Helpful Home Security and Safety Tips

Daylight Saving Invites Opportunistic Burglars

The high-season for residential burglaries is approaching with the clocks changing at the end of October and ADT, the UK’s leading home security provider, is urging homeowners to take a few minutes to consider some simple home security measures to help protect their property and loved-ones during the longer nights.

Mark Shaw, General Manager for Residential Business at ADT Fire and Security, said: “As winter approaches, the shortened days provide more darkness cover which has historically coincided with a rise in the number of reported house and shed burglaries. Research has suggested that burglaries increase by as much as 20% as the winter months roll in.*”

“According to the Metropolitan Police a building that looks unoccupied and insecure is far more likely to be targeted than one which is properly secured. Therefore, making sure that it looks as if someone is home, especially during these darker months, can mean the difference between becoming a victim of burglary or not. It doesn’t need to cost the earth, some simple measures, like using timer switches and putting keys out of sight can make a difference.” ADT experts have four top tips for things everyone can do at home to help protect them from being targeted:

1. Undertake a general security check. Look at door and window locks to make sure they can be properly secured
2. Make sure outbuildings, sheds and garages are secure andthat expensive garden items such as furniture and barbeques are locked away out of sight, where possible,
3. Use timer switches to make your home look occupied, especially in the morning and early evening when you may be at work
4. If you have space in your garage, think about putting your car away each night

Shaw continues: “At ADT we know that it takes a professional burglar just few seconds to decide whether a home is an easy target or not, but, by following some or all of our tips, people can help reduce the risks of their home being targeted.  Also, for those home owners who want to clearly communicate the message that their home is not an easy target, a monitored home security alarm with a highly visible bell box, like ADT’s vibrant yellow bell boxes, is a great deterrent - 84%** of burglars avoid properties with an alarm system.”

An ADT monitored home security system offers peace of mind all year round – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year – starting from as little as £99.  The ADT monitored home service system protects your property with five simple steps:

Step 1  ADT protection whether you are at home or away

Step 2  Your alarm is triggered

Step 3  ADT monitoring picks up the activation signal, while the internal siren sounds

Step 4   ADT acts fast to respond to your emergency by contacting you and your keyholders about the activation, and if required by contacting the police***

Step 5   Once your emergency is dealt with, ADT helps you to reset your system

Over 210,000 UK home owners trust ADT to help keep them safe.  The company has over 400 security experts in the Customer Service Centre and 2,000 professionally trained engineers ensuring that ADT home security systems are working well across the country throughout the year.  

* Source: http://www.confused.com/home-insurance/articles/don-t-let-the-dark-winter-nights-rob-you-of-your-possessions, 2009

** Source: Home Office report: decision-making by house burglars, 2004

*** Police response is dependent on the installed system and the package you pay for