Winter Check List

December 08 2022

Share

In the UK, burglary increases by 15% during the winter months* so here at ADT we've complied our top tips to help you keep your home safe and secure. 

Check your windows and doors 
Security flaws in your property could include things like unsecured windows, garage doors and hidden keys. Ahead of the winter months, double-check that the locks are working on both your windows and your doors. 

The door for your pet is also more likely to assist an intruder if it is too big, so make sure you keep its size to the minimum required for your pet to enter and install a lock for further protection. In addition, simply never keep your key in a secret place outside. While convenient, this way of storing a key poses a significant risk. 

Outdoor Lighting 
Check that your outdoor lighting is in working order. If any of your outdoor lights are not working properly, this is the time to fix them - having the areas outside of your property well-lit makes it a lot harder for burglars to get in discreetly, thus making your house to be a less likely target.

Light up your home 
Smart plugs can be used like a traditional timer switch, but with ADT's smart plugs you can stagger the times they come on and off as well as operate the lights in your home remotely via our ADT Smart Home app giving the illusion someone is home. For that additional layer of security go one step further and set up rules so that if your video doorbell or camera(s) detect motion outside your property your lamps switch on automatically and off again after a desired time. 

Keep valuables in a safe place 
If possible, move the most valuable items in your home to a more secure place, such as a safe. Remember that safe boxes can be lifted and carried out, so ideally, your safe should be built into a wall. If you don’t have a safe or your items won’t fit, make sure you store them away so they can’t be seen through your window, as this might encourage burglars to try and break in. Burglars most frequently target the following items, so make sure these items aren’t on display in your home:

• Cash 
• Electronics 
• Expensive jewellery and watches 
• Designer fashion items 

Secure your home with an alarm and cameras 
A burlgar alarm paired with security cameras act as great deterrants and could reduce the chances of your home being broken, however for maximum peace of mind for your home you should consider a monitored alarm. At ADT we believe a monitored alarm is the heart of good home security, that’s why we only offer monitored systems, because when your alarm is monitored, it’s never ignored. Our alarm receiving centre will notify you and your keyholders in the event of an activation and depending on the level of monitoring you opt for even the police will be alerted.

Do not neglect your garden 
Keep your garden in check - don’t forget that your garden is an extension of your home, and a garden can be seen as an easy target by burglars - more than half a million garden thefts are reported across Britain on a yearly basis, and this number has seen a surge this year. Remember to keep your gate shut at all times, use locks and deadbolts and make sure to put your furniture, tools and things like bikes away.

 Don’t forget to set your alarm 
This may seem like an obvious one, but many people with alarm systems forget or choose not to set their alarm when they go out. If you already have a home alarm system, remember to set it before leaving your home, even if you’re away for a few hours. But don’t worry, with an ADT Smart Home system you can be sent arming reminders if you haven't set the alarm, schedule your alarm to set at certain times of the day and when no activity is detected from indoor motion detecors. 

Get a video doorbell 
A Video doorbell is a great addition to a home secuirty system and not only allow you to see and speak with whoever is at your front door, wherever you are, but they also act as the first line of defence, notifying you immediately when the doorbell is pressed or motion is detected.

Install lockable sash jammers 
Often burglars use a crowbar to wedge the window mechanisms out of place and gain access to the targeted properties, therefore, sash jammers could represent a very effective security measure.

Get to know your neighbours 
Don’t be afraid to introduced yourself and get to know your those living around you. Join or set up social media groups so that you can all share general information on what’s going on in the area or warnings of suspicious activity. Neighbourhood Watch schemes are also a great place to start if you have any concerns about your area, to find an existing group in your area simply enter your postcode in the Neighbourhood Watch website.

Using our insight gained through innovating and developing the UK’s home security over the past 148 years, we’ve put together some tricky home security questions for you to see just how much you really know. Our quiz includes some facts, figures, truths and falsities. So, are you an expert or a novice? Take our quiz and find out. 

*Source https://www.aviva.co.uk/aviva-edit/surveys-and-reports/articles/burglary-report/