Christmas is coming, and its not just the goose who will get fat!

Christmas holidays are a special time when families and friends come together to celebrate the season. It is also the time of year where families and friends are most generous and practice the tradition of gift giving. It should be a joyous and happy time for all of us.

Unfortunately for us, home burglars view the holiday season a little differently. For them, it is a time of opportunity to burglarize your home for cash, credit cards, and all the new gifts of small electronics, computers, jewelry, and easily sold valuables.

Here are a few tips of what they look for when shopping for a house to burglarize. These tips will help you enjoy the holidays without incident.

Burglars look for an easy entry with good escape routes. Don’t openly display your Christmas tree and gifts in the front window so it’s easily visible from the street. It’s too tempting for them to smash the window and grab the wrapped packages.Last, but not least, fortify your home by installing solid core doors, heavy duty locks, longer screws in the lock strike plates and door hinges, and install secondary security devices on all accessible sliding windows.

After Christmas day, don’t pile up empty gift boxes from your new computer, DVD player, or stereo receiver on the street for the garbage man. Burglars appreciate knowing that you have expensive gifts inside for them to steal. Break them down or cut them up to conceal the items better. After a lucrative burglary, the chances of being burglarized again are increased to steal the new replacement products.

Burglars look for occupancy cues like outdoor lights burning 24 hours a day, piled up newspapers, or advertising flyers hanging on the door knob. Use an inexpensive light timer when you are away and ask a neighbor to keep the front of your home clean of papers and debris.

Burglars know to look for the hidden door key near the front entrance. Don’t hide spare keys under rocks, in flowerpots, or above door ledges. Instead give the spare key to a trusted neighbor.

Burglars prefer to enter through unlocked doors or windows. Sliding windows that are not secure can be seen from distance. One holiday problem can occur when exterior Christmas light extension cords are run inside through a window and prevent it from being secured. Hire an electrician or handyman to install an inexpensive exterior outlet for your holiday lights.

Don’t post your family name on your mailbox or on you house. A burglar can call directory assistance to get your telephone number and call your home while in front of your house to confirm that you are away.

Don’t leave descriptive telephone answering machine messages like, “You’ve reached the Wilson’s…we’re away skiing for the Christmas holidays…please leave a message.” Burglars love to hear that they have plenty of time to break in and completely ransack your home.

Did you know…?

Crimestoppers received more than 5,500 pieces of actionable (useful) information about crime in the West Midlands last year.

A-Z Security Tips (D)

Following on from my last blog about useful tips on home security, I have decided to concentrate on an area of the house which is taken for granted and neglected yet the most common way an intruder can gain access to your home.

Read on!

How secure are your doors?

If you are unsure whether your front door, back door or patio doors are secure enough to prevent intruders, use this quick checklist to find out how safe they really are .

Front door

• • Five lever mortice deadlock (if door over 44mm) – check they are British Standard 3621 or European Standard EN12209
• • Avoid glazed panels, replace with toughened glass or laminated glass panels
• • Fit a spy hole
• • Fit a door chain or limiter
• • Check hinges are secure – use good long screws and consider hinge bolts

Letter boxes

• • Install them no closer than 400 mm from the door lock
• • Never fit a letter box to the bottom rail of a door
• • Consider an internal cover plate or letter basket (with the bottom removed to prevent mail theft)

Back door

• • Use 5 lever 2 bolt sash lock halfway up the door (British Standard 3621 European Standard EN 12209)
• • Supplement sash lock with mortice rack bolts at the top and bottom of the door
• • Avoid glass panels, use laminated panels fitted from the inside and consider grilles as well

French doors (a burglar’s favourite!)

• • Use mortice rack bolts
• • Or, consider surface-mounted locking bolts
• • For extra security, consider mortice sash locks
• • If your doors open outwards, use hinge bolts

Patio doors (a burglar’s favourite!)

• • Use extra locks if not fitted with a multi-locking system

        • Anti-lift devices to avoid door being lifted from its track

 A-Z Security Products

A.B.C

 Inner-city areas are still the worst for violence, robbery and burglary, according to the latest figures released from the Home Office. The Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Midlands forces all recorded rising levels of crime.West Midlands Police recorded the highest number of robberies in the country, outside London, with 4.1 offences per 1,000 residents.National crime levels fell slightly, but violent crime increased by 8% with 716,500 offences reported, including 588,800 offences against the person.

The above are extracts from national crime statistics, which illustrates the increase in offenses, which prompted me to put together a list of A-Z security products which are available, and to help stop you becoming another statistic. We are more than happy to supply, Install, or give advise through our Facilities Management.

1. ALARMS: Buying A Burglar Alarm Is An Investment In Your Security

Many people agree today that the world we now live in is a lot different from that which our parents and grandparents lived in. Statistics today show that a burglary now occurs every 14 seconds. So why wait until after your home has been robbed to get a security system installed? There are hundreds of different burglar alarm systems available on the market today,If you are looking for more information on a burglar alarm, then the best place to start your search is online.

2. BELL BOXES

All systems should have an audible bell or siren to be effective in case someone does break in. However, these audible alarms should be programmed to reset automatically after one or two minutes. The criminal gets the message and will be long gone before your neighbours or police investigate, but remember to programme the reset or your neighbours will have to listen to the alarm bell, sometimes for hours, until it is shut off.

3. Cameras

 CCTV has been a common fixture in shops, pubs, car parks and other public places for years. Now, thanks to easier installation and falling prices, it’s becoming an increasingly popular choice for security-conscious homeowners. If you’re thinking of getting a Home CCTV System for the outside of your property, you must comply with privacy laws. This means making sure that your cameras aren’t pointed at public space or other people’s houses or gardens.

Next time on the A-Z ?, well you’l have to wait, pop back in a couple of weeks, bye for now. 

SIA(Security Industry Authority) still has a role to play.

The news that the body which regulates Door Supervision and other workers in the security sector is under review and may be scrapped, has raised a few eyebrows by some, and been applauded by many.

The formation of the SIA in 2003 came about to regulate a then unregulated industry, the body was then tasked with reducing crime and improving standards with its licensing policy and the introduction of ACS (Approved Contractor Scheme).

Private security has always had a murky past with firms linked to organised crime, drug dealing and extortion, since its inception that element has been reduced due to their licensing and vetting procedures.

The SIA unfortunately has grown beyond its initial role, and perfectly respectable and organised companies wishing to provide services to the security market find themselves swamped with burdensome regulations, red tape, and increasing costs.

It is argued that the Industry has now matured enough to become self regulating and able to police itself, however there is a danger that the doors will once again be open for organised criminal elements to become re-established, and the thuggish element to re-emerge.

Keep the SIA, but not in its present format, minimise the qualifying procedures for companies who want to come into the Industry, let them still be the central body for the issue of Licenses, it is in the interest of all of us in the security sector, and the general public, that we keep the SIA. Downsize the SIA, but do not to throw away an organisation that still has a role to play.

What now of the NSI (National Security Inspectorate), watch this space!

Always lock your doors and windows when you go out or to bed, you will be surprised how many don’t.

Always draw your curtains at night and make sure valuable items cannot be seen from outside.

Mortice locks on doors add considerable strength, you can buy them from your local DIY store.

Use window locks, especially on older windows, and don’t leave the key in.

Patio doors should have special locks fitted top and bottom.

Keep your keys in a safe place, not on the stairs or on a key holder in the hallway, a thief can get in and out before you are aware.