Police forces around the country are standing up against burglary as winter closes in. A number of initiatives have launched nationwide in rural and urban areas, such as Operation Bumblebee in London, and the campaign by Northumberland police to raise awareness of staying secure in their region. However, the importance of being aware of the need of rural property security can’t be stressed enough.
Rural burglary is an important issue, as nearly a fifth of the population of England and Wales lives in rural areas. It’s normal for anyone to think that a resident of a rural town or an even more remote location is out of the way of the sort of trouble that occurs in urban areas. Government statistics state that rural burglary is a third of urban, but its existence means that it still important to be take precautions.
Awareness of your surroundings is crucial, perhaps even more so in rural than urban areas because of the ease of taking the safety and security of a rural area for granted. If you see a vehicle or person hovering around a property, especially if you notice them return, then don’t be afraid to call the police; a misunderstanding is better than a burglary.
Most important is to ensure that your property is secured. A remote building lessens the likelihood of a burglar being spotted when entering through an open door. It might seem improbable that a burglar would be audacious enough to do that, but 15% of burglars who enter a property through a door will enter through an unlocked one.
It’s also important to keep windows shut when you are away from a property. An open window can provide an entry point, even if it’s a top window. Burglars do sometime pose as tradesmen or perhaps even are tradesmen as their day job. Indeed, 48% of burglars are known to the victim.
If you have outbuildings, then alarm systems are undoubtedly a must. It’s always better to go for a real one than a dummy alarm as experienced intruders will be able to recognise the difference – but obviously a dummy alarm is better than nothing if you need to keep costs down.
Perhaps you do think your property is secure, as you have good locks, an alarm system and maybe even security cameras if you own land and outbuildings. However, you can make a secure property a less likely target to start with by thinking like a burglar.
Being aware of appearances is necessary for this. Rural properties sometimes have single-glazed windows, which makes them look like an easier target. If you can upgrade them, then do. It’s not as if a double-glazed window would put a burglar off, but they are bound to choose an easier target no matter how minor the difference.
Another effective deterrent is a sign indicating that there is a dog on the premises. A burglar would not want to take the risk, and the sign would be particularly believable in an outlying rural property as dogs are a key feature of life in the countryside.
Hiding valuables is a simpler step, and important to take when you are away from the property. If you’re out for work during the day then make sure to keep the blinds shut or curtains drawn. This will make a particular difference in an area where there are multiple potential targets.
Crucially, of course, is making sure your door locks are up to scratch, as 72% of burglars enter through a door. We can provide a security survey, checking your locks and providing the advice you need to keep your home secure. Take a look at our blog post on the reasons for taking out a security survey.
We can’t list here all the precautions that should be made, not to just secure your property but also to take to prepare for the possibility that their could be a break in. Make sure to follow our blog and our social media channels for advice that could make your property more secure.
If you want to make sure your property’s secure, call 0800 0612 677 for a free, no obligation quote for a survey.
Source (unless stated): Government Nature of Burglary Statistics 2011
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/nature-of-burglary
