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Back-to-School Home Security: 5 Smart Ways to Lock Down Your Home as Summer Ends
The school run has begun again. Households are returning to their regular routines. With so much going on, it’s easy to overlook home security. Yet
Halloween Home Security Tips
Dark, spooky nights are drawing in. Stay safe this Halloween with essential home security tips. The dark, gloomy nights approach as we get closer to
Recent Posts
Moving House This Spring? Why Changing Your Locks Should Be a Priority
Are you moving home this spring? If so, you’re not alone. This season is arguably the UK’s most popular time to move house. According to Rightmove, “the spring months are typically the busiest period of the year for the housing market”. Demand naturally peaks as families prepare for summer transitions.
Yet amid all the packing and paperwork, one key task is often overlooked: changing the locks.
It doesn’t matter if you’re moving into a preowned home or a newly built property. Replacing your locks should be a top priority. Why? This guide explains why it matters and how to secure your new home from day one.
Why Changing Your Locks Matters
The keys are new to you. However, when you purchase a home, knowing how many duplicates are already in circulation is impossible. It’s not just previous owners you have to worry about. Spare keys may have been handed out to neighbours, cleaners, pet sitters, and even tradespeople. The issue: not all of them get returned. Even if you trust the seller, they might not be aware of every key floating around.
New-build homes are not victims of this situation, right? Wrong. The risk is no less significant. Developers often grant access to a range of contractors, including electricians, plumbers, and decorators. Unless you’re handed a fresh set of locks upon completion of the build, there’s no way to confirm who might still have access to your property.
The risk isn’t only about unwanted visitors. Many insurers require evidence of forced entry to validate a burglary claim, so unauthorised access with a key could mean your home insurance claim is denied if it’s proven that you didn’t take reasonable precautions in changing the locks. Additionally, many insurers expect homeowners to have locks that meet British Standards.
All these points are why we recommend changing your locks as soon as you move in – ideally on day one. This isn’t just the front and back doors, either. It also includes keys for sheds, gates, garages, and even post boxes. By upgrading to anti-snap and British Standard compliant locks, you improve both security and your peace of mind.
After all, a new home should be a fresh start, not a potential security risk.
Additional Security Tips When Moving
You now know the importance of changing your locks. However, there are additional steps to take to prevent bigger issues from cropping up later. Yes, moving house is a hectic time, but the following tips help protect your new home from day one.
- Don’t leave keys in obvious spots: New locks are still vulnerable if you leave spare keys in obvious spots. Think doormats, plant pots, and bins. These spots are the first places a potential intruder will check. Instead, consider using a secure key safe or leaving a spare with a family member or trusted neighbour.
- Check all windows and outbuildings: Make sure all windows – especially those on the ground floor – have working locks. This is the same case for garages, sheds, and gates. When left unsecured, you can be providing easy access to tools and valuables.
- Upgrade to British Standard or anti-snap locks: It’s imperative that, when taking the steps to change your locks, you do it right. That’s where it’s important to use high-security locks that meet British Standards. Anti-snap locks can also provide an extra layer of protection against potential burglars.
- Review your home insurance requirements: It’s wise to check your policy for any lock standards that must be met. Remember: not using compliant locks could affect your ability to claim in the event of a break-in.
- Choose a professional locksmith: Avoid DIY solutions and unaccredited installers. Instead, use a professional locksmith who is DBS checked and possesses accreditations and a wealth of positive reviews. Aside from completing the installation effectively, a good locksmith will advise you on the right locks to use.
How LockRite Locksmiths Can Help
At LockRite, we make securing your new home simple, fast, and stress-free. Our nationwide DBS-checked locksmith team is professionally trained and available – even on moving day. Whether you’ve just moved into a new build or a Victorian house, we can upgrade your locks quickly. Many of our locksmiths possess over a decade of experience and understand the urgency of moving home security.
We supply and install the best locks for your needs, to not just boost your home’s protection, but also meet insurance requirements where required. As for our quality, don’t only take our word for it. With thousands of verified five-star reviews on Trustpilot, Reviews.io, and Google Business, LockRite is a name you can trust when it matters most.
Your new home deserves a fresh start with the right security in place. With LockRite, you can enjoy peace of mind from day one.
Recent New Home Jobs Completed by LockRite
Location: Epsom, Surrey
Epsom Locksmith: Morne
Our customer had just purchased a three-bed property and was concerned about who might have old keys. We replaced two outdated Euro cylinders with new British Standard models to enhance their front and back door security.
