Security after burglary

Davesnave

Did you consider the entry point for the burglar 'around the side?' The first thing I'd want to know is how they got there and how I might make that harder.

Over the back fence? Climbing roses.

From the front? A tall, hard to climb gate with a spike strip on top.etc.

g1001

Having been burgled five years ago in broad daylight (alarm blazing away):it didn't deter the burglar. We then spent 2kbon a state of the art CCTV system which can be useful. However CCTV isn't. Really a deterrent to burglars anymore. Three weeks ago we were visited by 4 hooded and masked scumbags in the middle of the night. They came equipped to potentially snapboir cylinder locks judging by the mole grips they came equipped with . Unfortunately for them we had our cylinder locks changed to 3 star anti snap locks so they didn't even try.. they saw the CCTV but didn't care. The only thing it does is potentially help the police identify the culprits. From that perspective it's great but when you review the footage back for the first time be prepared to feels range of emotions when you actually see these rats trying your doors, peering in and discussing how best to break into your home. It's not nice

twopenny

I'm with Davesnave on this. If you can block access to the rear and grow a rose over it that's enough of a deterrent.

I lived next to a family of 6 who all in turn became burgulars, 5 and dad now in prison. After a burgulary I was advised about cameras, cutting down hedges to give visibility and would generally make myself miserable.

Grew a climbing rose along the back fence (you don't have to put warning lables on this) trellis with a gate at the side and a pir flood light @ £8 and rocks below a hedge

Yes, anyone determined could get in but the essential point is that they want a quick get away. So the more difficult you make it for them to get out quickly the more they will look for an easier target.

New house, peaceful neighbourhood first thing was to put up a trellis with climbing rose over garden gate and grow roses/trees/raspberry canes along all boundaries. Artistically trained blackberries on another fence. They are going to choose someone else.

MrsStepford

I was in the house one morning when I heard an intruder. Luckily, not a burglar but someone being chased by police. He had accessed neighbour's gate, used broken trellis as a ladder to climb into our walled garden, opened screen door and back door and crept in. Breeze from back door set off wind chimes and he fled outside front door. CCTV caught him crouching by front door. Police spotted him though and dragged him off. Within 2 weeks he was back in prison. 

We already had CCTV. Insurer told us that we would get a discount for a proper burglar alarm but not for CCTV. Some insurers will also give a discount for 24/7 occupation. Neighbours here don't call police when they hear an alarm unless it's been ringing for over an hour at 2am or something. Car alarms are similarly ignored. 

For houses which have an internal porch ie many Victorian and Edwardian houses, instead of having an external front door fitted on the porch, a big gate which can be padlocked at night. That way, the actual front door can be closed but unlocked, in case of fire. (We have a fire extinguisher close by). We bought a 6ft straight top garden gate. Fits the space and folds back during the day. 

We added PrikkaStrip to the tops of all the walls. (Make sure fences/walls are 2m or more otherwise you may fall foul of local council). Prickly plants are a good suggestion. Some remote control door bells etc are hackable so do research first. 

A dog is a good deterrent, either a yappy scrappy one or a big one with a deep bark ! 

If adding bolts, put them in places you can reach easily and WD40 them regularly so they are easy to undo. Double locks on front door, solid wood door if poss. Ditto back. We have bars on front windows downstairs. 

There are two schools of thought on anti-burglar stuff. Firstly, that potential burglars will avoid your property and go elsewhere. Two, that they will assume that means you have valuables and will put more effort in.

There are also little things which you can do. Don't have a front door which shows post on the doormat.. Have mail held if you go away. Get a cool box for doorstep deliveries and keep it there, so no obvious bottles/absence of bottles. 

Varying routine helps too. If your paper is held for you, you don't need to collect it at same time every day. We were watched and someone tried to unscrew our gate, so we changed to security screws. 

Padlock ladders, even if in a shed, which should be padlocked too. Everything outside should be screwed down with security screws. Don't leave scrap metal within sight. Eastern Europeans routinely go around streets here and steal it. Our fridge, awaiting disposal by John Lewis, was removed from our front path.