Advice on making your home and belongings more secure:-
BEFORE THE MOVE
Your new home
Ask the previous occupants and their estate agent about crime in the area - has the house been burgled?
Think about changing or installing extra door locks, fitting key-operated locks to windows and ideally an alarm. If there is an alarm you will want to change the access code. If it is connected to a monitoring service you will need to register your details with them. Plan ahead so you can do this as you move in.
Discuss the security of your new home with your insurance company, housing officer, local police or the person you will be renting your new home from.
Using tradespeople
Check that you can trust your estate agent, removers and other tradespeople and that they are members of a professional organisation or association. Use people recommended by friends or, at least, those whose details are advertised in magazines or in directories like Yellow Pages. Never deal with people who only list a mobile phone number.
Take care of your keys
If you need to give your keys to other people, make sure that you can trust them and ask them to return the keys as soon as they have finished with them. Do not hand out more sets of keys than you need to. Ask them not to label them with your surname or address.
Estate Agents
If you are out a lot, particularly if you have a "For Sale" board outside, ask your estate agent to be careful about the details they give out about you, your work, your security arrangements and the layout of your home. Ask the estate agent to remove their board as soon as the property is sold.
Insurance Cover
Make sure that your home insurance will transfer to your new home and that your belongings will be fully covered during the move itself (either through your own insurance of the removal company's).
Viewers and other callers
Only allow someone to look at your home if they have made an appointment. If strangers appear without an appointment, do not let them in. Ask them to contact the estate agent first.
Be careful with rubbish
When you prepare to move home, you may decide to have a clear out of old things. Be careful about leaving large piles of rubbish or packed bins outside your home for too long.
Packing your belongings
Take care if you collect lots of boxes from local shops - a burglar may see this as a sign that you are moving soon - use large plastic bags for lighter items. Think about leaving small valuable items, like jewellery, at the bank.
MOVING DAY
Keep your belongings secure
Ask friends and neighbours to keep an eye on both your old and new homes and your belongings, or to help out on the day of the move. Keep all doors locked (don't forget the garage, shed or patio doors) or keep an eye on them when they are not in use, such as when you take a tea break. Take special care with valuable items such as jewellery, televisions, videos and DVD's.
Small children and animals
Think about arranging for them to be looked after on the day that you move - one less thing to think about or distract you.
The removal van
Make sure that your removers can secure their van to stop it being stolen when it is left alone. Ask the removers to take care that the door used for loading the van is not left unguarded or unlocked when it is not being used.
AFTER THE MOVE
Neighbourhood Watch
Most new neighbours are friendly, welcoming and helpful. Get to know them as soon as possible and think about joining your local Neighbourhood Watch.
New Belongings
Don't leave empty boxes outside your home - they can give away details of new and valuable equipment, which may be attractive to burglars.
Mark your belongings
Marking your belongings can put thieves off and help the police investigate crimes. The BNWA have a limited amount of property marking kits for sale. Click on the link for more information.
Also keep a list of your property, including the make, model and serial number of these items where appropriate. Take photos of any valuable items that can't be marked like jewellery.
Page last updated/reviewed 2nd February 2010 |
