40% of those thefts happen in the daytime, too…
While you might imagine a home burglary scenario to take place in the middle of the night or when you are away on holiday, recent research from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) suggests otherwise.
According to the ONS, nearly 60% of burglaries took place while people were in their homes this past year. What’s more, almost 40% of those burglaries took place in the morning or early afternoon, rather than after dark.
And despite the continuous advancement of home security systems, the ONS revealed that burglary incidents increased by 7% in the last year, totalling more than half a million break-ins.
Consider these simple tips to keep your home safe from burglars, regardless of circumstances:
- Lock doors and windows while out in the garden—While you’re outside, you can’t always see what’s going on inside. Make sure you lock any accessible doors and windows before going outside, to deter opportunist theives.
- Preserve fences and gates—Be sure to keep any fencing around your property in good condition with regular maintenance, and lock your garden gates whenever you aren’t in the garden.
- Store valuables safely—Even when you are home, keep your valuable items out of view from ground floor windows. Displaying your valuables in plain sight could motivate potential burglars.
- Don’t leave your tools outside—Make sure you put away any ladders or home tools after using them. Leaving these tools outside will give burglars an opportunity to break into your home.
Of course, there are now tools such as video doorbells and home security cameras that can monitor activity outside and inside a property. With footage often stored in the cloud, this can help to back up insurance claims in the event of burglaries, any time of day or night.
Modern technology can help you combat the threat of burglary. It can catch burglars in the act, deterring opportunistic crime. However, with burglary reportedly on the increase, it still pays to get the basics right.
Make sure you’ve got good home insurance
Sometimes, even with good security, the worst can happen. That’s when your home insurance cover can prove valuable.
Get in touch with our home insurance team on 0161 874 3599 to find the right cover for you.
Or alternatively, get a quote online for home or landlord insurance:
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