Keeping your home and valuables safe and secure

45 reported Burglaries took place in Northampton in October alone, not a staggering sum, but

340 burglaries were reported in Northampton from January to October this year, many of which will have been committed by thieves entering through unlocked doors and opened windows, rather than through brute force.

With statistics revealing houses without security measures to be up to five-times more likely to be broken into than those with, preparedness can make all the difference. For a low cost, prevention through improving home security can help protect you and your belongings from unwanted attention. We spoke to Northants police, and an ex-police officer who preferred to remain anonymous. This is what they had to say.

Doors and Windows

Keep external doors locked when away from the house, and after everyone has gone to bed. Be aware of where your keys are kept, and make sure they are out of sight of windows and doors. Likewise, check all downstairs windows before you leave the property, making sure each is closed and locked securely.

Try not to keep a spare key outside in the garden, even if you might think it’s well hidden. If you must, try to look at the situation from a burglar’s perspective as to whether you’d be able find the key after a search. Consider hiding they key, and seeing whether a friend or family member can find it, to get an idea of where someone might be inclined to search.

Lighting and visibility

Even more so during the winter months, criminals prefer to target houses after dark that appear unoccupied.

The correct use of lighting can play a huge part in deterring a would-be burglar, whether it’s by illuminating covering areas of darkness, or by making the house looked lived-in. There are a few ways to achieve this, from putting the home on a timer with energy-saving lightbulbs, to simply leaving a light or two on, or a radio playing.

Having good outside lighting installed can make a difference, as having an exterior light fitted with a motion sensor can both remove the cover of dark, and help identify late-night arrivals.

Your Valuables

Sentimental value means little to a thief, and with such a small window of opportunity to operate during a break-in, burglars will target your most valuable belongings, often in the form of jewellery. A little advice can go a long way in helping protect your most prized possessions from burglary.

For truly high-value belongings, such as gold or diamond jewellery, the potential risk of loss during a break-in might outweigh the value of having it around the house. In these cases, consider storing them in a safety deposit box, which has the added benefit of protecting you and your family in the even of a burglary. With Jewellery around the house, apply similar caution as to keys, keep away from external sightlines.

Make sure your social media privacy settings allow pictures and posts to be seen only by friends and family. Posts about celebrations in particular may allow criminals to identify your jewellery and valuables, as well as details about your location. In general, being discreet about jewellery in public can go a long way, such as covering bracelets with long sleeves. If you’re travelling to or from an event or celebration, also consider taking off jewellery before you leave and putting it on when you arrive.

Make sure your insurance covers your jewellery, with documents kept safe (receipts, insurance evaluations, photographs, and authenticity certification) in a separate location away from the jewellery itself. Likewise, keep a written description of each piece just in case, to further aid any efforts to identify and recover any of your jewellery in the event it’s stolen.

Written by Isaac Warrington, with help by UK police