Keep the burglar out this winter with simple security precautions, says BSIA
The clocks going back marked the start of the burglar’s favourite time of the year - the winter season. Prolonged hours of darkness provide the perfect conditions for opportunistic crime. The British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the trade association for the professional security industry in the UK, therefore urges homeowners and businesses to stay safe this winter, by adopting simple and easy to implement precautions.
"Throughout the years we have definitely seen an increase in
opportunistic crime during the winter season, largely due to the
darker nights and properties being left empty for prolonged periods
of time during the festive season." says James Kelly, Chief
Executive of the BSIA. "However, often by simply adopting
straightforward and commonsense steps it is possible to
dramatically reduce the likelihood of these incidents
occurring.
"Firstly, it is important to ensure that all gates, doors and
windows are properly locked at all times. This applies both to
sites left vacant or to occupied properties, especially in the
evenings. Remember also to check all your physical security
equipment such as locks and barriers to make sure they are still
effective, and replace any damaged or poor quality items".
James continues: "Should your home or business have electronic
security measures in place such as CCTV, also remember to adjust
the settings to match the change in natural lighting times. If
remote monitoring and lighting are controlled separately, for
example, ensure you put the timer back on the lighting after
British Summer Time ends. Left out of sync, the monitoring will
come on but there will be an unwanted gap before the lighting
follows. Moreover, ensure adequate lighting is in place. Having
vital areas of a site in darkness is far from ideal and, by the
same token, too much light in the wrong place, for instance shining
directly into cameras blinding them, is not advisable.
"Finally", he warns, "if you are leaving buildings unattended
for long periods of time during the festive season, take
precautionary measures such as closing the curtains but leaving a
light on, to deter intruders without allowing them to look inside
your property, or ask a trusted neighbour or family member to keep
an eye on your estate whilst you are away".
"There are plenty of security measures available on the market
to help you secure your home or business, such as locks for windows
and doors, bells or monitored intruder alarms, CCTV, property
marking systems and/or security lighting, however, the quality of
such measures is paramount to sure their effectiveness in keeping
would be intruders away from the premises. Before choosing which
solution is right for you, you should consider how the burglar
could gain entry to your property, and seek expert advice where
necessary", concludes Mr Kelly.
The BSIA website provides details of member companies that
comply with relevant British and European Standards. Search for a
member at www.bsia.co.uk/companyfinder.
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