Winter can be calm and cosy, but it's also when your home is most at risk. Encouraged by the dark nights, burglaries rise by more than a third between November and February. Here are five ways to keep your property safer this season.
First: if you go out, leave lights on. A dark, empty house is the perfect target. Timer switches or smart bulbs that turn lights on and off through the evening make the house look occupied even when it isn't.
Second: check your locks before the season turns. Worn handles, stiff mechanisms and ageing hinges are weaknesses a burglar can exploit, and cold weather only makes tired hardware worse.
Third: secure the perimeter. Side gates, sheds and garages are common entry routes, and often where tools that could force a door are kept.
Fourth: don't advertise your absence. Holiday posts on social media tell more people than you think that the house is empty.
Fifth, and most effective: upgrade the weak points themselves. Modern doors and windows with multi-point locking systems are the strongest single improvement you can make to your home's security.
Want an expert eye on your home's weak spots? Book a free door and window security check.