Location: Andover
Andover Locksmith: Kevin
We replaced multiple locks for a customer moving into a new home. The job included an ERA high-security night latch, two British Standard 5-lever sash locks, three Euro cylinders, two rim cylinders, and a cam lock for the post box.
Location: Chigwell, Essex
Chigwell Locksmith: Chad
For a customer who had just moved in, we installed four new anti-snap Euro cylinders, a BS 5-lever mortice deadbolt, and a Yale Kitemarked rim cylinder to bring their home security up to modern standards.
Final Thoughts
In the grand scheme of purchasing a new home, changing your locks is a small step. However, don’t underestimate how vital a step it is to take. It’s an easy way to take control of your security and protect your belongings and those in your home. With so many unknowns – like who may still have a spare key – it simply isn’t worth the risk.
Don’t rely on outdated locks or attempt a DIY fix. Instead, choose a professional, trusted locksmith to do the job right. At LockRite, we’re here to help start this new chapter with confidence and peace of mind.
What do Burglars look for?
Understanding how a burglar’s mind works is essential for safeguarding your home against potential break-ins. Considering what they most commonly look for gives the opportunity to take proactive measures to strengthen your home’s security. With that in mind, we have put together a helpful list of key factors to consider when thinking about what burglars look for in a home.
Open Doors and Windows
One of the most basic yet overlooked aspects of your home’s security is ensuring all windows and doors are shut. While most people remember to lock their doors, many forget to close their windows, particularly those on upper floors. Perhaps the reason people don’t see windows as a big security risk is that it appears much less convenient for a burglar to climb through a window than to walk through a door. However, burglars see open windows as easy access points, regardless of whether they’re on the ground or upper floor.
Always double check that any entry points to your property are secure when leaving the house or going to bed.
Visible Valuables
Any valuables that can be seen through your windows might tempt a burglar to break into your home. To minimise the risk of burglars stealing your possessions, be aware of any valuables that are visible from the outside. The more valuables burglars can see through your windows, the more likely they are to target your home.
While it’s important to ensure your valuables aren’t visible from outside your home, it’s equally important to keep them out of sight within your home. This will greatly reduce the chances of your valuables being stolen in the event of a burglary.
It’s important to keep valuable items out of reach from intruders. Items such as jewellery, watches, money, electronics and sensitive documents should be kept in a safe and secure place. Consider more obscure or less obvious hiding spots that only you know of for your important documents and valuables. Often, people will place sensitive documents in well known and predictable locations such as an office drawer or a bedroom cabinet. Burglars will check these known areas first, so keep your valuables in less predictable locations to reduce the chances of theft.
Keeping your valuables out of sight will make your home a less attractive target.
Overgrown Landscape
When it comes to home security, garden maintenance should always be taken into consideration. Burglars will commonly look for areas around a property that will allow them to remain hidden while scoping out a property or breaking in.
Overgrown bushes, trees, and shrubs provide easy cover for burglars, allowing them to approach your property undetected, without being seen by your neighbours. Perhaps it’s time to consider trimming those high hedges in your garden. Reduce the amount of hiding spots around your property through regular garden maintenance. Pay particular attention around your windows and doors to make your property a tougher challenge for burglars.
Vulnerable Dark Spots
Without adequate lighting outside of your home, you give burglars the advantage and opportunity to hide within dark spots where they can easily move around without being spotted.
The darker it is, the harder it is for a burglar to be seen. Installing ample lighting to illuminate your property’s exterior will act as a strong deterrent. Don’t forget about lighting your pathways, side or back doors, porch and garage.
Flood lights, security lights and motion sensor lights are all good examples of adequate lighting for your property during the night. Choose the lighting that is right for you and your home, whether that’s wall lights, stake lights or post lights. Both solar and wired lights are available depending on your preference.
Posts on Social Media
Sharing your life on social media can cause a few hurdles when it comes to your home’s security. Posting about a holiday or a trip away can unintentionally notify a burglar when you’re not going to be home, providing an opportunistic time for them to plan a break-in.
To stay safe, avoid sharing details about your whereabouts on social media until you return home.
Surveillance cameras around your property
Having a security surveillance system in place will allow you to monitor who approaches your property. Intruders are likely to check if you have security cameras around your property. If you don’t have any CCTV installed, they can exploit that vulnerability and your chances of a break in will increase. Burglars tend to avoid properties with surveillance due to the risk of being recorded.
