Keeping Safe this Winter
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Recently, a neighbour of mine got broken into, brick through the window and made off with some electronics. Lets not kid ourselves, Telford is a pretty safe place to live but in August, according to the helpful Crime Map supplied by the Police there were around 1500 crimes reported, ranging from anti-social behavoir to more serious violent and sexual assaults.
How can we help ourselves to prevent this happening to us? The Police offer 10 top tips for home security here which covers lots of detailed stuff like which locks to use, and what bolts fit where, but I want to look at some easy ways & quick wins to keep people and their property together in Telford.
Firstly, the majority of burglars are looking for houses that look easy to get into and that might have some easy to sell items inside. It sounds callous, but if your neighbours houses look like something from the set of Prison Break and yours looks like something more akin to the Apple Store, they are going to choose you.
Keeping safe doesn’t have to cost a fortune either. I hope this isn’t a case of stating the blinding obvious, but here is my list of stuff you might want to start with.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Dawley & Malinslee suffered nearly as many crimes as Toxteth.” google_fonts=”font_family:Droid%20Sans%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_progress_bar values=”%5B%7B%22label%22%3A%22Arleston%20%26%20College%22%2C%22value%22%3A%2286%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22Broseley%20%26%20Much%20Wenlock%22%2C%22value%22%3A%2255%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22Cuckoo%20Oak%20%26%20Ironbridge%22%2C%22value%22%3A%22113%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22Dawley%20%26%20Malinslee%22%2C%22value%22%3A%22210%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22Donnington%20%26%20Trench%22%2C%22value%22%3A%22107%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22Hadley%20%26%20Leegomery%22%2C%22value%22%3A%22142%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22Ketley%20%26%20Oakengates%22%2C%22value%22%3A%22102%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22Lawley%20%26%20Overdale%22%2C%22value%22%3A%2293%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22Newport%22%2C%22value%22%3A%2272%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22Shifnal%20%26%20Albrighton%22%2C%22value%22%3A%22111%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22St%20Georges%20%26%20Priorslee%22%2C%22value%22%3A%22112%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22The%20Nedge%22%2C%22value%22%3A%22116%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22Wellington%20%26%20West%20Rural%22%2C%22value%22%3A%22118%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22Wellington%20North%22%2C%22value%22%3A%2248%22%7D%5D” options=”striped,animated” title=”Crime Stats” units=” Crimes”][vc_column_text]The longer the bar, the more crimes committed. Bear in mind different areas have different populations. This chart represents data from August 2015.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Here are 7 things you can do that won’t cost anything.
Hide things that can be used to break in.
If you have ladders or garden tools lying around, anything that can make it easier to climb a fence or break a window, put it away or lock it out of sight. Have a walk around and see what you might use if you were locked out.
Do your Garden.
Trim back any hedges or bushes that can help burglars hide from the eyes of your neighbours.
Say Hello to your neighbours.
Swap contact numbers with your neighbours. If you hear strange noises next door, or see something that looks out of place, give them a call to see if it is them. They’ll thank you for it. Also let them know if you’re going away, or having someone to check on the house that they may be suspicious of.
Hide expensive things inside your house.
Laptops, tablets, jewellery, consoles, cash. Have a walk round the outside of your house and try looking in your windows, doors and letterbox. If you can see anything of value, move it, hide it, or draw the curtains.
Keys.
Don’t leave keys in locks, or on the side by the door. This especially applies to car keys. What better way to escape with all your worldly goods than in your family hatchback. Also, don’t leave ‘just in case I get locked out’ keys under the mat or recycling box.
Recycling.
Just got a new Mac? DSLR Camera? Make sure you rip up the box comprehensively before you put it in the recycling bag. Hide it well, it telegraphs to the potential burglar that you may well have a few quid and there may well be more where that came from.
Windows & Doors.
Keep them locked as a default. When leaving the house, do a quick visual check for open windows and physically try the doors. When you let yourself into your house, lock the door behind you, especially if you are the only one in. You don’t leave the back doors open when you go up for a bath do you?
So you’ve done all that, but you want to spend some money. What next?
Alarm Systems & CCTV
If you are thinking of investing some money in setting up a home security system, there are a number of companies who can set these up for you. Look out for NSI Approved companies in Telford like www.vanguardalarms.co.uk or www.justicesecurity.co.uk who are both listed in the official http://www.nsi.org.uk/directory/
I took a trip to the local Telford Maplins store to find out what self install options were available to protect our property and homes from intruders. I spoke to Mike about some Burglar Alarms and CCTV systems that are under £250 and easy to fit for the average DIYer.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”3304″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” onclick=”zoom”][vc_column_text]Yale Easy Fit Telecommunicating Intruder Alarm Kit.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”3306″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” onclick=”zoom”][vc_column_text]Sentient EL421 DVR 4 Channel CCTV Kit with 2 Cameras[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”3307″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” onclick=”zoom”][vc_column_text]Swann Doorphone Video Intercom with Colour 3.5″ LCD Monitor[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]First up, Mike showed me the Yale ‘Easy Fit’ Telecommunicating Intruder Alarm for £229. Alarms have come on a bit over the past few years, this one is completely wire-free, so no drilling walls to route cables through, and then redecorating. The kit includes movement sensors and door or window contacts, but the most interesting bit is what happens when the alarm is triggered. As well as ringing the ubiquitous bell on the outside of the property, it sends an alert to your mobile phone, and up to four others to say the alarm has been triggered.
Mobile phone connectivity is also part of option 2, the Sentient EL421 DVR (Digital Video Recorder) with two CCTV cameras priced at £199.99. This a device that records what goes on when you place the cameras to cover the entrance points of your home. While capturing ne’er do wells about their business is the electronic function of this set-up, the real benefit is one of deterrent. Place the cameras higher than you can reach standing on a wheely bin, and in plain view. Stickers & signs will also help to deter.
Night vision capable of up to 20 metres and hard drive to record 30 days of recording. This particular kit will also stream the live video to an app you can download to your smartphone. It all connects up by scanning a QR code stuck on the DVR. Easy.
Finally, to know who is coming to your door, option 3 is this full colour Swann Door Video Intercom for £129.99. A wired intercom system that show a picture of who is at the door. Mike suggests ‘Position the monitor somewhere accessible so that you are not near the door. No pressure to answer it if you don’t know who it is”. With 15 metres of cable, you can easily place it in your living room.
If you want to know more about home security, Maplins on Forge Retail Park, in conjunction with Yale are holding a CCTV & Alarm Demo Weekend on 17th & 18th of October 2015 where you can see how everything links together, and what results you might get.
If you have any comments or tips please leave them below.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
