SOS Locksmiths

10 steps to avoid burglaries in your home

admin — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:38:49 +0000

Burglaries can happen at any time, whether day or night, with many occurring through rear doors or open windows. To help protect your home, follow these 10 steps to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime:

1. Lock All Windows and Doors Securely

Always ensure that all windows and doors are securely locked. This is the simplest yet most effective deterrent against burglars.

2. Close Windows When Not in Use

If possible, close all windows when you are not in the room. Pay special attention to low-level windows and those above porches, which are easier to access.

3. Leave a Light On

In the evenings, leave a light on if you are not home to give the impression that someone is in.

4. Keep Valuables Out of Sight

Do not leave valuables in plain sight where they can tempt opportunistic thieves.

5. Property Mark Valuable Items

Mark your valuable items with your postcode or another identifier to deter theft and assist in recovery if they are stolen.

6. Dispose of Packaging Carefully

Dispose of boxes and packaging discreetly to avoid advertising any new, expensive items to potential burglars.

7. Secure Ladders and Tools

Ensure ladders and tools are not left lying around and that all outbuildings are locked securely.

8. Be Vigilant

Keep an eye on your neighbour’s property and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

9. Cancel Deliveries When on Holiday

If you are going on holiday, cancel milk and newspaper deliveries to avoid signalling that your home is unoccupied.

10. Use Timer Switches

Consider using timer switches to turn lights and radios on and off. If possible, have a trustworthy friend or neighbour check on your property, collect your mail, and open and close your curtains.

Effective crime prevention relies on awareness. For further advice, please contact SOS Locksmiths Southend at 07757 282914 for a free, no-obligation security survey.

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Home Security on a budget – 10 Security Tips to make your property more secure and less attractive to burglars.

admin — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 10:06:02 +0000

Your budget post-Christmas may be limited, so here at SOS Southend on sea Locksmiths we have compiled a few ‘home security on a budget’ tips ways to help protect your home or business, some tips won’t even cost you a penny just simple tips to make your property less attractive to burglars.

Tip 1 – Protect your sheds/outbuildings

For full home security make sure you protect your sheds/outbuildings, just a simple hasp and staple and a medium quality padlock will only cost you about £10 from any DIY store and a very easily fitted usually just a screwdriver required but once fitted to your shed door will make in a lot better protected.

Also a simple shed alarm, it’s a simple to fit contact alarm, you just need batteries and a screwdriver but may put off a potential thief.

Tip 2 – Home Security Lights

See the light, if you have a security light fitted make sure it works if it doesn’t replace it fairly simple but if you are not comfortable with basic wiring then get a professional.

If you haven’t got the funds for an electrician, then you can get solar powered security lights (NO WIRING REQUIRED) sound silly but they work by storing electricity in the battery during sunlight hours and then has enough power stored for the night you can pick these up from £10-£30 depending on the quality you require. Fairly simple to fit either just a screwdriver to fit to fascia boards or drill and raw plugs into the wall.

Tip 3 – Timer plugs

Is anybody home, you can fit simple timer plugs to lamps around your house to go off and on at different times especially if you are not home. This makes it appear that someone is in you could also fit one to a radio so it would also sound like someone is home, these can be picked for £3-£5 each and just plug into any plug socket very simple but effective.

You can also get a special light that flickers so it looks like a TV is switched on, these can be purchased for £8-£15 a bit more expensive but a very good idea. All these are simple but effects home security tips.

Tip 4 – CCTV

I can see you, CCTV is a very good deterrent, it can be costly but can also be done on a budget. You can pick up a simple system (2 cameras and Dvr recording device) for as little as £60 if you shop around.

If this is going to stretch your budget to much you can pick up dummy cameras for as little as £8 and fitted in a highly visible location will look like the real thing, so will put off most burglars.

Tip 5 – Windows

Windows 10, or however many you have, if you have double glazed windows make sure they are shut properly and locked but do not leave the key in them!!! You can also fit something called a sash jammer which is cheap but effective and easy to fit just a screwdriver again, you can pick them up for as little as £2 each.

If you have wooden windows, you can fit locking handles for £3 – £5 each dependent on the type of window.

Tip 6 – Rear Entry

Rear entry, people are usually more concerned about maximizing home security on front doors but most burglars will attempt to gain entry at the rear of the property as they are usually out of site and can take longer to get in without being noticed.

