October is National Home Security Month. Alongside the evenings getting darker and the nights becoming longer, home security is increasingly front of mind for homeowners. Roland Etheridge of IronmongeryDirect, discusses key considerations to help keep a property safe and secure.
Upgrade your door locks
Intruders commonly gain access to a property by forced entry through a front or back door. Therefore, first and foremost, it is important to check you have durable, quality locks installed to make the entrance as protected and secure as possible. For wooden doors with a general nightlatch that is not BS3621 Approved, you must have a mortice deadlock fitted which allows you to double lock your door and ensure it’s truly secure. This should be 5-lever and approved by your insurers. Ideally, all locks should conform to British Standard BS3621 – in fact, this may be a requirement of your insurance company, so it is worthwhile checking your policy documents.
UPVC or composite doors will typically have a multipoint door lock installed with 3, 4 or 5 locking points, in conjunction with a cylinder that can lock and deadlock. Many doors will be fitted with a standard cylinder that will snap in the middle when attacked, thereby destroying the locking mechanism and allowing easy access. Fitting a 3-star cylinder however will make it harder for intruders to break-in due to its enhanced features. Endorsed by the Police Secure by Design (SBD) scheme, 3-star cylinders that are TS007 compliant provide greater defence with anti-pick, anti-bump, anti-screw, anti-pull and anti-drill lock protection. Plus, with built-in anti-snap, the front of the cylinder will be sacrificed to give way leaving less of the cylinder vulnerable to attack.
In addition to fitting a triple star cylinder, a high security door handle that is certified to PAS 24:2016 standard, or the equivalent STS or LPS (Loss prevention standards) should be installed to ensure the doorset complies with SBD guidelines. There are a wide range of multipoint handles available for instance that feature built-in cylinder guards and chamfered edges to prevent against mole grip attack, which are suitable for uPVC and timber doors.
Window security
Installing key lockable handles on all ground floor and accessible windows is recommended (unless the window forms part of an escape route). Therefore, even if the glass is smashed, the window cannot be fully operated which can make it harder for these to be used as exit point by a burglar without being seen. If windows need to remain open to ensure proper ventilation, the award-winning Jackloc Titan Key-Locking Window Restrictors range are a highly recommended solution. They can be fitted vertically or horizontally to prevent the window from opening further than 100mm and are SBD approved as an effective means of reducing crime, whilst preventing the risk of falls from windows.
Gate security
Security shouldn’t just be focused solely on the home. It’s important to look at the outside of the property too and assess any vulnerable points of access. Gate catches and latches are the first step but for additional security, gate bolts are one of the most effective measures. Gate bolts that incorporate a padlock are the equivalent of a deadbolt on a door. Alternatively, there are heavy duty, marine grade code locks available that can be surface fixed to timber and metal gates, which feature a mechanical keypad lock, so no power is needed.
Security equipment
CCTV and burglar alarms/sensors are some of the most effective ways to stop burglars, even behaving as a visual deterrent to reduce the risk of a break-in. Before choosing a solution, it’s important to consider the size of the property and the user’s requirements. For instance, properties with a garden shed or office close by could benefit from the Yale Sync Smart Home Family Alarm Kit Plus, which protects up to a 200m range. It can also be custom integrated with smart assistant devices and can also be armed and disarmed via the App whilst the user is out of the home. Wire-free accessories include a smart hub, two motion detectors, two door/window contacts and a keypad, with the option to add more to expand the system.
Outdoor lighting
Burglars rely on darkness to avoid being seen and getting caught. This is where effective outdoor lighting is key to act as an additional deterrent. There are a whole host of options available including wall and brick lights to LED floodlights that can help ensure driveways and outdoor spaces are well lit. Lights that feature a PIR sensor are a particularly good choice, which activate when motion is detected within a certain distance.
IronmongeryDirect has over 18,000 products in stock for next day delivery, including a wide range of quality locks, latches and security solutions that can help homeowners secure their properties. Plus, all ironmongery comes with a 5-year minimum guarantee for added peace of mind.
To find out more about IronmongeryDirect’s huge range, visit: www.IronmongeryDirect.co.uk
Roland Etheridge is category manager at IronmongeryDirect