Rehabilitation

10 steps to prevent theft at home

16 OCT 2023
READING TIME:  5  Minutes

A safe home is synonymous with peace of mind. Being able to leave your home for a few days without having to worry about what might happen is priceless.

These 10 tips to avoid being robbed at home will help you achieve this:

Security systems are your friends

Security systems are your first line of defense against any threat from burglars. From classic security cameras to more complex systems. You can even set up alarms with motion sensors and you don't need a huge budget to do so either.

Nowadays there are options to set up your own alarm system on your own, although having a private company can be an additional guarantee.

In the end, the more complicated it is for the thief, the less likely you are to get robbed.

Reinforce doors and windows

In line with the previous advice to prevent theft, reinforce the security of doors and windows. Both are the entry point to your home, so it is important that they are secure.

You can install a security or multipoint lock that reinforces the door and also security bars on the windows if you live on a ground floor or in an easily accessible place.

A good time to make the change is when buying and renovating the house before moving in. In fact, there are even special mortgages for renovations .

Have good lighting

Darkness is the best camouflage for burglars. You can't suspect what you can't see. Good lighting is a great deterrent, especially in houses with gardens.

Lighting the main entrances to your home and installing motion sensors will help prevent break-ins whether you're home or not. If you've gone on holiday, it can even help make it look like you're still in the house.

Pretend you're at home

Another way to avoid being robbed at home is to make thieves think you haven't left. Thefts with the owners inside the house are still a rare occurrence.

There are many tools to simulate that someone is home, such as light timers. You can also take advantage of home automation elements to turn on the television or radio and make it seem like you are still at home.

Don't share your trip on social media

Everything you do in terms of home automation and pretending that you are still at home will be of little use if you then post the trip on your social networks or if you have been advertising for some time now. Instagram that you are going on vacation.

Avoid giving more information than necessary if you want to keep your home safe.

Ask your neighbors for help

In the old days, asking neighbours to pick up your mail was a must if you wanted burglars to know you were on holiday. Nowadays, mail is less common, but it is still just as useful to ask neighbours to pick it up.

In fact, it's even more helpful to ask them to stop by the house or keep an eye out for any suspicious activity while you're away.

Do not leave valuables in sight

Any valuables left in plain sight will be a temptation for thieves. Remember to keep these items away from windows, as they will be easier to steal.

Beyond keeping them out of sight from the street, it is also a good idea to keep them out of sight at home. Also hide jewellery and valuable items that you are going to leave at home. This is about not making it easy for thieves and ensuring that, if they do enter your home, they do not find what they are looking for quickly. Remember that time works against them and in your favour.

Take out home insurance

Unfortunately, it pays to be prepared for the worst. The way to do this is with a good home insurance policy that includes theft coverage. This coverage can take care of damage to your home and your security systems and also compensate you for some of the items that may have been stolen from you.

In fact, you can even extend this coverage to protect you from theft outside your home.

This also applies to home insurance with a mortgage , to which you can add these coverages.

Think of an armoured door

If you live in an apartment, the door will be the main entry point for burglars. Installing a reinforced door is one of the best deterrent measures because it is so difficult to force open.

Keep your keys under control

And of course, do your part too. Keep your house keys close at hand at all times, whether on vacation or when you leave home. And do the same with your mobile devices. Tablets and cell phones contain a lot of sensitive information, so create security systems so that it cannot be easily accessed.

These tips will help you avoid home burglaries, but of all of them, only home insurance will truly protect you if the worst happens.

The UCI blog posts cover current issues that are intended to be useful to our readers. However, it is possible that some of the less recent posts contain out-of-date information, so it is necessary that you always check the publication date of the post.

Share