One in ten people move house after being burgled, new research has found. Property Reporter shared the findings of a survey by insurer Policy Expert, which revealed that many people feel unsafe in their home after being burgled.
The survey revealed that 12 per cent of those whose homes are targeted by thieves feel as though they can no longer stay there, while eight per cent did not feel as though they could be alone in the property any more.
What’s more, 32 per cent of those questioned suffered sleepless nights following a burglary. The findings show that burglary can have a significant impact on people’s health and wellbeing, far beyond the monetary value of any items that are stolen.
The research also highlighted the most common ways in which burglars gain access to properties - 38 per cent get into a home through a window, while 29 per cent damaged a door.
Although the majority of people who were burgled were out when the incident occurred, 20 per cent revealed that they were at home asleep at the time of the break in.
Adam Powell, operations director at Policy Expert, noted that this crime “takes a huge toll on us psychologically and emotionally”.
“Protecting our homes and belongings is vital and there are a number of steps you can take to reduce the risk of becoming a target for thieves,” he explained.
Installing a burglar alarm and/or CCTV is one option, as is choosing enhanced locks for windows and doors.
You may even feel more comfortable if you fit Rockdoors in Liverpool because they are so secure. Of course, you also need to make sure you always lock all the doors and windows in your property when you’re away from home.
Other top tips from the insurer include to avoid posting about your holidays on social media, to fit a timer on your lights, and to get a house sitter or leave your keys with a trusted neighbour and ask them to check your property from time to time if you’ll be away for an extended period.
With October named National Home Security Month, now is the perfect time to assess your home security and see if you could be doing more.
The organisation that runs this awareness month revealed that Halloween and Bonfire Night are statistically the worst times of the year for burglaries, so it pays to get your house in order before we get to the end of October.
Throughout the course of the campaign, the organisers will explore smart home security systems, home alarms, door and window lock standards and much more.
Among the top pieces of advice where door and window locks are concerned are to ensure that all external timber doors are fitted with a mortice lock and/or a night latch that meet BS3621, and that all windows have at least one key-operated lock.
When it comes to PVC-u or composite doors, it is worth upgrading the cylinder to one that meets a British Standard, or is a TS007 Kitemarked model.
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