How to move home hassle free

How to move home securely

Moving home is said to be one of the most stressful times of our lives. Issues with paperwork, solicitors’ appointments, estate agents and then the worry of the sale potentially falling through are some of the factors that add to the stress of the ordeal. After possibly one of your most expensive purchases, comes the much anticipated move involving more exercise than you’ve probably done all year. Once all is over and you’ve finally settled into your new home, comes a vital part that many people either forget or disregard... the importance of having the locks changed on your new property.

If you think of your current house key and how many people you know that have a spare, it becomes slightly worrying when you realise you have no idea how many people could have a key to your new home. Changing the locks when you move home should be a basic security precaution for every home owner, but this is still something many people forget or possibly never do. As well as leaving your home and its contents potentially unsecure, many insurance companies will not pay out if an intruder gains entry using a key, as there generally needs to be clear signs of breaking and entering.

When moving home and changing the locks there are a few things you should consider. You should check with your insurance company prior to the change to make sure they don’t have any minimum requirements. Many insurance companies will require you to have a tried and tested British standard lock fitted to your door and your locks changed can be fairly expensive making this an important requirement to double check, prior to a locksmith attending your property. When getting your locks changed/upgraded, it may also be worth investing in a key safe. Key safes are a fantastic way of storing spare keys; meaning you won’t run the risk of being locked out. You also have the security of knowing that the key is safe, especially since nearly 20% of people still hide their spare keys in an area of their garden in places many intruders will know to look.  If you are interested in buying a key safe, take a look at www.keytekshop.co.uk.

Whilst the locksmith is changing the locks, it’s a good idea to have a security check completed on your home at this point. Potential intruders could enter the property through a window so if you’re missing any window keys or the locks are looking a little old, it’s a good idea to have these checked also. These simple tips and considerations can help you enjoy your new home with no worries or shocks in or out of the house. If you would like to read any more information on home security and locksmith services, our website has lots of useful information! 

You can visit our website by going to www.keytek.co.uk. Or if after reading this blog you need your locks changing, call us now on 0800 035 0451! 

How vulnerable is your home

There are many different reasons why a burglar may break in to your home, although some are opportunistic whereby they will take the opportunity when it arises i.e. a door or window is left open, others will scope out your property beforehand. Therefore it is important to evaluate the security of your home to ensure your home isn’t targeted by a burglar whether it is opportunistic or pre-planned.

Ask yourself the following questions when evaluating the security of your home:

·         Are the locks on any doors and windows visible?

By making sure these are visible will help to deter a burglar as they will be able to see it will be harder to break in.

·         Are any doors or windows left open, even if it isn’t easy to access them?

Make sure all doors and windows are locked before leaving your home.

·         Ensure all your windows are locked and closed at night

When closing up your windows for the night ensure they are all locked and securely shut. If any small top windows are accidently left open or open to let in cold air overnight a burglar can easily reach through and open a large window internally.

·         Do you have any lights with sensors fitted to the exterior of your property?

Fitting lights with sensors to the outside of your home will ensure your home is well lit if an intruder was to approach your property. These will not only help to alert you and your neighbours but may deter an intruder from breaking into your home as they tend to be confident when working in the dark.

·         Is the front of your home visible from the road?

Having high walls and hedges can give a burglar protection from being seen therefore making sure your home is visible is important.

·         Is accessing your home noisy?

Consider having gravel placed on your driveway as it is impossible to walk on gravel without making a noise. The more difficult you make it for a burglar to access your home without making a noise the less likely you are to be a victim of burglary.

·         When you are on holiday or away from your home is it obvious that your home is unoccupied?

Make sure that when you are going to be away from your home for a long period of time that you do the following:

-          Ask a trusted neighbour, friend or family member to keep an eye on your home whilst you’re away. Ask them to open and close curtains etc so that it appears that your home is occupied.

-          Cancel any deliveries such as the newspaper or milk.

-          Use the Royal Mail’s Keepsafe service to hold any letters or parcels whilst you’re away to avoid any post piling up whilst your home is unoccupied.

·         Are there any ladders or equipment lying around that can be used by a burglar to gain entry to your home?

Make sure that any ladders or equipment that could be used to break in to your home are stored securely in a locked garage or shed.

Make sure you check out www.keytekshop.co.uk’s wide range of burglary deterrents to protect your home from opportunistic burglars!   

