How to make your home more secure

HOW DO BURGLARS GET IN?

National statistics show:

28% through the front
6% through the side
2% through the roof
64% through the rear

Of these burglaries most were through INSECURE doors and windows. This information has been designed to let you assess the security of your home against burglars.

There are very many styles of doors and windows but the information given should cover most types. If you have a problem with any aspect of your home security, contact your local Police Station for advice.

In many homes it would be very expensive to bring the level of security to the standard we like to see in one go. For that reason this information is colour coded to enable you to progressively raise the level of security to the standards given.

Stage one These items are essential

Stage two These items are important

Stage three The final touches

REMEMBER that this information is a general guide only. There may be special local reasons for consideration, such as high crime areas, poor building design or a local villain.

YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD OFFICER WILL TELL YOU IF THERE ARE ANY OF THESE 'LOCAL REASONS'. IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT ABOUT ANYTHING - JUST ASK.

FRONT OR MAIN DOOR

This is what is usually recommended to be fitted to a front door to give a good level of security.

Check yours now.

The door to be of solid timber (not hollow) at least 44mm thick. Supported by three 100mm hinges. The frame to be of sound timber (not rotten) securely bolted, screwed or otherwise fixed to the walls.

Fit a door viewer and door chain or limiter and always use them before opening the door to callers.

Fit a good quality automatic dead-latch cylinder lock. There are many locks available now which are direct replacements for older easily beaten types. This lock should be fitted about 1/3 of the way down the door. Fit a good quality 5 lever mortice deadlock (BS 3621) about 1/3 of the way up the door.

Fit a pair of door bolts of at least 100mm, top and bottom on the opening side of the door. Good length screws similar to 25mm no 10 should be used.

Important note
Every external outward opening door must have a pair of hinge bolts fitted to support the hinge side of the door. One 150mm below the top hinge and one 150mm above the lower hinge.

There are many styles of door. If your door has glass or leaded lights this is obviously a problem. You can fit laminated glass or a decorative mesh or grill, polycarbonate or Lexan sheeting or reinforce the glass with plastic film.

BACK OR SINGLE FRENCH DOOR

It is recommended that the following be fitted to a back or single French door to improve its security.

Check yours now.

Fit a pair of door security mortice rackbolts one at the top or one at the bottom. Alternatively use a surface mounted security pressbolts. Push to lock - key to open. The door to be of solid timber (not hollow) at least 44mm thick. Supported by three 100mm hinges.
The frame to be of sound timber (no rot) securely bolted, screwed or otherwise fixed to the walls.

Glass panels represent an obvious problem but there are several means of protection. Consider replacing ordinary glass with laminated.
Where possible fit glass from the inside - no vulnerable putty outside. There are also many styles of decorative grilles on the market. Plastic film may be used to reinforce the glass.

Fit a good quality 5 lever two bolt sash mortice lock (BS 3621). Lower glass panels present the same problems as the panels above. The same options exist.

Lower plywood panels are invariably too thin and a sheet of 12mm or 18mm marine plywood screwed inside or outside (or both) will increase security.

Important note.

Every external outward opening door must have a pair of hinge bolts fitted to support the hinge side of the door. One 150mm below the top hinge and one 150mm above the lower hinge.

The above guide can be applied to most doors with a little thought. Aluminium and UPVC doors are becoming more common and security pressbolts can be fitted top and bottom to most aluminium doors as on wooden doors. Currently there are no secondary locks on the market for UPVC. Make sure the standard locks on these doors are strong enough.

WINDOWS

REMEMBER TO LOCK ALL WINDOWS on the ground floor, and those accessible from flat roofs, metal gutters or soil pipes, etc.

VISIBILITY - Consider this before you buy. Can the burglar see your locks from outside? There are locks to suit all styles of window but if you have replacement windows seek expert advice.

SASH WINDOWS. Fit key operated sash stops to the upper window to limit the opening of both windows to about 150mm. A cheaper, but less attractive, alternative is to screw wooden blocks to the upper windows to limit the opening. The beading which holds the window in place is usually pinned in place. It is recommended that this beading be screwed.

