Worried about security

freeman3030

Hi, apologies for the very nervous post. We completed in the purchase of our house yesterday and was so excited to get in and crack on with the renovations before we move in. We bought it and was expecting to completely gut it and start again.
I noticed that the UPVC French doors in the dining room onto the garden had different handles and different locks. I thought it was really odd so then inspected them further and noticed its damaged at the top of the frame as if someone's tried to Jimmy it open. It was a really sobering moment as in the flat we'd just sold security never really felt security to be an issue as people are always around and it just never entered my mind. I then pondered on it further and we're end of terrace, on a dead end road. Out the front of our property we face the gardens of the houses on the next row, likewise, there's a open bit of grass and walkway to access the row of houses behind ours. It's bought to my attention that were actually quite vulnerable.
I looked at the front door and and it's had a different door handle put on it and there's a hole where I'd imagine there had been a previous door lock/handle.
Obviously I'm going to get new doors front and back but it's now made me think about CCTV or a security alarm but I don't really know anything about it. Any advice much appreciated.

Owain_Moneysaver

Contact your local police and ask if they do free home visits for crime prevention.

Mankysteve

Pay your house insurance and stop worrying about it. It doesn't take much work to break into a house unless your going to installed bars over all the doors and windows.

All it really takes is a brick and window and your in.

pendragon_arther

Mankysteve wrote: »

Pay your house insurance and stop worrying about it. It doesn't take much work to break into a house unless your going to installed bars over all the doors and windows.

All it really takes is a brick and window and your in.

I bet the OP feels reassured and safe now. However if you've never been burgled and felt the after-effects of being invaded by some lowlife vermin creature who sometimes craps on the carpet due to their fear of being discovered then I can understand your viewpoint.

Movement sensor lights front and rear and even a fake cctv camera will act as a deterrent. In Kenya we have planted fairly high prickly bushes which are also good. Plus if you like dogs get one.

27col

Mankeysteve is right. No amount of security and fancy locks will stop an intruder if they are prepared to break glass.
Security lights and the presence of an alarm system might well persuade the intruder to go elsewhere to an easier venue.

zaax

yes, make it look like your somewhere else is a better bet. Lights; camera and alarms (even if fake) or get a dog.

redmalc

Alarm is a must these days,we never leave the house without setting it.
We also have a cctv system with cameras covering all of the doors and garage area

Jonesya

One low cost measure - get a few timer switches to have a couple of lamps come on in the evening to ensure the house looks occupied. With energy saving bulbs the running cost is pennies.

BigBopper

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Contact your local police and ask if they do free home visits for crime prevention.

:rotfl:

Maybe 25 years ago.

dacouch

If you have a side gate giving access to your garden, put a padlock on it which will make it more difficult for them to gain access to the back of the house where they're more comfortable as not overlooked

Skintdoogle

Hi freeman3030,

I believe you're right about your vulnerability, because of easy access from the walkway. UPVC French doors are particularly vulnerable too. However, you can easily address these risks.

1. If you're buying new doors, then look for doors certified to the PAS24 standard.
2. Failing that, you can improve your door security in several ways:

• Replace the lock cylinders with ones that meet the Sold Secure Diamond standard (e.g. ABS Avocet). This addresses a well-known vulnerability called 'lock snapping' that's common to euro cylinders.
• UPVC doors can be jimmied open easily, but you've two options to address this. The first option is to fit 'sash jammers'. You'll need to fix 4 sash jammers to the slave door and 2 to the other door. NB: You need to use both Araldite and jack nuts for sash jammers to be secure. Araldite stops the screws from being wiggled loose. It's an easy fix if you're OK at DIY. Alternatively, you can now buy a product called a Patlock for French doors.
• If your door hinges are external, they are open to attack. You can fix this with hinge bolts, which are a great way to add 'fit and forget' security.

Home security is in layers. The first layer is your boundaries, which you want secure (e.g. high fence at the back, perhaps topped with trellis to make climbing tricky). The second layer is your physical security: window locks, doors with solid frames and high security locks, etc. The third layer is an alarm, perhaps plus CCTV.

Google "TheCrimePreventionWebsite" for more info or check out the Met Police's Operation Bumblebee website for more comprehensive advice.

PS The value of good locks etc is to force a burglar to break glass to enter. This is noisy, risks injury and risks leaving behind forensic evidence (e.g. snagged clothing fibres). If you want more security, then you can fit security film over your glass.