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Crime Prevention Advice for Domestic Dwellings

4 February 2024 by in Crime Prevention

Crime Prevention Advice for Domestic Dwellings

When improving your home security, we recommend you consider the following:

Lighting

  • Install dusk-to-dawn lighting by both the front and rear door. This will provide a source of continuous, gentle illumination throughout the hours of darkness.
  • This makes it more difficult for any intruders to hide in the shadows and also provides you and your family with a greater level of reassurance.
  • PIR motion-sensitive lights have not been recommended for a number of years, as they’re easily tampered with, cost a huge amount of electricity to run, and often increase the fear of crime by repeat activations by cats, foxes, etc.
  • Statistically, dwellings with dusk-to-dawn lighting installed are less likely to be burgled than dwellings that have PIR lighting.
  • You can purchase hard-wired or solar-powered dusk-to-dawn lights depending on your requirements.
  • If you already have a manual on/off light installed, you can replace the existing bulb with a dusk-to-dawn bulb.

Windows

  • Fit window locks to ground floor windows and any easily accessible upper floor windows.

Fencing

  • Fencing at the front of your home should be no more than 1 metre in height, as this will prevent intruders from being able to use them for cover from view.
  • Fencing/gates at the rear of your property should be a minimum of 1.8 metres in height to prevent intruders from gaining access to the rear of the property. Keep gates locked.
  • For additional security, you can top fencing with Prikka Strip. Do not be tempted to use broken glass, barbed wire, rusty nails, etc. as you risk prosecution under the Occupier’s Liability Act 1984 if anyone sustains an injury on your property.
  • You can also top fencing with trellis, as this will further discourage intruders in case it collapses under their weight and the noise risks attracting attention. The trellis can also be used to grow defensive plants such as climbing roses.

Sheds

  • Secure with closed-shackle weather-proof padlock to EN 12320.
  • Line windows with frosted window film.

Doors

  • Ensure all external doors are equipped with 5-lever locks that meet BS 3621.
  • Fit a spyhole and door chain to the front door. uPVC doors can be fitted with Secure Ring door chains.

Property Marking

  • Ensure your property is marked to increase the likelihood of it being recovered in the event of theft.
  • Covert property marking, such as SmartWater or a UV pen, marks property discreetly.
  • Overt marking methods tend to be used for larger items such as lawnmowers, power tools, etc. You can use a product such as CRE Mark to paint your post code onto an item.
  • Advertise the fact that property in your home has been marked with signage as a further deterrent to thieves.

CCTV

  • Ensure CCTV is installed by a company that is accredited by either the National Security Inspectorate or the Security Systems & Alarms Inspection Board.
  • CCTV should meet BS EN 50132 and identify persons to 100%R (Rotakin). Ensure CCTV uses accurate time/date stamps for all images and that the images themselves are stored digitally for retrieval at a later date. Use PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) CCTV cameras with a motion sensor installed so that they only start recording when they detect movement.
  • Remember – CCTV should not be used in lieu of basic security measures.