Whether you’re planning to take advantage of Black Friday deals to update your tech, or you’re already making progress with your Christmas shopping, many of us will have more valuable items in our homes at this time of the year.
Sumier Foster-Shah is Customer Service Manager at ERA – one of the UK’s leading home security providers, and a long-standing partner of Neighbourhood Watch. Here, he shares his top tips for making sure your property is properly protected over the coming months.
Burglaries tend to spike in the winter months, with thieves taking advantage of the longer, darker evenings – but there are some simple steps you can take to keep your home and belongings safe.
Don’t forget the basics
Most burglars enter the home through the front door, so it’s essential you make sure yours is properly secure. A 5-lever mortice lock is a great option – look out for the British Standard kitemark that means the lock is resistant to drilling, hacksawing, and picking through steel plates.
Alternatively, a multi-point lock is a robust and secure solution – hooks, bolts rollers and mushrooms lock into sections of your door frame for maximum security. ERA has a range of 5 lever mortice and multi-point locks so you can find the one best suited for your front door.
Keep valuables hidden away
Many burglaries are crimes of opportunity; if you have a stack of Amazon packages with your Black Friday purchases left in your porch, or a mountain of presents under the Christmas tree visible to passersby through your windows, your property will look more appealing to potential thieves. Make sure any packages are taken in promptly and stored away and keep Christmas gifts away from prying eyes wherever possible.
Rely on your community
One simple way to stay aware of burglaries in your area is to join any local groups, whether on WhatsApp, Facebook, or elsewhere. Locals will often post about burglaries (and attempted burglaries) to warn their neighbours, so keep an eye on these and make sure you’re on alert if thieves are operating in your area.
Be smart about your security
Visible security solutions act as a deterrent to potential thieves – by installing a smart alarm system you’ll make them think twice about targeting your home. ERA’s 7-piece smart alarm kit includes a live siren and replica siren which can be easily installed outside your property, with the comfort flashing lights constantly active, indicating to potential intruders that the alarm system is live.
To learn more about ERA’s range of home security solutions, visit https://eraprotect.com