Tip 12 of The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas...

Call a local locksmith to book in a home security and insurance compliance check!

Call a local locksmith to book in a home security and insurance compliance check, they will be more than happy to upgrade the security of your home for your peace of mind over the Christmas period.

Tip 11 of The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas...

Check the locks on any gates or sheds and upgrade/replace if necessary. 

Make sure anything that can be used by a burglar to gain entry to your property i.e. garden tools is safely locked away.

As part of Hertfordshire Constabulary’s ‘The Top Five Operation Guardian Tips’ they recommend securing your garden by shutting and locking any gates and making sure you lock away any garden tools as these can be used by burglars to break in.

For more information on the security of ‘your garden and outside the home’ see Hertfordshire Constabulary’s advice here.

In 2012 the Guardian even reported that thefts in garden furniture and accessories had soared as the value of what we buy for the garden has increased, a survey by Confused.com showed that the average value of a British garden’s contents was £825, this included garden tools, lawnmowers, patio furniture and barbecues. All of these items are easy pickings for an opportunistic burglar, so lock them away!

Tip 10 of The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas...

Use a UV pen to mark any valuables so if the worse does happen it may help to make recovery easier.

Many Police Forces and Home Insurance Providers will advise marking any valuables especially those that are more mobile i.e. a laptop or tablet. 

A burglary infographic from Tesco Compare showed that the top 5 most stolen items included...

• Mobile Phones (6%)

• Jewellery and Watches (11%)

• Cameras and MP3 Players (13%)

• Laptops (15%)

• Money (17%)

Marking your valuables will usually deter thieves from stealing them as an item that is clearly marked will be more difficult for a thief to sell and will often reduce the items value (Devon and Cornwall police). It also helps to increase the chance of your property being identified if the worse did happen and it was either lost or stolen.

Norfolk Constabulary recommends the following ways to effectively mark your property:

• Electronic marking – Use property register website Immobilise to electronically register your valuables details. This helps Police Forces across the UK to identify the owner of any lost or stolen items.

• UV pen marking – Use a UV pen (invisible to the naked eye) to mark your valuables ideally write your postcode, house number or house name. Usually stickers are supplied with any UV pens which indicate that the valuables are marked; these can deter a burglar from stealing your property in the first place.

• Photography – Taking detailed photos of your valuables will help to prove they are yours if they are stolen.

• Permanent Marker Pen/Paint – This is recommended for marking large items such as machinery, garden equipment and tools.

• Postcode Stencil – This is literally a stencil of your postcode, which is applied with paste and etches your details onto your valuables.

• DNA Technology - There are several products available that use DNA technology to mark valuables. They contain microdots with unique reference numbers that are linked to your home. These are detected with a UV light and the information is then obtained from the microdots.

• Inventories – Inventory all of your valuable items either by listing them, taking photographs or videos.

Tip 9 of The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas...

Light it up!

Lights with sensors in the garden and at the front of your property will help to deter a burglar as they are more confident when working in the dark.

As the nights draw darker, during the winter months it is really worth considering installing motion detector lights externally to your home.

Considering that the majority of burglaries take place during the night, (56% of recorded burglaries happen at night according to Tesco Compare), it is definitely a good idea to have security lights fitted to your property as these can help to deter a burglar from breaking into your home, as they are less likely to feel confident breaking into a property that is well-lit. The majority of Police Forces will advise this as an additional security measure, “consider fitting outside security lighting or a visible alarm to help deter burglars” (ThamesValley Police). ThamesValley Police also advise “using pea shingle or gravel on a driveway and spiky plants in garden beds”.   

Tip 8 of The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas...

Keep out any unwanted guests!

It is always a good idea to have a spy hole or door chain fitted to your front door especially in the holiday season where you are more likely to receive more visitors to your home.

When evaluating the security of your home it is important to consider that you may need additional security such as a spy hole or door chain, which will not only improve the security of your home by allowing you to keep out unwanted guests but will also add to your peace of mind. The Metropolitan Police advises that a spy hole and door chain or even a limiter should be fitted for added safety and security as “these will enable you to deal with callers to your front door whilst retaining a level of security.” 

Tip 7 of The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas...

Store all sets of keys away from the front door! 

