A Dark Time
With the days getting shorter and the night drawing in, there’s power in a system that’s proved a powerful deterrent across the nation
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A Dark Time
A brand new crime novella from Sophie Hannah
Ellen Lewis walks into her kitchen and there, on her newly-tiled kitchen floor, is the dead body of her best friend, Lorna Bowers.
She should be breathing. This shouldn’t have happened.
A Dark Time
ADT has partnered with bestselling crime fiction author Sophie Hannah to publish a new novella ‘A Dark Time’.
Sophie is best known for her interpretation of the Agatha Christie series after her Hercule Poirot novel, The Monogram Murders, was a bestseller in over 15 countries.
A Dark Time follows Sergeant Charlie Zailer, as she tries to solve a burglary that turns out to be something far stranger.
Intrigued? Get your free copy of the story here:
Write your own gripping novella
From the twist and turns, and gasps of horror, to the big reveal, there’s plenty to think about when writing your very own crime novella. But the hardest part is getting started.
Here are Sophie Hannah’s crime writing tips and tricks.
Read more
Stay secure in darker times
Our tips to protect your home when the days are getting shorter.
Expert security
A working, well maintained, visible alarm keeps your home safe from potential intruders. Monitored alarms only provide an extra deterrent, as burglars know someone else is ready to take action if it’s triggered
Light the dark
Fit outside security lighting to the front and rear of your home to put off potential intruders. These could be dusk-to-dawn lighting which turns on and stays on in the dark or motion sensor lighting which detects movement and then turns a light on, these also serve the dual purpose of lighting your path when returning home after dark, especially in winter
Visible protection
Install a CCTV system, people don’t like to think they could be caught on camera when up to no good. You have to careful that your cameras are placed correctly so that you do overlook others properties. This could also extend to video doorbells or smart two-way intercom doorbells, many burglars will try knocking on a door to determine if someone is really home before attempting to break-in
A smart approach
Look like your home when you’re away with ADT Smart Home. Smart lights to turn on when you’re not home, or even radios and TVs. You can also access smart cameras through our app so you can check up on who’s coming and going.
Strong locks
Fit strong locks, ideally deadlocks on doors, and a security chain to make entry to your property more difficult. Fully close and lock windows and doors every time you leave the house, even if you’re just popping out quickly. That goes for outside too, choosing strong, lockable and high gates and fences stop intruders creeping around to the back of your home and fitting trellis on top of garden fences.
Hidden valuables
Don’t leave expensive gadgets, jewellery and other valuables in plain sight even if you’re home. It’s too tempting to burglars. House and car keys should also be kept out of sight and kept in a cupboard or drawer so potential burglars can’t ‘fish’ for keys from open doors, letterboxes or pet flaps. In case the worst were to happen, use a security pen to mark valuables with your postcode, so there’s a better chance that they can be recovered and returned to you.
Stay offline
Exercise great caution when sharing personal information about yourself, your purchases, and your whereabouts publicly on social media, make sure you regularly check that your profile settings to ensure your information remains private and only available to your friends and people you trust
Secure outdoors
Garden maintenance helps keep away potential intruders, trim bushes and trees around your property so you always have a clear view and reduce potential hiding spots for burglars. Trimming tree limbs and locking away tools and ladders so burglars can’t gain access to your home. Gravel or shingle on paths and driveways deter potential burglars who see it as a noise-making risk.
Benefits of monitoring
ADT intruder or burglar alarms provide the peace of mind that comes with being protected by the best. And with our ADT Smart Home system, we even combine the latest smart security and home automation technology to give you control from anywhere.
Discover monitoringThere's power in security
When it comes to protecting the people and the possessions that matter most to you, why compromise? Protect your home with ADT and you’re choosing the best.