Consider installing CCTV around your property to effectively monitor your home and discourage intruders. Another benefit to having CCTV is that you can use the footage as evidence if a burglary occurs.
Knowing what burglars commonly look for can be extremely useful, helping to secure your property and prevent the chance of a break in. Understanding the mind-set of a burglar allows you to implement security measures to deter intruders from breaking in. The hope is with enough precautions taken, the threat of burglary becomes minimal, allowing for peace of mind.
Looking to improve your security and protect against burglary? Our locksmiths can carry out a security survey of your property to ensure your locks and doors are secure, as well as identify any weak spots that intruders can exploit. Call us on 0800 0612 677 or click here to find your local locksmith today.
Halloween Home Security Tips
Dark, spooky nights are drawing in. Stay safe this Halloween with essential home security tips.
The dark, gloomy nights approach as we get closer to Halloween. As the nights grow longer, it’s important to make sure your home stays secure. From excited trick-or-treaters to mischievous pranks, Halloween can bring fun as well as potential security risks.
Updated for Halloween 2026: This post has been updated in 2026 with the latest tips to help you protect your home this spooky season.
Read on to make sure your home is protected this Halloween and keep intruders and unwanted spirits at bay.
Are You Ready for the Clock Change – and Is Your Home Security?
The clocks will go back by one hour at 2:00am on the 25/10/2026 (the last Sunday of October), marking the end of daylight saving time (British summer time). With the earlier sunset, Halloween trick or treaters dressed in spooky costumes will be taking to the streets sooner, and so could opportunistic burglars who want to take advantage of the darkness.
So, while you’re getting ready for Halloween, decorating your porch and pathway with carved pumpkins and hanging cobwebs, make sure your home security is just as ready for Halloween 2026.
Halloween Looks for 2026
This Halloween, expect to see timeless costumes like witches, vampires, zombies, skeletons, mummies, werewolves and creepy clowns, as well as costumes inspired by iconic characters from some of 2026’s most popular movies and TV shows. Trick or treaters will be dressed to impress for Halloween, but is your home just as prepared?
With films like Scream 7, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and Practical Magic 2 hitting the big screen this year, there’s plenty of inspiration for this year’s Halloween costumes. Look out for Ghostface masks, witchy outfits, and dishevelled infected joining the usual zombie hordes and spooky ghouls making their way through the night.
Popular TV shows like Wednesday, Squid Game, Fallout, Stranger Things and The Last of Us are sure to inspire plenty of costume ideas too. You might find Wednesday Addams, Masked Pink Guards, The Ghoul, Eleven, Vecna or a lurking Clicker at your doorstep, after roaming the streets in search of treats.
Of course, Halloween wouldn’t be complete without the usual horror fan favourites lurking around too – Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Art the Clown. These horror icons are experts at finding ways in, but with upgraded home security, you can make sure your property stays secure from any real intruders.
While Halloween is a night of fun, it’s important to be mindful of your home security, as the darker evenings offer more opportunities for unwelcome visitors.
Home Security and Burglary Statistics
ONS figures show there were 253,912 recorded burglary offences in the year ending December 2024. This marks a decrease compared to the previous year, and suggests that more home owners and businesses are prioritising home security measures to keep the ghouls away.
According to Crimestoppers, the Office of National Statistics recently said it’s widely accepted that improvements to home security have been an important factor in the reduction seen in domestic burglary. This highlights the importance of improving your home’s security – not just as a general precaution, but as a proven way to reduce the risk of burglary year round, and not just for Halloween. By making simple improvements, you can decrease the likelihood of your property being a target for burglary.
With this in mind, we have put together some actionable Halloween home security tips to keep your home secure in October 2026 and beyond.
Lock Up, Day and Night!
Keep potential intruders away at Halloween by making sure your home is securely locked, especially when you’re out. It’s simple, but it’s the first step to improving the security of your home, and is often overlooked, so take a moment to double-check your locks.
Heading out to a Halloween party? Before you go, be sure to lock up and secure your home. You don’t want to come back to find an unexpected “guest”, like Chucky, waiting in your living room!
Like Michael Myers, burglars will take advantage of unlocked doors and open windows, and combined with it getting darker much earlier, it only makes it more convenient for them to try and enter your home undetected.
