Unlike the colder months when doors and windows are kept firmly closed, the springtime and summer seasons means open windows, while entrances into the garden like French doors or conservatories begin to used more often.
With that, comes the greater risk of opportunist break-ins and attempted break-ins as properties are less secure and become an open invitation to would-be burglars.
Also, we tend to spend more time in the garden in the spring and summer and, with a year of lockdown, this year is likely going to see a lot more outdoor activities going on such as barbeques and other family gatherings as people celebrate being able to see their families again.
With everyone in the garden, the chances of someone wandering in through the front door or quickly grabbing valuables from an open downstairs window increase.
It’s important to think ‘safety and security’ even during times when you’re most relaxed, having fun and essentially off your guard.
Easy ways to instantly make your home secure
- If you’re in the garden for a prolonged period or planning to go somewhere, remember to keep your window partially open. Most double-glazed windows have this feature, but you may need an additional restrictor with older types like sash windows.
- Again, if you’re spending a lot of time in the garden, it’s a good idea to lock the front door.
- At night, keep downstairs windows closed and locked or partially-open, but you can be more lenient with harder-to-reach windows on upper floors.
Keeping your home secure when you’re on holiday
There’s every chance that from May onwards people will be able to travel abroad again and go on summer holidays. With that in mind, there’s a couple of things you can do to make sure your property is as secure as it can be while you’re away.
- For patio and French doors, the police recommend adding a patlock or bar lock to them. This will lock the doors together, adding an extra line of defence against intruders.
- Shut all windows, and lock them if you have the ability to do so. Don't leave window lock keys near the windows and store them somewhere secure.
- Consider timers for your lights or use smart bulbs that you can control through Alexa, Siri and Google. The lights will come on in the evening, giving the impression to passers-by that someone is home.
Landlords
There are a number of ways a landlord can ensure the property is secure right from the off, making sure doors are strong and well-fitted and that windows aren’t so old to be considered obsolete.
We also recommend that all door locks and keys are checked to make sure they’re fit for purpose. Ask the question, does the front and back doors need a more modern lock, or an additional one such as a Yale or blot lock to support the existing primary lock?
Another thing to think about is potential security weak-points such as if anyone could climb onto a shed or garage roof and then gain easier access to the upper levels of the property?
