Crime prevention advice

Checklist for securing your home when you leave it

It’s vital to leave your home secure whenever you leave it. Getting into an ‘exit routine’ can help ensure that you don’t forget obvious, important things, like not leaving your valuables near windows, or no lights on if it will be dark before you get home. Here’s what you should do just before you go out.

Become a creature of habit

Try to get into the habit of following your own course of action when you lock up your home. This will ensure that you don’t forget anything.

Here’s what we recommend you do before you go out:

close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you’re only going out for a few minutes

double-lock any door

make sure that any valuables are out of sight

keep handbags away from the letterbox or cat flap and hide all keys including car keys, as a thief could hook keys or valuables through even a small opening

never leave car documents or ID in obvious places such as kitchens or hallways

in the evening, shut the curtains and leave lights on

if you’re out all day, then it’s advisable to use a timer device to automatically turn lights and a radio on at night

set your burglar alarm

make sure the side gate is locked

lock your shed or garage

lock your bike inside a secure shed or garage, to a robust fitting bolted to the ground or wall, like a ground anchor

Going away?

Here are five tips to help you keep your home and belongings stay safe while you’re away:

if you’re off on holiday and wish to post anything on social media, make sure your posts aren’t public and that they’re only seen by your friends

leave lights and a radio on a timer to make the property appear occupied

get a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property or join a Neighbourhood or resident Watch Scheme

consider asking your neighbours to close curtains after dark and to park on your drive

remember to cancel newspaper and milk deliveries

Keep burglars out of your property

Burglars will use a variety of ways to avoid being noticed.

They don’t want to be seen or heard by a neighbour or passer-by because they will feel exposed and identifiable.

Distraction burglars will pretend to be someone they are not, so it’s important you are aware of the common methods they will use to get you to let them into your property.

Here’s some useful advice, firstly on helping to keep burglars out by giving them no hiding place and, secondly, on how to prevent a distraction burglary.

Keep it visible

You’d think that it would be best to make a property less visible from the street, and to keep it hidden from prying eyes behind overgrown bushes, trees, high fences or walls. In reality, all that this serves to do is make it easier for a burglar to get close to a home unnoticed, and provide somewhere to hide while carrying out a burglary or theft from the property.

Prickly or barbed shrubbery along a fence line, which can act as a natural barrier

A tall hedge in front of a house. Low hedges are advised as they do not provide cover for someone wishing to hide.

A gate in front of a house

A high stone wall in front of a house

A tall fence in front of a building

A low fence in front of a house

Prickly or barbed shrubbery along a fence line, which can act as a natural barrier

A tall hedge in front of a house. Low hedges are advised as they do not provide cover for someone wishing to hide.

Lower fences at the front around one-metre high are preferable to high fences as they allow for a clear view over the top and don’t provide cover for anyone wishing to hide.

At the rear and sides, taller fencing is recommended to prevent easy access.

Trellis, thorny plants, or a suitable anti-climb topping such as plastic spikes make it difficult for anyone climbing over a fence or gate.

Planting prickly or barbed shrubbery along boundaries and fence lines acts as an effective natural barrier.

Gravel driveways and paths will make sure you hear anyone approach.

For more information on creating a boundary, visit our advice on criminal damage.

Other ways to make it difficult for burglars

CCTV

Alarms

Lighting

Distraction burglary

Distraction burglars pretend to be someone they are not in order to gain entry to your home.

Common methods used by distraction burglars

pretending to be from a care agency, the council or a utility company investigating a gas or water leak

seeking help to leave a note for a neighbour or even asking for a drink of water if they claim to be thirsty or unwell

claiming to be in a hurry or emergency and needing to get into your home quickly

working in teams, with one person distracting you while the other searches your home

How to prevent it

There are a number of things you can do to prevent distraction burglary. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anyone at your door – genuine callers won’t mind. Always remember 'if in doubt, keep them out':

use your door viewer to see who’s there

if you open the door put the chain on first

always ask for ID and check it with the company before letting somebody into your home

use the phone number advertised in the phone book or online, as the number on their identity card could be fake. For a utility company, call the customer service department. Close the door while you do this

if you feel at all unsure, schedule a time for the caller to come back when a friend or relative is there

for pre-planned appointments with utility companies, a password scheme can be set up

If you feel threatened or in danger by the presence of the caller, call 999.