had burglary today, advise for next time please!

Stooby2

DIY fit wireless alarms fro DIY centres aren't bad at all. Easy to fit and you can extend them as much as you need. I bought an additional box for the back of the house and a remote unit to cover my garage which is at the bottom of the garden.

I've screwed our letterbox shut and have an external wall mounted box outside. It has the advantage of the post being out of sight when we're not in (providing the postman pushes into the box properly).

jhe

vaio wrote: »

That's surprising especially as you've just had a break in.

I'd double check to make sure they noted the break in otherwise you could well find they will reject any future claim.[/QUOTE

good advice,
i was burgled many years ago now and also did not have contents insurance, insurance policy rules might well have changed but
after the burglary i had a problem getting insurers to even offer a quote when i declared we had been burgled.
i eventually got insured but only when i had an alarm installed by a company that is registered and an approved installer and also the alarm is maintained on a yearly contract, i also had to have window locks installed

Mojisola

xyz123 wrote: »

hi

had a theft at our home today, gutted about it. no contents insurance (i know it sounds stupid but i coudlnt afford it after moving in)

Did the police warn you that thieves often come back for a second go? They'll wait until you have replaced most of the stuff and try again.

xyz123

Mojisola wrote: »

Did the police warn you that thieves often come back for a second go? They'll wait until you have replaced most of the stuff and try again.

they didnt but have now arranged for contents insurance (for what its worth) and am looking at getting an alarm installed.

xyz123

vaio wrote: »

That's surprising especially as you've just had a break in.

I'd double check to make sure they noted the break in otherwise you could well find they will reject any future claim.

will check that. When they offered for free, i asked if it had already been included since day one and subsequently mentioned about the burgalary yesterday. so i did mention it but will double check it.

xyz123

Stooby2 wrote: »

I've screwed our letterbox shut .

how is it actually done? do you just drill a hole through the flap that opens and then screw that?

MrTyo

Whilst its true they may come back, chances are if you have improved your security they wont. (if it was shed tools then i would say yes more likely too, but people that nick from your house generally like their specific way of getting in, you negate that they go elsewhere)

In regards to the letter box thing. Just to confirm if you physically lift up the handle and lock it from inside (dont leave key in) then it will prevent people reaching in and opening it from the inside, which is what i assume they have done. Many people assume with the UVPC when they close it thats its fine, its not, put something through and they will open it from inside.

Not sure which police area your in but some have crime reduction advisors, although with all the cuts, some have lost them, but some do house surveys etc, may be worth recontacting and see if they will visit

dacouch

john.h wrote: »

You would bump the lock from outside

Yes that would normally be how a burglar would bump a look to gain entry to a house eg from the outside.

Assuming it's an euro type lock without anti bump security, it would take maybe 15 seconds to bump a lock, certainly quicker than reaching through a letter box on the off chance it can be opened from inside.

Less chance of looking suspicious as would appear you're opening a door with the key and leaves no obvious signs a lock has been bumped so people often assume the lock was opened from inside.

I've got a bump key which I use to help my friends with euro locks to gain entry when they lock themselves out. Without fail once seeing how easy and quick it is to gain entry they change their locks to anti bump locks.

tmpearce

I would have anti snap and anti bump locks fitted, you can also buy letter box guards that stop people probing instruments through and fishing round. The multi point locks themselves are good, you need a good high security cylinder as well though.

jimi_man

Home security is about placing deterrents in the way of potential burglars. If you live in an unlocked wooden shed then you will very probably get burgled many times, if you live in a barred fortress with armed guards, then it's unlikely you will be. Somewhere between those two is an acceptable compromise.

Dummy boxes and dummy CCTV is fine, real alarms are better, alarms attached to a Central Station are even better. If you have gates, make sure they are shut all the time, and preferably locked. Same with all windows, patio doors etc. Don't have a 'Beware of the dog' sticker, they are an invitation.

You can put a wire basket on your letter box, makes it slightly more difficult to poke things through, try not to leave your keys all in one obvious place, (ours are all by the back door - doh!), don't leave your calendar lying around so thieves can see it, keep the blinds down in the kitchen for example so thieves can't see inside and 'size' the job up. Wheelie bins are also a favourite, people use them to stand on to get into high windows and things, so try and think of a method to avoid that happening.

Despite the hype, you are unlikely to be burgled twice in quick succession, especially if you do nothing else but stick a dummy alarm box on the wall.

Try getting a Crime Prevention Officer round, though these days they don't exist so much any more, they are more Crime Reduction Design Advisors and they try and design it out at initial construction. Your local locksmith is a good place to start.

Insurance is a double edged thing. As someone says, it's a last resort and avoidance should be the first port of call.