DO NOT RELY ON EXISTING CENTRAL SASH FASTENERS, they are so easy to overcome.

HINGED WINDOWS. With the windows closed, press at each opening corner from inside. If there is ANY movement fit a suitable lock at each corner on the opening side (i.e. 2 per window). If there is NO MOVEMENT fit a suitable lock at or near the centre of the window on the opening side. Do not buy locks which either secure the handle or stay bar - buy locks which secure the frames together.

NOTES. All vulnerable glass can be protected with laminating film, which can also help prevent accidents where young children have access. (Patio and glazed doors for example). Laminated glass is stronger.

DO NOT think that wired glass is strong - it is FIRE not security glass.

LEADED WINDOWS are vulnerable. Fit secondary glazing, using laminated glass, polycarbonate or Lexan sheet or bars or grilles.

When replacing glass use glazing mastic to bond it to the wooden frame, as it is far tougher than putty.

PATIO DOORS

Many homes today are fitted with sliding patio doors and due to the poor locking systems used by many manufacturers they create a security risk.

In fact there has been an increase lately of break-ins where patio doors have been forced.

What can you do? There are two things to look for when you inspect your doors.

1) With the door open, can you lift it more than about 7mm?

2) Is the lock a simple hook which goes over a bar or pin in the frame?

If you answered yes to either of the above then you have a problem, as the door can be lifted off its track by a burglar (usually with your garden tools), or the burglar can peel back the aluminium by the lock and bend down the pin or bar which holds it back.

Blocks screwed to the top track above the opening door will prevent lift. Security pressbolts - of which there are many types - can be fitted to prevent both the lift and slide of the door even if the centre hook lock is defeated. Where they are fitted is obviously dependent upon the style of door, and it is possible to work out the best place for your quite easily.

Many later styles of door employ multipoint locking where anything up to 12 hardened steel pins slide up into a hardened steel plate around the frame. This is a very good form of securing patio doors and very difficult to overcome.

DOUBLE FRENCH DOORS

One door opens first and closes last and it is to this door which a security pressbolt or mortice rackbolt should be fitted, at the top and bottom. The other door is held closed by the rebate, or step off the first door. Where a thin rebate exists door security bolts should be fitted to both doors.

Remember - hinge bolts to be fitted on both doors.

Many doors of this type are fitted with a rebated 2 bolt sash mortice lock, which are not very secure due to the lack of levers in the lock. (2 or 3 levers are common).

There are now locks of this style available with 5 levers (to BS 3621) - more commonly known as mortice deadlocks - and these give much greater security and are recommended.

Treat glazed/plywood panels as per front or back doors.

LIGHTING

Good external lighting will help to deter the thief at night.

You can fit either manually controlled photo-electric cell, a movement detector or timers to switch on lights and illuminate the front and rear garden areas. External doors should be covered by the lighting positions.

Don't forget to fit a smoke alarm - one per floor.

AND THERE'S MORE

Have you considered any of the following?

Visibility

Keep hedges, trees and shrubs in your front garden below window sill height, why give the burglar a screen to work behind.

Neighbourhood Watch

Is Neighbourhood Watch operating where you live? If not why not get one going. Many insurance companies now offer reduced rates for household policies to Neighbourhood Watches.

Property Marking

Mark your property with your postcode and house number. Photograph valuable and smaller items.

Burglar Alarms

What about an ALARM SYSTEM? Before installing an alarm you need good physical security - locks, bars, glazing and all the other things in this information.

An alarm system is a worthwhile investment to protect your family and property.

It must meet British Standard 4743.

Remember to lock away gardening tools etc. securely in your shed, they make good housebreaking tools.

Keep garden fences in good repair and always lock your gates.

If you want crime prevention advice for your home, contact your local neighbourhood beat officer who will be pleased to assist you.

If you have a particular problem or need advice about business premises, your local crime Prevention Officer is available through your nearest Police Station.