Before you start
- A walk around your home, inside and out
- A budget for locks, lighting or alarms
Method 1 Secure your doors
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Step 1: Check the doors and frames
External doors should be solid (not hollow), fit well and have strong frames. A strong lock is useless if the frame splits.
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Step 2: Fit good locks
Use quality locks that meet a recognised security standard in your country. For uPVC doors, ask a locksmith about anti-snap cylinders. Add a deadbolt to the main door.
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Step 3: Add a door viewer or chain
A door viewer, chain or video doorbell lets you see who’s there before opening.
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Step 4: Secure patio and back doors
Fit extra locks or a security bar to sliding doors, and make sure back gates are locked and side access is closed off.
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Step 5: Change the locks when you move
You never know how many keys were made for the previous occupants.
Method 2 Secure your windows
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Step 1: Fit window locks
Add key-operated locks to ground-floor windows and any you can reach from a flat roof, wall or drainpipe.
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Step 2: Close windows when you go out
Even small or upstairs windows can be used to get in.
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Step 3: Keep keys handy but hidden
Keep window keys near the window for fire escape, but out of sight from outside.
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Step 4: Consider grilles or film
For vulnerable windows, consider security grilles that open from inside in an emergency, or security film that makes glass harder to break.
Method 3 Make your home look like a hard target
Point cameras at your own property. In many countries, recording a neighbour’s home, garden or a public street comes with legal duties under privacy laws.
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Step 1: Light the entrances
Fit motion-sensor lights at the front, back and side entrances.
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Step 2: Remove hiding places
Trim hedges and bushes near windows and doors so a burglar can’t work unseen. Keep side gates locked.
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Step 3: Put away tools and ladders
Lock sheds and garages, and don’t leave ladders, tools or wheelie bins where they can be used to climb.
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Step 4: Use an alarm
A visible, working alarm is a strong deterrent. Choose a professionally installed system or a reputable self-installed smart alarm.
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Step 5: Add cameras or a video doorbell
Cameras deter burglars and record evidence. Protect them with a strong password and two-factor authentication, and keep them updated.
Method 4 Protect keys and valuables
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Step 1: Keep keys out of sight
Don’t leave keys near the front door or in the lock, where they can be fished through the letterbox or seen through glass. Never hide a spare under a mat or pot; leave it with a trusted neighbour or use a certified key safe.
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Step 2: Hide valuables
Keep laptops, phones, jewellery and cash out of view from windows.
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Step 3: Use a safe
Bolt a safe to the floor or wall for passports, jewellery and important documents.
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Step 4: Mark and record your property
Photograph valuables, note serial numbers and use property-marking where available. It helps the police return items and supports insurance claims.
Method 5 When you’re away
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Step 1: Make the home look lived in
Use timer plugs or smart bulbs to switch lights and a radio on and off in the evening.
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Step 2: Stop deliveries piling up
Pause newspapers and parcel deliveries, and ask a neighbour to collect post and put out the bins.
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Step 3: Keep quiet online
Don’t post holiday plans or live photos on public social media. Share them when you’re home.
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Step 4: Tell someone you trust
Let a neighbour know when you’re away and how to reach you.
Troubleshooting
My camera keeps going offline
Check the Wi-Fi signal where it’s mounted, update the firmware, and consider a mesh Wi-Fi point nearby.
The motion light turns on constantly
Reduce the sensitivity, adjust the angle away from roads and trees, and shorten the on-time.
I lost my keys
If the keys could identify your address, change the locks straight away.
Frequently asked questions
Do fake cameras and alarm boxes work?
They may deter casual burglars, but experienced ones can often spot them. Real, visible equipment is more effective.
Are smart locks secure?
Good ones are, if they meet recognised standards and you use strong passwords, two-factor authentication and updates. Keep a physical key or backup way in.
Does home insurance require certain locks?
Some policies do. Check your policy wording, as a claim could be reduced if the required locks weren’t fitted or used.
Summary
Lock every door and window, fit strong locks and secure frames, and light your entrances. Remove hiding places, add a visible alarm or cameras, and keep keys and valuables out of sight. When you’re away, make the home look lived in and keep your plans off social media.
