|
|
Home security
housing@knh.org.uk
Do not tempt the thief
High priced items such as jewellery should be kept out of sight.
Never leave a garage or garden shed unlocked
Often full of expensive tools, ideal for breaking into the rest of the house.
Look in, when you are out
Most burglaries happen when a house or flat is empty. Leave a light on inside the house (choose well-used
rooms such as the lounge or bedroom - not a hallway or other largely unused area).
The intention is to create the impression that someone is in - a significant deterrent. Illuminate the areas of
your home which are most likely to achieve this. This will vary from house to house.
Use a timer switch to turn on lights inside the house, occupied houses will normally have more than one light
on. Therefore, if possible, illuminate a second area that reinforces the impression that someone is in. At least
one of the rooms, and preferably two, should be visible from the road.
Timer switches are an excellent way of triggering one or more lights. As daylight hours grow shorter, reset the
timer to activate earlier. In the middle of winter a house with someone at home will often have lights on in the
early afternoon and the timer needs to be set accordingly.
Door and window security
Easily visible locks may deter some thieves as they force the thief to break the glass and risk attracting
attention.
Spare keys should never be left in a convenient hiding place such as under the door mat or in a flowerpot - A
thief will look there first.
In nearly half of burglaries the criminal gets through an open door or window. A third of burglaries occur
through a rear window. An open window or door is an invitation to criminals. Keep them closed and locked
especially when you are not in that room.
In solid doors or doors with frosted glazing consider installing a door viewer and door chain.
Bogus callers
It is a sad fact of life that some criminals will impersonate others to carry out despicable crimes, preying
on vulnerable people throughout the community.
Unfortunately this type of crime does occur with bogus callers varying in appearance and using a number of
excuses to try and trick their way into peoples homes.
The aim of the bogus caller is to try and talk their way into your home, after all if they can walk through your
front door after receiving an invite from you, why should they go to all the trouble of having to break into your
property.
- Before you open the door check to see who it is by looking through your front window or by using a door
viewer if you have one.
- Only open the door when you have put the chain on.
- Get a good look at their clothing, some official callers will have a uniform bearing their company or
organisation logo. KNH or repairs contractors will always have an ID badge.
- Utility services may operate a password system, contact your local branch to find out more.
- Suggest that the caller should come back later, you can then check their story by telephoning the
organisation or company they claim to represent.
- Check any phone number they give you in your own telephone directory. Do not rely on the number on their
card, it may be the number of their partner in crime.
- Always lock the back door before opening the front or vice versa. Bogus callers sometimes work in pairs,
one caller could be distracting you at the front and the other sneaking in at the back.
- Let the police and your neighbours know if you have had a suspicious caller at the door.
- Locks and chains are only a deterrent if they are used!
- Emergency situations can arise. Do not leave the door chain on all of the time as this may cause a
delay. Only put the chain on before answering the door.
- Remember if in doubt keep them out.
Bogus callers in all shapes and sizes, including children, are at work. Please do not let them trick you into
letting them in. If you do not have a door chain or viewer consider having one fitted, they cost very little.
Help if your home is burgled
As part of our Community Safety Strategy, we work with West Yorkshire Police to help cut down burglaries.
If you are a council tenant whose home has been burgled, the crime prevention officer may decide that extra
security is needed. We will aim to fit any extra security recommended as soon as possible to reduce the chances
of you suffering a second burglary. However, as funding for this kind of work is limited, we may not always be
able to carry out the work recommended.
Other websites
|