A quick check of your doors and locks can help ensure that your night stays fun and your property remains secure.
Stay Secure While Answering The Door
Legend has it that vampires need an invitation to enter your home, but those after your Halloween sweets can be greeted on the door step. Whether you’re welcoming wandering skeletons or a gathering of ghouls, keep your bowl of treats within easy reach so you don’t need to leave the door unattended while searching for another bag.
Before opening up, use your door viewer or video doorbell to check who’s outside. Keep keys, wallets and handbags out of sight, away from the door and hand out treats at the doorstep rather than inviting unfamiliar visitors inside. Once each group has left, close the door securely.
Prefer a quiet night watching your favourite scary movie? A polite “No trick-or-treaters please” sign can let visitors know you’re not taking part. There’s no obligation to answer the door, so draw the curtains, get comfortable and leave the jump scares to the screen.
Use Indoor Smart Lights and Timers
Using timers for your indoor lights is an effective way to improve home security during the Halloween season when the darker nights creep in. When you’re out for the evening trick-or-treating or attending a Halloween party, timed lighting can create the illusion that someone is home, which can help deter potential intruders.
In The Purge (2013), where lighting played a crucial role in signalling that a home was occupied and secured, keeping your house well-lit can make a huge difference in discouraging unwanted visitors. Set your timers to turn lights on and off in different rooms at different times, mimicking the natural activity of your household. This random pattern is more convincing than leaving one light on all night, making your home appear occupied. Place them in important areas that can be seen from outside, like your living room, kitchen, or hallway, where light would normally be visible.
If you have a smart home system, like Hive, that uses smart plugs or smart light bulbs, you can control your indoor lights remotely, adding even more flexibility to your home’s security setup. Adjusting the lights on the go will make it even harder for anyone to predict whether someone is inside.
Light Up the Darkness with Scary Decorations
Carving some spooky pumpkins for Halloween? Take the opportunity to add LED lighting, like candles, inside and place it by your front door or on the porch for an added layer of illumination.
Use well-lit figures like skeletons or ghosts near pathways or dark corners of your garden. They’ll bring the Halloween atmosphere while deterring anyone trying to sneak by in the shadows.
For an even creepier touch, add motion-sensor Halloween decorations that activate eerie sound effects or lights to spring to life when someone walks past. Much like how Pennywise the Clown likes to cause a jump scare, these props can startle would-be intruders, and alert you to activity and movement around your home.
What better way to make intruders intimidated and expose anyone lurking in the shadows with petrifying decorations that light up the darkness.
Add Outdoor Lighting
While indoor lighting can create the illusion of activity inside your home, outdoor lighting is just as crucial for deterring intruders.
On Halloween night, when your porch may already be busy with visitors, a well-lit exterior does more than welcome trick or treaters, it also makes your home a less appealing target. Outdoor lighting can give burglars the impression that people are home, making it less likely that they will try breaking into your property this Halloween. Motion sensor lights can be particularly effective as they surprise intruders when approaching your property, instantly illuminating the area with beams of light, signalling your awareness of their presence and catching them in the spotlight.
Create a Tricky Landscape
Consider strategically placing prickly or dense plants and bushes near your windows. Thorny plants, like Holly, create a natural barrier that can make intruders think twice before getting too close. If they do dare, the moment they get hit with a prick, you’ll be alerted by the tell-tale signs of their presence. They might even leave behind torn fabric, like clues in a mystery.
However, don’t overlook the importance of maintaining your garden, clearing clutter and trimming your front hedges. Crimestoppers did a poll which showed that ⅔ of people surveyed faced an increased risk of burglary due to high hedges. Overgrown plants, bushes and overhanging branches from trees can provide shadowy hiding places, as well as obscure outdoor lighting and cameras. An untidy garden with long grass, weeds or clutter might make your property look unoccupied, giving it the look of a haunted house rather than a lived-in home. To a burglar, that suggests no one is home or paying much attention to the property, making it feel like a safer target with less chance of being disturbed.
Simple steps like pruning your hedges can improve sightlines, making it easier for neighbours or passers-by to notice suspicious activity. This way, your house can look welcoming, lit up with pumpkins and porch lights, without providing a hiding place for ghouls.
