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| Personal finance |
| insurance: reduce risk |
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| Following are a few pointers you must keep in mind to reduce the risk of burglary.
 Profile of a thief
They prefer to rob properties on weekdays, especially Friday as people tend to go out after work. Generally they don't like to enter properties if they think someone may be home.
Always lock up
Good home security involves more than fitting deadlocks or an alarm. You must ensure you use them - every time you leave you home. All too frequently thieves enter homes through unlocked or open doors and windows.
How to make your home more secure
Follow these simple steps to help safeguard your home.
| Keys |
| Never leave spare keys outside your home. Thieves know all the usual places, especially under mats or pot plants. |
| Don't have personal details such as you name, address and telephone number on you keys. |
| Give a duplicate set of keys to a trusted friend, relative or neighbour. |
| If you lose your keys or move into a new home, make sure you change all the locks. |
| If someone calls to say they have found you keys, tell them to drop them off at the nearest police station. |
| Don't leave keys on the kitchen table or any other obvious place. |
| Doors |
| Install quality deadlock devices on all external doors. |
| Check your doors are correctly fitted and working properly. Check door frames are secure and sound. |
| Security grilles can be a useful barrier to outsiders. They should only be used,however, as a last report to enhance physical security of entry doors and windows in high risk situations/locations. |
| Don't leave notes on the door stating that you are away or when you'll return. |
| Keep your front door locked when you are at the back of the house or in the garden. |
| Install a peephole in your front door and always check the identification of strangers before you let them into your home. If in doubt, don't open the door. |
| Secure garage doors with deadlocks or strong padlocks. Always lock the garage door. |
| Yards |
| Thieves like their privacy too, so ensure you keep trees and shrubs trimmed, especially trees close to your house that could be climbed to gain access to your property, or to hide thieves' activities. |
| Owning a pet dog may deter would-be thieves from targeting you home. |
| Ensure all gates are secured. The rear and sides of homes are often targeting by thieves. |
| Always lock away tools, ladders and gardening equipment. These items can be used by thieves to enter you home. |
| Infra red (or movement activated) security lights covering front and rear access to you home may help to deter would-be thieves. |
| Ensure your street number is clearly visible from the street. This will help police find your home quickly in an emergency. |
| Windows |
| Install key operated locks on all windows. Have your window locks keyed alike so you only need one key to open or lock all your windows. |
| Use laminated glass or shatter resistant window film to help prevent entry. |
| Alarms |
| Visible alarm equipment can be a very effective deterrent to thieves. |
| Your alarm system should cover all external entry doors and windows. |
| Strange phone calls |
| Don't give personal information to a caller you don't know. |
| Install a telephone extension in your bedroom. |
| Program your telephone/s with emergency numbers such as 000 and your local police station. |
| Don't let callers know that you are home alone. |
Going away
Would be thieves will notice if you are not home, so it's a good idea to follow these steps to improve you home security. Thieves are less likely to target a house if they think there's someone inside.
| Away for a day |
| Ensure you have locked all windows, doors gates and other points of entry. |
| Make sure you have your house keys. |
| Leave on a radio or the T.V. |
| Use a timing device to turn lights on and off. |
| Turn the telephone volume down. |
| Leave the blinds partially open. |
| Away for extended time |
| Try to give you home a "lived in" appearance. |
| Ensure all windows and doors are locked. |
| Cancel all deliveries e.g milk, bread and paper. |
| Ask someone to collect you mail, or have it held at the post office. |
| Install timers to operate lights, television and radio. |
| Ask a trusted neighbour or friends to keep and eye on your home and park a secured vehicle in you driveway. |
| Arrange for your lawn to be mown. |
| Never leave a message on your answering machine to say you are on holidays. |
| Likelihood of a thief returning |
Thieves often like to return to a house they have robbed because they know how to get in and they are familiar with the layout of the house. They also know that items they took last time will have been replaced, or they may tell a friend the best way to break into your property.
Upgrading your security may prevent a repeat break in. |
| Buying stolen goods |
| Buying stolen goods is not a bargain, it's a crime. If you are offered something that you suspect has been stolen, notify the police. |
| Good neighbours - your best watchdog |
| Good neighbours are one of the best security devices you can have. Get to know your neighbours, stay in touch and together keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviour. It's a good idea to exchange work and holiday telephone numbers. |
| Report any unusual noises or suspicious behaviour to your local police. Your quick action may prevent a burglary. |
| If street lights are not working, contact your local council. |
| Keep accurate records |
| Thieves don't like stealing property that is clearly identified. Marked property is very hard to dispose of and recent legislation regarding the operation of pawnbrokers has made it even more difficult. |
| Accurate records of all you property will not only deter thieves but will give the police a better chance of locating your property. |
| Hints for record keeping |
| Engrave your electrical equipment and other property (including your Cds) with your driver's license number. Engraving machines are available from your local police station. |
| Keep photographic records of all your property that can't be engraved, especially jewellery and works of art. |
| Obtain valuation certificates with detailed descriptions of all items. Store the certificates in a safe place. |
| If you are robbed |
| If you arrive home and suspect that you've been robbed, call your local police immediately. If you are alone ask a neighbour to come in with you or wait until the police arrive. If you suspect the thieves may still be inside, don't enter the premises. |
| While you are waiting for the police to arrive, compile a list of what you think is missing. Include brand names, model numbers, serial numbers, accurate descriptions and any engraving details in you list. |
Remember not to touch anything. It is important the police see you home exactly as the thief left it. What you think is a mess could be valuable evidence. |
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