Lets look at the outside first:

• Look at the position of your home in relation to others. Do other houses overlook your home, providing casual surveillance.
• Does the approach to your home indicate clearly what is and isn`t common ground. Is there a gate/fence/hedge or is your ground open to the public foot path. If so, clearly define your area by changing the ground surface putting down plants, mono block paving or grass with a border.
• Is there adequate lighting to the front and back of your home. Most homes are well lit to the front from street lighting. However the rear of your home may require extra lighting. Do not just put up any old lighting. Think about how high the lights can go (without annoying the neighbours) but ensure they are out of reach from a burglar armed with a broom handle. If they are fitted quite low, for example to the side of a bungalow, ensure they are vandal proof and robust.

LOOKING AFTER YOUR FLAT

If your flat is on the ground floor then you should consider the advice given in the section for house owners.

• If your block does not have a door entry system, talk to the landlord or Council about having putting one in. This may be easier if you get together with other tenants to form a small `residents association`.
• If you do have a door entry system, don`t let strangers in or hold the door open for someone who is arriving while you are leaving.

Burglar Alarms.
An intruder alarm installed and used properly can deter a thief. The sight of an alarm box has been proven to discourage break-ins. The law requires that any alarm bell or siren cut out after 20 minutes, some alarms may continue with a flashing light.
Before the bell stops ringing it is likely that a neighbour or police will have contacted the keyholder to check the premises and de-activate the alarm.

It is important to remember that an alarm is not a substitute for installing good locks and physical security, but is an additional measure to help reduce the likelyhood of crime against your property.

If you live in an area with a lot of break-ins, help protect your valuables and belongings with a burglar alarm or a safe. Get advice from your local Police Office.
Click here for Police telephone Numbers.

Installation
There are two ways in which you can install an alarm, which will provide effective protection for you, your family, and your property.
First, it can be professionally installed, preferably by a company affilliated to an independent inspectorate. For a current list Click here.

These organisations publish lists of relevant companies. If you intend having an alarm professionally installed you should:

• Check the address and credentials of the company, and see proof of the representatives identity.
• Find out if the company is subject to an independant inspection process and from which organisation.
• Find out if the installation is a requirement of your insurance company. If so, is the company acceptable to the insurer.
• See if the company representative can provide a list of Police rules for occupied premises with alarms, and written confirmation that the alarm and the company are currently acceptable to the local Police for the transmission of alarm messages from new installations.
• Seek quotations from at least three companies which are affillated to one of the Alarm and Security Inspectorates.
• Does the company operate a 24 hour call-out service and emergency attendance within 4 hrs.

Again, if you are in any doubt, call the Crime Prevention Officer at your Police Office for free impartial advice. Secondly. You could undertake to install the alarm yourself, however it may not provide the same level of protection as a professionally installed system. You should undertake to install an alarm yourself only if you are an experienced and competent DIY enthusiast.

Doors
All external doors should be solid wood or constructed as an external door by a double glazing company. Fitting a hollow internal door on the outside only increases the chances of a break-in. Internal doors offer little or no strength.
The external door should be of at least 44mm thick, as anything thinner than this is weakened when you insert a mortice lock into the door edge. The door should be fitted with three quality hinges, fitted top, middle and bottom.
For best protection on your doors fit hinge bolts.
There are two basic types of mortice deadlock : a mortice deadlock which fits into the door structure, and a deadlocking rim lock, which screw onto the door. The latter may be preferable if the door is thin as fitting a lock into the door could weaken it.
Security deadlocks can be operated only with a key, and a thief cannot open the lock by breaking door glass and reaching in to turn the handle. Even if a thief were to gain entry to your home through a window a deadlock will still stop him simply walking out of your door with your property.
When fitting locks to your door, ideally your turn lock, or yale type, should be fitted one third of the way down from the top of the door, and your mortice should be fitted two thirds down from the top of the door. This will spread the load of any body trying to force the door with bodily pressure.
External doors which you do not use as a main door, or are seldom used, can be fitted with a concealed mortice bolt top and bottom.

Check your door frame. If this is in poor or weak condition, so is your security.
Your door frame should have a metal striking plate fitted. This the part that the lock engages when the door is locked or closed.
The striking plate should be sturdy and have a metal box behind the plate. This is called a 'boxed striking plate'. The striking plate has two functions. One it to spread the force of someone pushing on the door and is less likely to give way than a striking plate that has no box (which is designed for internal use). The other it to prevent someone trying to force a tool behind the frame enabling them to push the lock bolts out of the frame and back into the lock, allowing the door to open.

• If your front and back door are not strong and safe, neither is your home. If your door is weak then get another one. (If you are a tenant, consult your landlord about it.) Fit hinge bolts which stop someone pulling the door from its hinges. A door viewer can be installed. Security chains can be fitted but are only of use if someone is within the building. They are not a means of preventing entry to the building if the building is unoccupied.
• Patio doors should be fitted with extra security locks top and bottom, and an anti lift device which prevents the door being lifted out of the runners or rails. They are not expensive but, if you have double glazing, they should be fitted by a double glazing company. They know the internal structure of your door or window frames and know where you can and cannot place screws.