Insurance payments often fall in price if your property is visibly secure and of course, visible security acts as a deterrent to burglars. Criminals are far less likely to break into a well secured building than one which looks run down.
There is so much conflicting advice however, that it can be difficult to decide which is the most important area to tackle first and the security measures you take will depend on whether you are a landlord, a home owner or a business owner. Here are three overarching ideas to help put together your security plan. They are:
1. Put in place many ways to safeguard your property. Don’t rely on one method to prevent all possible crimes.
You will need to consider where your property is situated and at what hours of the day it is in use – this will help you decide if a burglar alarm, CCTV system or external lighting is needed for your property.
You should always look at the security of doors and windows, thinking about who has access with keys or swipe cards or codes. Are the doors strong enough, are the locks fit for purpose, on both internal and external doors and windows and how is entry or exit to or from your property controlled?
Door access systems can be linked to fire and burglar alarms for complete security solutions.
If you are a business, then undertake a risk assessment to pinpoint all the vulnerable areas of your business. Think about where you store money, equipment and supplies and ensure they are adequately protected all the time.
2. Engage other people in your property security.
Seek advice if you are responsible for staff, tenants or multi occupancy buildings and particularly if you are unsure about your obligations.
It is a good idea if you are at home to try to imagine that you are a burglar and then secure your property according to the weak spots you find. Check with local police for information about the level of risk associated with the area where your property is located. Think about gates, walls and fences as well as doors and windows. If you are an older person, local police are always happy to provide advice on how to protect your house.
If you are a landlord or business owner, finding professional help is critical to your staff’s or tenants’ safety as well as your property’s security. A locksmith such as this locksmith in Bristol, security system company or your insurance company are all sources of professional help and most will offer a no obligation quotation for work at your premises. Some will even help you complete a risk assessment.
3. Work with other people to get the best results from you security planning.
Once you have decided on what security systems to use, then tell other people about it. Teach the people using your property how to enter and exit the building and how to set or turn off security equipment. When carrying out health and safety education for staff, this can form part of it.
Home owners who give out keys should ask the person using them to tell them if the keys are mislaid. New locks can be installed quickly. Make sure that children know how to set or turn off the alarm system, especially if they are old enough to come a and go by themselves.
If your premises is unoccupied whilst on holiday or for any other reason, ask someone to keep a close eye on it. This may simply be a case of collecting your post from the doorway or employing a night guard in a business setting.
Finally, working with others means maintaining and monitoring your system once it has been installed and is running. Any security system needs maintaining, no matter what the initial cost. Regular maintenance will guarantee that it performs when it is supposed to. Find a maintenance service and/or monitoring scheme from your security system company. They are normally affordable and highly recommended.
If staff or occupants change, then a security review should be undertaken and if someone moves out from home or leaves a job, then keys should be collected or locks changed.
Most Burglaries are Spur of the Moment Decisions
Did you know that 35% of burglaries involve no physical break in to a property? Most of them occur through open doors and windows and are opportunistic and this applies to both domestic and business premises. Don’t forget about the security basics. They are often the most important measures you can take to avoid becoming part of the crime statistics.
To find out more about premises security options visit this Bristol locksmith website.
