One of the main things burglars seek when targeting a home is favourable circumstance; the opportunity to take advantage of the weak links in your home security to break entry.

So your goal as a homeowner who is interested in safeguarding your family and belongings is to reduce opportunity and protect your home from burglary.

How do you do that?

You start with the outside part of your property, the one a potential intruder will come into contact with first. Read on to discover a few useful prevention steps you should consider taking.

Store Expensive Items out of Sight

The last thing you want is to make your home more appealing to burglars. So, in order to protect your home, it’s best to keep expensive items such as barbecues, cars, lawnmowers and bikes inside the garage or shed.

Otherwise, burglars might easily snag them – even in broad daylight. Even worse, it could lead them into believing that more high-value items can be found inside the home, as well.

Make Sure Tools and Ladders Are Put Away

A ladder might seem like it has nothing to do with creating an opportunity for burglars to target your home.

But when you think of it from a burglar’s perspective, you’ll see that a ladder can effectively be used to gain access to the superior level of a home where a window might be open.

It’s the same with tools. Things like hammers, screwdrivers and mole grips many homeowners keep around their garden can be used to snap open a door lock which doesn’t have an anti-snap cylinder in under a minute.

Attention to details is what can often make all the difference in the world and when it comes to protecting your home, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Invest in Professional Security Solutions to Protect Your Home

Installing home security devices to serve the outside part of your house is an excellent way to add an extra layer of security. Here are a few suggestions which are proven to be highly effective:

• Motion detector lights. This is a very popular way of improving the safety of a home after sunset. That’s because it prevents trespassers from hiding in the dark, thus making possibly dangerous situations easier to spot.
• HD CCTV. While motion detector lights are an excellent burglar impediment, a surveillance system is great for catching wrong-doers red-handed.
• Alarm systems. These in-your-face burglar deterrents will make a thief think twice about targeting your property. Also, you can choose a system which allows you to be instantly notified when suspicious activity is detected on your property.

As a side note, it’s important to mention that the installation of these security devices will play a significant role in their overall performance.

Someone who doesn’t have proper training and aptitude for these devices’ setups can easily skip important steps, which can make the systems unreliable.

This is why we recommend a professional home security installation over a DIY approach. This way, you’ll rest assured that the home security devices you have in place will work as intended.

We provide professional installation for an array of security solutions, so give us a call today on 0800 0612 677 for a free, no-obligation quote.

For more security tips which will help you protect your home, check out this article.

Did you know during the Christmas season, the number of home burglaries increase?

It’s the most wonderful time of year for thieves just as much as it is for your family, but the last thing you want this holiday season is coming home to find your house ransacked. To avoid being a victim of theft, it’s important to understand why burglaries increase over the holiday season and what you can to do prevent it from happening to you.

Here is a list of reasons why theft jumps so high over the season and how you can combat each by properly securing your home.

The problem: You aren’t home as much as usual because you’re visiting friends and family, going to Christmas parties, shopping, or on holiday. Burglars realise your home is empty and they take the opportunity to break in.

The solution: Make your home appear as though someone is home and have home security set up. If you’re going out for the whole day, leave some lights on or maybe even keep the TV on or have a radio playing for some noise. If you’re going away for a longer period of time, ask your neighbour to park their car in your driveway and to pick up your mail for you. Keep your curtains closed and have your lights on a timer so they come on at a certain time. Also, try not to leave any notes on your door for delivery people telling them you aren’t home.

For extra security, it’s also a great idea to have a home security system set up. Smart alarms and CCTV are becoming the norm in home security technology so these solutions are quite affordable nowadays. You can connect your security system to your phone so you can always check up on your home, as well as set alarms and controls straight from the security app. Plus, if your alarm goes off, you will get notified instantly.

The problem: Burglars can see what gifts you’ve bought based on the packaging left outside or on your kerb for garbage pickup. By leaving conspicuous packaging from presents outside, you’re giving thieves an opportunity to take stock of what items are under your Christmas tree.

The solution: If you buy a gift for someone or open a gift and throw away the box or packaging, whether it’s a new television, computer, toy, or clothing, make sure to keep all the packaging concealed if you’re leaving it on your porch or curb. Put everything in a bag that you can’t see through, and if possible, leave it inside or in your garage until garbage pickup.

The problem: Having gifts visible through windows so thieves scouting the area can see exactly what you have.

The solution: Keep your gifts stored away from sight. Leave them in closets or put them away from windows. If this isn’t possible, make sure to keep your blinds closed so people walking down the street can’t see inside.

It’s never fun realising you’ve been a victim of theft, especially when the thief has broken into your family home and stolen from you while you were away, or even more traumatising, while you were sleeping. To make matters worse, according to a criminologist report published by Confused.com, if a burglar realises your property is easily accessible and has seen what kind of valuables you have that they may not have taken the first time, they are likely to return a second time. When they do, they are more likely to be efficient since they know the best entry and exit points, plus where all your valuables are.

