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About 80 per cent of all burglaries are crimes of opportunity - the burglar takes advantage of an open window, unlocked doors or poor quality locks. Keys left under the mat or in an obvious place provide easy entry. Burglars look for easy opportunities - spending a long time or making a lot of noise to break-in increases the risk of being seen.

Locked Windows Provide a Good Deterrent

Breaking glass attracts attention. A window fitted with a deadlock (a lock that can only be opened with a key) will prevent an entry after breaking the window as the burglar will be forced to climb through broken glass and risk injury.

Doors Should Be Fitted With Deadlocks

If this is done, a burglar is unable to open the door for an easy escape route, and remove stolen items. Precautions like these do work. Check the security of your home against the checklist and eliminate the opportunities for burglars.

Other Useful Security Tips

• Never open the door automatically after a knock - insist that all callers identify themselves.
• Often a caller can be seen and identified through a window near the door. A wide-angle peephole installed in your door enables you to identify callers before you open the door. A safety chain can offer some protection if a peephole can't be fitted because of the construction of the door.
• If a stranger asks to use your telephone, direct the person to a public telephone. The alternative is that you make the call for them, but please don't let them inside the house.
• Be alert to people who say they want to come into your home to check appliances or equipment. Ask for, and verify their credentials. Ring the firm they belong to first, that will help you decide. If in doubt, don't let them in and never admit that you're alone in the house.
• Don't reveal your name and address to a 'wrong number' caller.
• Don't put your full name on the letterbox - initials and surname are best.
• Likewise in the telephone book, initials and surname preserve your sexual identity.
• Keep garage doors closed at all times - an open, empty garage is an obvious sign that nobody's at home.
• If you have an alarm system installed, display the security company's sign in a prominent position on your house as a warning.
• Keep trees and big shrubs trimmed to minimise the number of likely hiding places in your garden - trees should not obscure windows and doors and shrubs should be trimmed below window level.
• Avoid keeping large amounts of money or valuables, such as jewellery, in your home. Valuable documents such as share certificates and property title deeds should be safely stored at your bank or in a safe.
• If you do keep valuable jewellery, silverware, antiques, paintings, stamp collections, etc. at home, photograph them and list each item with a valuation and date of purchase. These measures will help Police trace the items if they are stolen and assist FinTel with your claim. Turn the telephone volume down so that it can't be heard from the street. That way a thief can't hear if it is unanswered.
• Never advertise your absence. Keep blinds and curtains open. Make the house look lived in- arrange for a friend or neighbour to come in and change the curtains around occasionally, and hang their washing on the clothesline. A pair of size 10 gumboots left at the front door is a simple and effective message to casual callers.
• Don't leave a spare key in a convenient hiding place such as under the door mat - a thief will look there first!
• Ask a neighbour to put one of their rubbish bags in front of your house to ensure a 'normal' routine is maintained.
• Don't leave house keys with your car keys when having your vehicle serviced and don't put your address on your keys.
• Never leave notes for friends, relatives or tradespeople - a thief can read too.
• Before going away stop all paper deliveries and ask a neighbour to collect your mail.
• Have a neighbour or friend turn on an inside light, or have one connected to a timer.
• Arrange for a neighbour of friend to park their car in your driveway occasionally.
• Arrange for a trusted person to mow your lawns to maintain a 'normal' tidy appearance to the property
  

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