approaching the door. Have your house key ready, and quickly enter and then shut the door behind you. If you come home after dark, have an automatic timer turn the outside light on before you get there.
House Keys Should Not Be Hidden Outside – A bad habit that homeowners fall into is leaving a key to the house “hidden” outside on the property. This is an unsafe practice that could be giving anyone the chance to get inside of your house without any fuss. If for some reason you can’t give copies of a key to all who need one, consider keeping a spare with a trusted neighbour in case of an emergency. If you do have a key hidden outside and it suddenly goes missing, you must immediately call a good locksmith to come out and change the locks again.
Secure Your Windows – Home alarm systems should include all windows, not just those on the ground floor. Regularly check that windows are closed and locked especially during the warm summer months, and use metal bars or other reinforcements where necessary. Avoid any temptation to sleep with your windows open, even if you have a screen or your bedroom is on an upper floor.
Common sense, a good locksmith and a security company is really all you need to secure your home effectively. Your main objective is to avoid trouble by making your home an unattractive target to the criminal element.
About the author
Jon Miller is the owner of Millers Locksmiths, a local family run locksmiths based in Bristol, UK. Jon is also a qualified carpenter with over 20 years experience. You can connect with Jon on Facebook and Google + or call on 07541 270 837.
This article was first published on www.eratemecularealestate.com and has been republished with permission.
Locksmith
Home Security