Whatever time of year it is, it’s never a good idea to leave your keys anywhere near your front door. A letterbox cage or guard can be fitted; burglars will often use the letterbox to retrieve keys stored inside the house.

When thinking about the security of your home, it is always a good idea to think like a burglar!

Look for any potential security risks that may be used to the advantage of a burglar i.e. spare keys under the mat. In a recent survey by Keytek™ it was found that over 20% of Britons were still leaving spare keys hidden in an unsecure location such as under a plant pot in the garden.

Many will advise against this, including the Charity Age UK who advise on their website not to leave spare keys in “obvious places such as under a flower pot or doormat or hanging inside the letterbox”. For a relatively small cost it is advisable to have a Key Safe fitted in a hidden location on the outside of your home by a local locksmith.  A Key Safe is a secure box where you can safely and securely store your keys without having to hide them or to rely on a neighbour or family member to look after them.

It is also advised that you don’t store any keys or ID documents near to a door or window that is accessible externally to minimise the risk of what is sometimes referred to as ‘fishing’. Insurance provider Aviva explains that “thieves will use props such as coat hangers and fishing rods to hook keys”. Key ‘fishing’ can be minimised not only by storing your keys away from any doors or windows but also by having a letterbox cage/guard fitted to your door by a locksmith. Letterbox brushes can be fitted to avoid a burglar seeing where your keys are stored. 

Tip 6 of The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas...

Don’t share your holiday plans!

 

Don’t discuss any holiday plans on any type of open forum i.e. Facebook. I’m sure you have all heard the horror stories where over a thousand people turned up to a party that had been made public on Facebook, it would be like that but a party for... burglars!

According to online etiquette blog ‘Netmanners’ social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter are accessible by anyone although you are letting your ‘friends’ know what you are up to there is always the underlying issue that anyone can access your information and find out what you are up to i.e. burglars.

An interactive Facebook App was developed in 2011 to highlight the dangers of posting too much personal information on the internet called ‘Take This Lollipop’. The short horror film takes personal information from your profile through the use of your pictures and messages and shows a ‘Facebook stalker’ typing on a computer with your personal information appearing on his screen and then eventually he uses Google maps to pinpoint your position then he is seen driving to your location, therefore demonstrating to you the dangers of sharing personal information on the internet. 

Tip 5 of The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas...

Window shopping for burglars!

Remember the Grinch who stole Christmas... never ever leave any presents or valuables where they can be seen by a burglar i.e. in view of a window.

The majority of home insurance providers will advise that you keep any valuables out of sight. According to Aviva you should be aware of any ‘top pickings’ for burglars; “consoles, games and DVDs make up 62% of belongings stolen”, “other favourites include cameras, computers, mobile phones, MP3 players and jewellery” (Aviva). 

Christmas presents and valuables can be safely stored away in a lockable cupboard or drawer.

Tip 4 of The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas...

Join your local Neighbourhood Watch! 

As part of our home security advice we recommend that you either join or start a Neighbourhood Watch scheme. 

The Neighbourhood Watch works to bring neighbours together who want to look out for each other, creating strong, friendly, active communities where crime and antisocial behaviour are less likely to happen.

To find your local Neighbourhood Watch, or for information on how to start a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, please visit www.ourwatch.org.uk/

Alternatively if you don’t have a Neighbourhood Watch in your area and are going away for Christmas, inform a trusted neighbour that you are doing so, so they can keep an eye on your property.

Tip 3 of The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas...

Going away during the Christmas Holidays?

If you are going to be away for a long period of time ask Royal Mail to hold your mail - they will do this for up to 2 months. 

The Royal Mail operates a Keepsafe™ service during the Holidays. This service literally consists of the Royal Mail holding onto any parcel and letters whilst you're away for up to 66 days and will deliver them to your home once you have returned.

The service is supported by The Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee as it reduces the risk of identity fraud when you are on Holiday as the service ensures that you do not leave any obvious clues to your absence such as a mountain of letters piled up on your doormat (Royal Mail).

Tip 2 of The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas...

If you’re going to be away from your home for a long period of time leave a light on or on a timer. Leaving a television or radio on is also a good alternative to leaving the lights on.

 

As the Holidays approach the majority of us will be frequently out of the house for longer periods of time whether that is due to attending an office party or just simply doing the Christmas shopping. In order to deter a burglar from breaking into your home it is regularly advised that if you are planning on returning when it is most likely to be dark, “lighting up your home is a useful deterrent of burglary” (Metropolitan Police). 

