Thursday, October 29, 2009
Category:
Home Improvements
Halifax Home Insurance is advising homeowners to take steps in order to reduce the risk of burglary.
There has been an 8.5% increase in burglary claims and the recession is among the reasons given for this rise.
Darker nights give opportunists great cover and so Halifax Home Insurance are encouraging homeowners to make things rather more challenging in order to evade turning prey. Over 8000 burglary claims were processed by Halifax in 2008.
Senior claims manager Martyn Foulds says; "Most burglars are looking for an easy target, and the cover of darkness makes life simpler for them. It is not only the financial loss that we want to protect people from, but also the distress caused by knowing a stranger invaded the home. The good news is that with a few simple and cost effective measures, homeowners can greatly reduce the risk of becoming a victim."
Halifax suggest several top tips to prevent burglary and make their homes less enticing to burglars. Firstly, windows and doors should be kept locked, even when at home. If security lighting is installed, then this can provide an alert when a property is approached, as can gravelled driveways. British standard approved alarms should be installed and they should always be set when leaving a property unoccupied and at night. According to Halifax, those which are linked to the Police are a good idea. Barking dogs also deter burglars, and signs which say ‘beware of the dog’ can also be off putting.
The perimeter around a property can also make it more tricky to break in – high walls, pointy railings and sharp bushes can all be arduous to overcome. Ladders and tools which can be used to force entry into a property should be locked away. Timer switches will suggest someone is at home, and good neighbours should be asked to keep an eye on things whilst away. Property should be marked with a UV pen or etched on so there is a better possibility of it being retrieved by police. Keys should not be left hidden anywhere as burglars know where to find them!
Halifax Home Insurance claims data has revealed the top ten hotspots for burglary last year. London was in first place, followed by Manchester and Leeds. Also in the top ten, were Enfield and Barnett, Grimsby. Harrow, Uxbridge and Bexley took sixth place. Bromley and Bexley came in at number 7, followed by Bradford, Bristol and at number 10, Solihull and South East Birmingham.
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Homeowners who would like to make home improvements in order to increase security of, and around their property, could consider a secured loan. A secured loan for
home improvements could be used to replace existing windows and doors, with newer upvc versions which have multi locking mechanisms making it harder to break in. One of many options to fund home improvements, a secured loan can also be used to replace broken or low perimeter fences with something which is more challenging to get past.