Unfortunately, most people think getting burgled was a one-time event and they chalk it up to bad luck. This is generally not the case. Burglars often stake out their targets and choose which homes to break into very carefully. There are a number of reasons why a person’s home could have been targeted, so thinking it was just bad luck and not taking any security measures or precautions to stop it from happening again is a huge mistake.

Reasons burglars hit the same homes twice

Thieves tend to return to the scene of the crime to see if the site is still easy to break into because it’s easier than staking out a new home. If they don’t return themselves, they could also tell others who could try for themselves. It may sound like paranoia, but if you’re an easy target, why would they choose a different target that could be more difficult or dangerous?

Thieves are opportunistic, so if they feel comfortable after their first time, it’s highly likely they will return to scope out the scene again and see if it still is just as easy as it was. They are familiar with the logistics of the crime, like how the property is laid out, where the valuables are, what time is best to strike, and how to get into and out of the home in the easiest way. The most opportunistic burglars will actually strike quite soon after the first burglary because they know you won’t be expecting it so soon.

Steps you should take after a burglary

The absolute first step to take is to call the police. Do not touch anything in your home once you have realised the situation to avoid accidentally tampering with or destroying evidence and explain to the police in detail what happened.

Next, make a list of all the items that have been stolen so when the police arrive you can tell them. If there was anything of high value taken, call your insurance provider as well. They can advise you on what to do and tell you if your stolen objects are covered. Your insurance can also help with any immediate costs, like paying to fix something that was broken when they burglar entered your home.

Check to make sure your keys aren’t missing. If you think there is a key missing, change your locks immediately. Then, check to see what kind of vulnerabilities your home has. The burglar targeted you for a reason, so if you don’t have an alarm system or if you leave your windows or doors unlocked, it’s best to remedy this right away. Installing a CCTV camera or smart home security system is ideal, as it gives you the ultimate control over your security settings. Make sure to always lock your windows and doors when you leave and while you’re home to avoid a potentially dangerous situation.

Smart technology is fast revolutionising the way we do things, and it’s no different where home security is concerned. ERA is now offering a cloud-based solution to your security needs, upping the protection factor to prevent any potential threats to your home.

Based in the West Midlands, ERA has been designing and manufacturing locks since 1838. As people have adapted the way they live, ERA has adapted their product range to protect what’s important to them.

This new range of ERA smart devices is easily installed and suitable for any home with a WiFi connection, and effortlessly controlled by the ERA app. At LockRite, we can take care of the full installation of your ERA smart security products, ready for you to easily manage on the move.

So, what’s included in the ERA Smart range?

ERA HomeGuard Pro Alarm System

This fully integrated cloud-based alarm system allows you to secure multiple locations at any one time, and monitor them easily. This means that not only can you secure your home, but your business premises too, or any other important location, such as a garage or storage unit – all controlled from one account. This alarm system also allows you to choose which individuals are permitted access, and this can be changed at any time.

With the app, you can monitor this alarm system anywhere, at any time, with quick control and easy management. Use of the cloud means that all your details and settings are safely stored. The HomeGuard is also ready to use with any other ERA smart security product.

ERA DoorCam

The ERA smart DoorCam is a video doorbell which allows you to see who is at your door, even when you are not at home. Through WiFi connectivity, you can answer the door via your smartphone from any place.

The DoorCam provides clear and efficient video imagery, due to its 180-degree field of vision and use of 720p HD resolution video recording capabilities, which won’t be compromised by weather or temperature. This DoorCam also has night vision technology, meaning it remains operational day and night.

The ultra-slim design allows for a subtle addition to any home, in black or white, ready to blend in with your exterior.

ERA HomeCam

An important safety addition to any home is a security camera. The ERA HomeCam operates on enhanced motion detection technology with a super wide-angle working at 5 Megapixels, along with HD video quality at 720p. Even during the night, the clear video quality is never compromised.

The HomeCam doesn’t only record images, but it operates with two-way audio including built-in microphone and speaker, too. The HomeCam also has a 110-degree field of vision with the ability to turn 360-degree, meaning that no area of your home will be left uncovered.

More than one HomeCam can be installed wherever needed, all controlled via WiFi, and all easily operated from the free app.

ERA TouchKey

ERA’s TouchKey system is the upcoming addition to their full smart range. The One Touch Keyless Smart Lock is set to revolutionise the way you unlock your doors. Using military-grade encryption and ERA’s extensive experience with mechanical locks, the TouchKey System will secure your doors without the need for a key.

Looking to purchase a smart security system, installed by trusted professionals? The ERA smart security range could be for you. Contact us today to discuss your requirements: 0800 0612 677.