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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
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Does Inflation Lead To An Increase In Crime?
It’s been a tough couple of years for both businesses and people alike. First, the COVID pandemic, which stopped the world in its tracks for over a year and a half, and led to an unemployment rate of nearly 4%. Then, just as the economy was starting to get back on its feet, war broke out between Russia and Ukraine and caused the fuel prices to rocket sky high. The cost of living is also increasing in general, with energy tariffs increasing a whopping 54% and the food prices all on the increase, it is getting harder to make ends meet.
In May 2022, the UK’s annual inflation rate was 9.1%, the highest it has been since 1982. As everyone starts to feel the pinch and people have to get by on the bare minimum, the lure of theft becomes more attractive. So, what is the link between inflation and crime rates?
Why does inflation increase crime?
According to Crime and Justice, ‘Inflation may be connected to crime through the dynamics of markets for stolen goods. As prices rise, the demand for cheap stolen goods grows, which strengthens incentives to increase the supply of stolen merchandises’.
During the first lockdown when people were pretty much confined to their houses and desperate for an escape, searches for bicycles rocketed and manufacturers simply couldn’t keep up with demand. This has led to a 55% increase in bike thefts up and down the UK in early 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, as people couldn’t afford to pay premium prices to acquire their set of wheels.
Some researchers suggest that inflation may be a better indication of rising crime levels than unemployment or general economic hardship. Shoplifting and thefts surge due to inflation, so it’s more important than ever to ensure your house and valuables are well-protected.
How can I reduce the impact of inflation, and reduce the risk of a burglary?
Sadly, it’s impossible to predict how long inflation will last, and as we head towards the winter months, it is likely that crime rates will increase as people struggle to cope with the cost-of-living crisis. It can take up a lot of headspace worrying about the effects of both inflation and crime; and although there isn’t much that you can do to reduce inflation, you can take active steps to safeguard your house against break-ins. Ensuring you have an up-to-date security system will give you complete peace of mind that your belongings are protected and give you one less thing to worry about! Knowing your house is as safe as it can be allows you to completely relax when inside, as well as automatically increase feelings of well-being and promote positive mental health. The positive effects of feeling completely safe and secure inside your home cannot be overstated, so it’s really worth safeguarding your home as best you can.
What can I do to protect my home and possessions during inflation?
With a recession looming, now is the perfect time to consider upgrading your security or fixing any security issues which need to be resolved at home. This is especially important during the summer months, when people are more likely to leave their doors and windows open, and not give as much thought to safeguarding their house.
Make sure your locks are up to date, and to change any that are faulty. Sticky or loose locks that don’t open and close smoothly are not only frustrating for the homeowner, but also mean they offer an easier target for thieves looking to gain entry. Our specialist locksmiths can supply, fit, change or repair a wide variety of locks, so get in touch today to ensure your house is well-protected. We also offer a security survey, to give additional advice about how to better protect your home and your treasured possessions. For even more peace of mind, we also offer alarm installation, which acts as a great deterrent: 60% of burglars say they would be discouraged from targeting a house if they knew the owners had an alarm installed.
It is clear to see that the rising costs of living and inflation do sadly have a big increase in crime rates, so don’t leave yourself vulnerable. Make sure to check out our other great blogs about how to protect against common methods use to enter your home, as well as the 5 benefits of changing your locks, so you can be as protected as possible. Get in touch today with one of our local locksmiths who will be happy to help.
Protecting Against the Common Methods Intruders Use to Enter Your Home
Criminals tend to rely on a few common methods of entering your home uninvited, and becoming a victim of burglary is extremely upsetting. There’s no use stewing in fear of criminals breaking into your home when you can do something about it though. Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure in their home.
If you feel as though you could be doing a little more to defend your home against the threat of intruders, here are some top tips you might want to take note of.
Prepare Your Doors
As audacious as it sounds, some criminals will try and walk straight through the front door. This most obvious of entry points should be kept as safe and secure as possible.
You can do this by upgrading your locks, installing deadbolts and a chain and attaching a smart doorbell. A sturdy front door can give you peace of mind, particularly since it’s the main entryway to your home. Getting that sorted out at the very least should boost your safety in mind and in real life.
Assess Your Windows
Windows are very common points of entry for criminals, and while it might seem like an obvious one, there’s plenty more to check out than just the lock on the window itself.
For example, is the window ledge wide enough and strong enough to support a burglar’s frame, giving them access to a higher floor? Is there a nearby drainpipe a thief could shimmy up for access? Are there any wooden, rotting window frames that could compromise the security?
Assess your windows thoroughly as a part of your security check. If you have older aluminium or wooden window frames, you may want to consider upgrading to uPVC. uPVC window frames won’t rust and can’t rot like other materials such as wood. They’re also very tough to damage and are able to withstand all weather. If your window frame is looking a bit worse for wear, now could be the right time to consider an upgrade. Also look at improving your window security with better window locks and make sure to draw your curtains at night.
Secure Your Garage
Many burglars seek to enter your property via the garage or simply just go straight for the garage in the first place, as it might potentially house valuable items like cars and power tools.
