There were over 270,000 reports of burglary in England and Wales in 2022. So, how can you keep your home and belongings safe?
Identifying and securing possible entry points is a great way to prevent break-ins. Read on to learn about the most common entry points for burglars.
How do burglars get in?
Doors
The easiest way into a house is through a door. This is true for homeowners, and it’s definitely true for burglars. A smart burglar will try the front and back doors first, along with any side-doors. If the doors are locked, the burglar might then look for any spare keys hidden under doormats or plant pots. If you’re away, even if it’s just during the day, it’s best to make sure any spare keys are kept safe in a lockbox or given to trusted friends or neighbours.
Windows
You might know the joke about getting “intruder window,” but there’s truth in that pun: windows are indeed one of the most common entry points for burglars. If a window (particularly a ground-floor window) is open or unlocked, a burglar may climb in without breaking any glass.
Determined thieves might smash the glass out of the window frame and get in that way, but this is risky – the most successful burglars are those who can get in and out of a property undetected, and shattering a pane of glass is likely to attract attention.
Garages
If you have a garage attached to your house, a burglar could exploit this - especially if there’s a connecting door between the garage and the house. Locking the garage is an easily- and often-overlooked task, so garages are a popular target for thieves. Even if there is no connecting door to grant them access to the main property, burglars may still make off with valuable tools and other items.
This also applies to sheds and outhouses. Burglars don’t like to leave empty-handed, so if your garage, shed, or outhouse isn’t connected to your main residence, they may still break in to steal a bike or power tools. A shed may also make a great hiding place in which the burglar can stay until the coast is clear.
How can I keep my home safe?
While it's impossible to make a property 100% burglar-proof, there are steps you can take to safeguard your home and make it a less attractive target for thieves. We offer a range of security measures to prevent burglary, including CCTV cameras and burglar alarms.
If you want to keep your house secure, get in touch with us today and we can arrange a free security survey for you.
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