We have put together a quick four point door security checklist to help your prepare for the winter months.
The 2010-2011 British Crime Survey reported that in 72% of all burglaries access was gained through the entrance doors and with statistics showing that burglaries increase by 20% as the darker nights draw in, it’s a good time to ensure that your home is safe and secure.
- Lock your door
It seems like a very obvious thing to do, but crime statistics show that 23% of burglars gained access through an unlocked door. Whether you are in or out, get into the habit of ensuring your doors are locked at all times. Failure to do this can also risk your home insurance cover in the event of a break in.
- Is your current front door secure?
The figures show that burglars are opportunistic; they will be deterred if they feel a home has strong security measures in place. Co-op Insurance consulted twelve former burglars, who all agreed that ‘strong and heavy doors’ were a deterrent when looking for homes to target. Bowater Doors offer a double rebated range of composite doors that are 54% thicker and reinforced with steel for additional strength. Take a look at the full range here.
- Check your locks and cylinders
Lock ‘snapping’ and ‘bumping’ has become an increasingly popular method of gaining access to a property. Look to see if your cylinder is sticking out of the door, if it protrudes more than the depth of a pound coin, or the handle is floppy it may be worth replacing or upgrading.
- Protect yourself from ‘letter plate fishing’
How many of us keep house keys or car keys near the front door? Letter plate fishing can allow burglars to manipulate the lock from the inside, as well retrieve valuables such as keys, purses, and wallets if they are stored close to the door. Bowater Doors provide an option to upgrade to a security enhanced TS008 model that has been designed to combat this increasingly popular method of gaining access to a property.
Bowater Doors are proud to support National Home Security month throughout October. We ensure our doors offer the highest levels of security from the locks and hardware, to the door itself to make sure that they can withstand the most persistent intruders. Our doors are accredited by Secured by Design, the police security initiative to improve the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings.
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