You can also use sound to your advantage. Adding gravel to paths, beneath windows, or near entry points creates a natural alarm system, discouraging potential intruders from approaching your home. Much like in the film “A Quiet Place”, where the smallest sound can alert deadly creatures, gravel can serve as your own defence and subtle warning system. The crunch of footsteps on gravel will give you an immediate heads-up, making it difficult for anyone to approach silently, helping to keep your home safe at Halloween, or any time of year.
Security Cameras
In the movie Paranormal Activity, eerie disturbances and unsettling events are caught on camera. Catch all the spooky activity in and around your home this Halloween by installing 24/7 security. CCTV acts as a powerful deterrent for burglars, warning any intruders that your home is under constant watch. Potential burglars will be spooked with a sophisticated security system in place – and who knows, you might even catch a ghost on your camera.
The good news is that CCTV is no longer a complicated or overly expensive option. Affordable options like the Wireless Ring outdoor camera, or the Yale Smart Outdoor camera make it simple to check in on your home from your phone, without the complicated wired setup. Just remember to charge the batteries!
Intruders, much like Ghostface from Scream, are quick to take advantage of less secure properties, exploiting unlocked doors or open windows, but the presence of simple, affordable CCTV can be enough to make them think twice before approaching.
Video doorbells are useful for knowing exactly who is at your door when they ring the bell, reducing the risk of distraction burglary without leaving the comfort of your sofa. The extra visibility makes all the difference, and they’re especially handy if masked visitors arrive at your doorstep this Halloween. They come equipped with a camera and a microphone, so you can unmask who’s really outside before opening the door, just like the gang in Scooby-Doo.
This Halloween, don’t just look out for ghosts and ghouls, protect your property from real world threats too. The combination of a video doorbell and security cameras can create a high quality security system to help deter thieves and keep your property safe, giving you peace of mind long after the trick or treaters have gone.
Consider installing a 24/7 surveillance system like our Yale Smart Home CCTV.
Install an Alarm System
Like the siren in Ghostbusters alerts the team to race into action, a home alarm system is designed to react the moment trouble appears. The piercing noise can send intruders running, and it’s an effective way to protect your property as a visual deterrent too. Visible alarm boxes act as a warning before anyone approaches, spooking burglars away by signalling that your home is monitored and not an easy target.
Modern alarm systems can be wireless, with options that link to your phone, allowing you to check in on your home from anywhere.
Combined with CCTV and good garden maintenance, an alarm system creates a layered defence that keeps your home safe from mischief all year round, with no proton pack required.
Keep your valuables locked away
This Halloween, the only people who should be taking goodies for free are the kids trick or treating – not burglars! Don’t leave expensive jewellery, electronics, or other valuables lying around. Keep any cash, sensitive documents and high-value possessions locked away so intruders don’t get enticed to try and steal it. Just like troublesome Gremlins, opportunistic thieves will grab whatever is in easy reach, so don’t give them the chance. Ideally, you want your valuables to be so secure that not even those sneaky, spectral spirits can get to your valuables. Consider using a safe or lockable drawer to keep these items well protected.
Halloween is a night where the mischievous thrive, and for many homeowners, it can be quite worrying to think about all the things that could happen. It’s important to focus on what you can control vs what you can’t. While you may not be able to control what other people decide to do on Halloween, you can control your own home security. If you’re looking to update your security, contact your local locksmith today.
Sources:
Office for National Statistics: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingdecember2024
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If you’re locked out, we can get you back in! We’re experts at picking locks and gaining entry.
We change, repair and fit a wide variety of locks, including : Mortice Locks & Euro Cylinders.
Our expert locksmiths can supply and fit the latest digital smart locks. Including the Yale Linus.
Our trained locksmiths can supply and fit the latest High definition CCTV to your home or business premises.
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We offer a full security survey service. Do you really know how secure your home or property is?
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Yale Linus
Smart Lock
The Yale Linus door lock. A keyless lock, designed to secure and simplify your life. Lock and unlock your door, no matter where you are.
Yale Conexis
Smart Lock
The smart door lock that puts you fully in control. The Yale Conexis gives you the freedom to secure your home without the need for a key.
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The Keyless Lock allows you complete control over how you lock your home. Unlock with a PIN, key card, key tag, remote fob or your phone.
Yale Sync Alarm
The Yale Linus door lock. A keyless lock, designed to secure and simplify your life. Lock and unlock your door, no matter where you are.
Yale CCTV
The smart door lock that puts you fully in control. The Yale Conexis gives you the freedom to secure your home without the need for a key.