The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas Infographic

‘Tis the season to be security conscious!

As the nights draw darker and colder, it is important to evaluate the security of your home and take measures to ensure your home isn’t an easy burglary target. During the winter period your home can be seen to be more vulnerable by an intruder, especially in the lead up to Christmas when you are more than likely to have unopened items of high value.

In the lead up to Christmas each day we will be posting a home security tip to help you stay secure over the Christmas period. As part of this we have put together an infographic...

Click on the infographic to enlarge it.

Share this Infographic On Your Site

<p> <center> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0-_wHcBYRk3a09LM1dTOFMzdm8/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvREeGO3GtS9E-gjCWcHyPhmegz14Rq5wGorJdHkGZFJOo5WHYOULty_YXHHoJ3vrCy1wljZ9DH5wiGd1MHgunyIF02v_atJM21avuR8gT3AiJ8JFdpqU-p8yvqWTYLm4wsNg57vmuxM/s1600/The-12-Home-Security-Tips-of-Christmas-Infographic.png' alt='The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas' width='292px' height='1600px' border='0'/></a><br /><br /><b>Christmas Home Security Infographic by <a href="http://blog.keytek.co.uk/2014/12/christmas-home-security-infographic.html" target="_blank">Keytek Locksmiths</b></a></center> </p> <br>

Tip 1 of The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas...

Don’t give a burglar a leg up!

Store all bins and ladders away from your property. These could be used by an intruder to gain access to a 1st floor window.

The majority of leading home insurance providers will recommend that it is always a good idea to lock up anything that can be used by a burglar to gain entry to a first floor window or climb over a fence i.e. wheelie bins and ladders. 

Home insurance provider Saga advise that all ladders should be securely locked away in a garage or shed. If you are using a garage or shed with windows to store anything that can be used by a burglar to gain entry it is also good to have curtains fitted to stop anyone from seeing in!

The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas

‘Tis the season to be home security conscious!

 

In the lead up to Christmas each day we will be posting a home security tip, so look out for our ‘The 12 Home Security Tips of Christmas’.

As the nights draw darker and colder, it is important to evaluate the security of your home and take measures to ensure your home isn’t an easy burglary target. During the winter period your home can be seen to be more vulnerable by an intruder, especially in the lead up to Christmas when you are more than likely to have unopened items of high value.

Although the risk of burglary does differ according to the type of property and level of security that is already in place it is worth taking the necessary precautions in order to best protect yourself and your home from a break-in.  

Each of the home security tips we share in the lead up to Christmas will help you to make sure your home is best protected during the Holiday period! 

In the meantime watch our home security video with tips and advice from our local locksmiths...

Advice on the uPVC security risks that were highlighted on Sue Hills Crime File on This Morning

As you may have already seen on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ today ex–burglar Michael Fraser who you may remember from BBC television programme ‘Beat the Burglar’ demonstrated that he was able to snap a Euro Profile cylinder in just four seconds!

In this blog post Craig, the Head Trainer at the Keytek™ Locksmith Training Academy gives his own advice, tips and information in regards to what security risks this video has highlighted...

This week’s ‘Sue Hill’s Crime File’ on ‘This Morning’ highlights a design flaw in Euro Profile cylinders. It basically shows how a Euro Profile cylinder can be removed from the door and how the lock case can be manipulated therefore allowing an intruder to gain entry to a property. In fact it is not a new problem and it doesn’t just apply to uPVC doors only.

Any style of door that has a Euro Profile cylinder fitted to it could be at risk. The information contained in the video is accurate to a degree and having a BS Kitemarked cylinder will offer more resistance to this type of attack, but as with any product, they are manufactured to different price points and vary in levels of quality.

When choosing a Euro cylinder please bear in mind that having the Kitemark is the MINIMUM standard you should have but there are other higher security alternatives such as the the TS007 3 star rating accreditation.

When having a new Euro cylinder or any other type of lock replaced we always recommend that you contact a locksmith who can carry out a full home security and insurance compliance check as part of the service and recommend a quality product that conforms to all of the relevant standards for your insurance and your peace of mind.

Craig
(Head Trainer at the Keytek™ Locksmith Training Academy)