Winter Home Security Tips...

Winter is coming, protect your castle with

our winter home security tips!

As part of our winter home security tips we have decided to jump on the ever growing popularity of HBO TV series Game of Thrones and put together the following themed security advice and tips.

Store all bins and ladders away from your home. These could be used by an intruder to access 1st floor windows.

Don’t give a raider a leg up.

Never leave any valuables where they can easily be seen by passersby.

Keep your gold safe!

Darker nights are coming. It can be a good idea to leave a light on or on a timer, especially during the darker evenings and if you are spending a night or week away from your home!

Leaving a television or radio on is also a good alternative to leaving the lights on. Security products such as a light with a timer can be purchased online.

If you are going to be away for a long period of time ask the Royal Mail to hold your mail with their ‘Keepsafe™’ service - they will do this for up to 2 months.

It is recommended to ask the Royal Mail to hold your letters as this avoids a pile up of post inside the front door making it obvious that the property is vacant.

Put your ravens on hold!

Whatever time of year it is, it’s always a good idea to have a key hook fitted internally away from the front door or have a key safe fitted externally to your property.

Store all sets of keys to your castle away from your portcullis!

A letterbox cage/guard is also recommended as intruders will often use the letterbox to retrieve keys stored inside the house; this type of theft is referred to as ‘Key Fishing’.

Keep your fortress well lit. Make sure you have Lights with sensors in the garden and front of your property, this will help to deter an intruder as they are more confident when working in the dark.

We recommend that you either join or start a Neighbourhood Watch scheme.

Join the nights watch.

“The Neighbourhood Watch works to bring neighbours together who want to look out for

each other, creating strong, friendly, active communities where crime and antisocial

behaviour are less likely to happen.”

Brand your valuables. Use a UV pen to mark any valuables so if the worse does happen it may help to make recovery easier.

Check all locks to your castle.

Check the locks on all doors interior and exterior to your home, including gates or sheds and upgrade/replace if necessary. Make sure anything that can be used by an intruder to gain entry to your property, i.e. garden tools, are safely locked away.

Don’t forget to raise your drawbridge! When leaving your property always remember to lock any doors and windows. The majority of intruders will use an unlocked door or window to gain entry to a house.