Your home is your castle

You don't want to come home to find your precious possessions taken. Burglars love empty homes - so be warned.

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Protect your property and you can cut down the risk of feeling that your home has been violated by a nasty and unpleasant stranger.

Celebrity Victims

When Ozzy Osbourne was targeted by jewellery thieves in 2004 they had got in via a ladder to a window on the first floor. This is clear warning to take the security of your home very seriously - including window locks.

A lorra hassle

And don't forget Cilla Black. Burglars broke into her home, beat up her son and made off with £1m worth of jewellery.

Bad enough, but then when Cilla claimed against her insurance the company refused to pay out because she didn't have the right locks on her windows. That is £1m in compensation refused for the sake of locks that would have cost around £10.

Keys

Never leave keys in a lock - always take them with you. Never leave keys in a 'secret' hiding place - thieves know all the hiding places. Leave a spare key with a trusted neighbour.

Doors

Make sure all outside doors have deadlocks which at least conform to BS3621. These locks can only be opened by key and means that a burglar cannot just use a plastic card to push back the tongue of the lock or break a glass panel and reach in to open it. Back doors and patio doors that you usually lock from the inside should also be fitted with bolts.

Doorframes & double doors

The doorframe can be the weakest part of the door if it is weak or rotten - so check that and repair or replace as necessary. Hinge bolts might be worth considering to strengthen that side of the door.

Double doors should have bolts (preferably security bolts with removable keys) at the top and bottom of both doors as well as a lock.

Patio doors

Extra security locks should be fitted to patio doors to stop the frame being lifted off the tracks. The sliding leaf of patio doors should be fitted on the inside.

Windows

Most burglars get in through windows so pay close attention here. Key operated locks should be fitted to all accessible windows - those on the ground floor, or in flats those with outside walkways and those near drainpipes and flat roofs. These locks are inexpensive to buy and can usually be fitted by the typical householder.

Callers

Check the identity of all callers. A door viewer or door chain will help you see who is at the door without opening it fully. Before opening your door fully, ask to see their identity card if they claim to be officials. Don't be fooled by a uniform. Telephone their office if in any doubt.

Going Out

A burglar can be in and out of your home in two minutes. So always shut and lock all windows - however short a time you are going to be away.

One of the growing areas of crime is in garden crime so don't forget garages and sheds - they contain valuable items and tools useful to a burglar. Chain and padlock ladders, or keep them in locked sheds or garages.

Holidays

Don't leave signs up that indicate that you are away.

Cancel the milk and newspapers. Ask a neighbour or friend to keep an eye on your home, taking in any packages and making sure all mail is properly pushed through your letterbox and perhaps opening and closing curtains.

Property Marking

List your valuable items with serial numbers and a short description. Take photographs or videos of items such as jewellery and keep them with your policy. You will have a better chance of getting your property back after a burglary. It will also help with the completion of any insurance claims.

Use a property marking kit by putting your postcode and the number of your house on all appropriate items. This will help the police to return your property to you. Your local Crime Prevention Officer will advise you.

Alarms

Many insurance companies insist that the installation of alarms is carried out by companies registered with the National Approval Council for Security Systems (Queensgate House, 14 Cookham Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 8AJ). So check with your insurance company before installing an alarm.

Most alarms only warn that someone has already broken in. Your priority is to stop them getting in at all.

And finally

Make sure that you are properly insured if the worst happens.

Beware - if you are underinsured your insurance company may scale down the size of your payout. For example, if the contents of your house are worth £30,000 but you have only insured them for £20,000 you might only receive two-thirds of what you claim for.

Get a quote for home and contents insurance online now.