Your home should be a sanctuary for you and your family - A place where you should be safe. This is why it’s so important that you take home security seriously!

Burglaries often lead to loss of property such as cash, laptops, jewellery and phones. This will cause some grievance for victims, although these material items can often be quite easily replaced (particularly if you have home and contents insurance). 

However, if you or your family happen to be at home during the incident you can potentially suffer a much larger loss. When encountered, burglars will often act in a  violent and aggressive manner with an intent to harm. 

In 2018-19 there were approximately 231,000 break-ins across Australian households - This equates to approximately 2.4% of houses. If you think about this practically - the chances are that at least one house on your street was broken into within the last 12 months!

1. Only 77% of victims reported the offence to police

2. In 10% of cases the offender confronted someone within the home

3. 75% of burglars take less than 5 minutes to enter the home

4. 73% of houses had property stolen from them

5. 49% of the houses had property damaged 

There are several measures that you can take to increase your home security. Certain measures are quick and easy that you can DIY, whereas some measures will require the assistance of a qualified home security company. 

Here are our critical tips for securing your home:

This may seem obvious, however approximately 68% of home burglaries occur through an unlocked door or window. Firstly, check that your windows are lockable by key, which is an inexpensive way to beef up your home security. But more importantly, be diligent - make sure you lock up even if you’re gardening in the backyard or visiting your neighbour for a cuppa. 

Anti-lift blocks can be installed on home windows to ensure they don’t twist within the frame when locked. This is a quick and inexpensive measure to increase your home security. 

Pin Cylinder locks can also be installed on sliding doors to improve your security (these look similar to front door keys). Alternatively, you can install a patio bolt to achieve the same result. 

Burglars will often cut the power to your home before they attempt to enter. To prevent this you can install a lock on your meter box.

By moving your high value items away from doors and windows, you are reducing the temptation of burglars to steal them. Leaving a wallet or laptop on a table near a window is just too tempting.

Get to know your neighbours. They can keep an eye on your home while you’re on holiday, can notify you if they spot anything fishy, and can bring in the mail when you’re away.

Burglars can also tend to hide near your outdoor entrances. Avoid tall plants, trees or security screens near your entrance doors and windows - This will discourage burglars from trying to enter your premises. 

For convenience, many households elect to store a spare key in a pot plant, or under a stone or doormat near the entrance. This is typically the first place that a burglar will look when attempting to enter a locked premises. Do not store your spare keys outside unless they are secured in a locked box and out of sight.

When purchasing a ‘high value’ item such as a new television, try to hide the boxes and packaging to avoid advertising the new purchase. 

Try to avoid advertising your holidays on social media, until your return home. Burglars are known to target houses where the owners are known to be away on holiday. On other hand, it can help to join local social media groups, which can provide a valuable insight into what is going on locally.

Engage an experienced and fully qualified home security company to install a strong and durable security door or screen. 

Make sure that the product exceeds Australian Standards - Security doors and screens must withstand the impacts of 100 Joules, which attempts to replicate the force of an intruder kicking a door 5 times. To meet Australian standards, the mesh must not be penetrated or come away from the frame. 

Consider how much airflow, light and privacy the mesh allows (most security doors provide a rating out of 5 stars for each factor).

If you’re unable to install a security door, a peep hole within the door can at least allow you to see who is knocking on your door. Opening your door to an unknown person is a real security risk!

By and large, the best way to secure your home is to install a reputable alarm and CCTV system. Burglars will typically look for alarms and camera systems while selecting which homes to break into. 

If you have an alarm don’t use stickers on your window saying what system you have, use a generic sticker.

In order to maximise your home security you should engage a qualified and experienced company. Here are some items to consider when selecting a security door installer - 

● Do they provide an obligation-free inspection and quotation?

● Do they take the time to properly understand your requirements in order to offer the best solution?

● Is the product backed by a significant warranty? (minimum of 5 years)

● Does the company have 10+ years experience?

● Is the company qualified, police cleared and fully insured?

● Does the company have a good reputation online? (aim for companies with 100+ Google or Facebook reviews)