It’s wise to fit your house with smart CCTV cameras to catch any criminals in the act. Consider installing some powerful security lights that can illuminate access points and shed light on the situation at hand. Sometimes, the presence of a security light and a camera alone are enough to scare off cowardly criminals.
You could purchase an alarm system that works for your garage as well as the house to ensure your car and tools are safe and secure.
Hide Your Key
The old key-under-the-pot trick is a classic, but it’s not advised. Burglars will likely look here first, so if you have a spare key lying around in your pots, you should probably move it.
This also refers to hiding your key out of sight of the letterbox. If a burglar’s wire coat hanger is in range of some keys you’ve left on the side, then you’re giving them free passage! So, hide your keys!
Install Anti-Climb Protection
Anti-climb protection for your walls and drainpipes can be another great criminal deterrent. Criminals tend to be on the lookout for ways to enter your property via the upper floors because some people tend to forget about securing them.
They could do this buy climbing a convenient drainpipe, provided it’s strong enough to prevent them from a fall. To prevent this, you can install anti-climbing protection, such as ant-climb paint to the downpipe, and if you have walls you’d like to protect, you can paint them with the anti-climb paint too.
Remember to always pay attention to the security on the upper floors of your house, too, as the craftiest of burglars will attempt to scale any surface no matter the height!
General Tips to Follow
Always try and make your house a smaller target for criminals. Hide your valuables out of sight and make sure no one can see your expensive tech, ornaments or belongings from the road.
The Benefits of Installing Smart Home CCTV
If you’re attempting to bulk up your home security, there are various solutions that can help your cause. Upgrading your locks is one way – although you’d expect us to say that. Yet another incredibly effective approach is to install a home CCTV system.
Not long ago, the thought of going down the CCTV route wasn’t all that enticing. Not only was it expensive, but the installation process was extremely complex and the setup time-consuming. Oh, and the actual video and audio quality captured by CCTV was typically lacking. These days, however, the situation has changed thanks to new smart technology like Yale Smart Home CCTV.
Convenience and affordability are just the start of the benefits. Below we have listed numerous advantages gained from installing smart home CCTV.
The smart effect
If you already have a traditional CCTV system installed, you might be wondering: Is there any point in making the upgrade? Well, we’re here to answer the question with a resounding ‘Yes’.
First of all, you can directly access your smart home CCTV system with your smartphone. This means if you’re sat on the sofa, at work, or on holiday, you can check in live to see what your cameras may have captured. Plus, with intelligent search integrated, the system pinpoints whenever activity was detected – which makes your viewing experience much simpler.
Add in the ability to receive notifications, HD video capture, and so much more, and there are several reasons why going smart with your home CCTV is, well, smart to do.
It’s a deterrent to crime
When they plan to commit a robbery, criminals tend to focus on homes that they see as easy pickings. They desire a property that displays a clear lack of safety protocol, whether this is a lock system that’s lacking or just an entire lack of a CCTV system.
Make no mistake: if a criminal sees a home camera or two pointing in their direction, their desire to target your property can quickly vanish. It’s a massive visual deterrence, one that can work wonders without even capturing any footage.
To maximise the effectiveness of this benefit, ensure your CCTV is clear for all to see. While having it hidden away can be useful, that’s not the main purpose of CCTV. It should be clearly advertised, where both guests and unwanted visitors are clear of its existence on your property.
You gain 24-hour protection and coverage
One of the main positives gained from using smart home CCTV is there’s no need to worry about it only being on at select times of the day. For 24 hours a day, seven days a week, your system is up and running.
This means the cameras are always alert and watching for you. Simply put, nothing is missed. Furthermore, if something is detected by one of your CCTV cameras, you can program it to send a notification to your smartphone so you can check to see what it captured. It could just be the neighbourhood cat wandering through your garden again, but this instant response can assist in making you feel safe and comfortable in your home.
Helps to identify criminals
Despite your best efforts, it has happened. Your home has been targeted. Whether it was vandalised or robbed, this is often a traumatic experience. Nobody wants to lose their possessions or see their property suffer costly damage.
While there’s little in the way of good news to come out of this scenario, there is one positive: your smart CCTV can assist in bringing the criminals to justice.
Yes, CCTV is more than simply a preventative system. It’s also one of the most effective when it comes to identifying the culprits. This is especially the case when you use modern smart systems that offer HD video capturing, which pick up a lot more details than older cameras could ever manage.
Furthermore, it can also help with investigations into other criminal events that happened in the vicinity of your home. Not only are you protecting your home and family, but you’re also keeping the streets a little bit safer for everyone.
Now that you’re aware of some of the main benefits of using smart home CCTV, the next step is installing it in your home. That’s where we can help. As experts in the home security sector, we know the importance of embracing the latest technology. This is why we offer the leading smart home CCTV systems currently on the market. Our locksmiths are trained to professionally install smart home CCTV. Contact us today on 0800 0612 677 for more information or to book an installation.
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Locksmith Services
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.
Our locksmiths can provide boarding services to secure your home or commercial premises.
We offer a full security survey service. Do you really know how secure your home or property is?
We can cut extra keys for your home or office. Our locksmiths carry a range of key blanks.
Smart Security Installed
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.
Yale Keyless
Connected Smart Lock
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.