If you have a wooden rear door you should have a 5 lever British standard 3621 deadlock fitted anything less will not protect your home. This is one of the things you can not be cheap with, get a professional locksmith to fit it as this will cover you with your home insurance and can even reduce your premiums, check with your insurer.

If you have a Upvc double glazed door or doors then make sure the cylinder (where the key goes in) is not sticking out more than 5mm they are vulnerable to lock snapping which is a method used to gain entry.

You can have anti- cylinders fitted which stops this but they would need to be fitted by a professional locksmith.

Tip 7 – Sliding doors

Slip and slide, If you have sliding doors on your property there are a few ways to protect against a few common methods used by burglars. Older sliding doors are prone to lifting which is fairly quiet and quick to prevent this you can fit sliding thumb bolts you would need reasonable diy skills and a drill, they cost about £6-£20 each alternatively you could get a locksmith to fit them.

Tip 9 – Wireless DIY Alarms

Alarm bells are ringing, Not cheap but some of the new DIY wireless alarms are very good, features like smart phone connectivity (sends a notification to your phone when alarm is triggered and very easy to fit just basic DIY skills required and no wires to hide.

A reasonable but relatively cheap kit starts around £160 but can go into the thousands for high spec monitored systems. These systems are more of a deterrent as when was the last time you went to investigate when a neighbour’s alarm went off?

Tip 10 – Neighbourhood Watch – cheapest home security!

Nosey neighbours, last but probably the best bit of advice, if you have curtain twitchers for neighbours they are probably one of your best defenses against intruders and for neigbourhood home security, as they will be the first ones on the phone to the police when someone is up to no good.

Also, talk to your neighbours let them know when you’re going to be out for a while or away, so they know if there’s a bump in the night it may be an intruder.

Just remember some of these tips won’t cost you a penny so are worth remembering and if you ever need us in an emergency just give us a call we are available 24/7 That’s Russell at SOS Locksmiths Southend on sea 07757282914

If you would like us to call round to carry out a FREE security upgrade check then click here to find out more.

The post Home Security on a budget – 10 Security Tips to make your property more secure and less attractive to burglars. appeared first on SOS Locksmiths.

Don’t let Thieves Steal your Christmas

admin — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 10:08:26 +0000

With Christmas just around the corner there are many opportunities for thieves to strike and break-ins to happen due to all those Christmas presents laying around the home tempting them in. So this Christmas be prepared and don’t let thieves steal your Christmas!

Think about it: If you put presents on view i.e. under the pretty glowing tree or anywhere that can be seen from outside of the property then you are encouraging burglars as they know it will be quick with high value unopened items all in one place they could be in and out in a couple of minutes.

Top tip this Christmas: Keep presents hidden in the loft, cupboards or anywhere that is not visible or obvious to a thief. Also keep higher value gifts separately then burgers will have less chance of finding them and thieves stealing your Christmas.

If you are out for the evening at perhaps a Christmas party, then make sure you leave spare keys with someone you trust as I have been to many lock outs where the person has lost or had handbags stolen whilst out enjoying the Christmas merriment. If you do manage to lose or have your keys stolen whilst you are out, then make sure you call a qualified locksmith to get you in and change your locks as if someone else has your keys they may know where you live or could have followed you, so it is always best to have your locks changed just in case.

Post-Christmas security tip: Make sure you don’t leave empty boxes from high value Christmas presents, piled up outside your house waiting for the bin men as this shows anyone passing what new items are in your house and will make you a more attractive target to thieves. So make sure you destroy them and hide them in your recycling. Lastly make sure you deadlock doors and windows especially around Christmas time as burglaries increase drastically around this time of year. If you’re not sure if your locks are up to scratch then call a qualified locksmith for a free security survey. So make sure your home is secure and have a happy burglary free Christmas.

The post Don’t let Thieves Steal your Christmas appeared first on SOS Locksmiths.

SOS Locksmiths

10 steps to avoid burglaries in your home

1. **Lock All Windows and Doors Securely**

2. **Close Windows When Not in Use**

3. **Leave a Light On**

4. **Keep Valuables Out of Sight**

5. **Property Mark Valuable Items**

6. **Dispose of Packaging Carefully**

7. **Secure Ladders and Tools**

8. **Be Vigilant**

9. **Cancel Deliveries When on Holiday**

10. **Use Timer Switches**