The local police won't seem to help with home security ideas, can you?

[shoom]

I have tried to arrange a visit but it doesn't seem to be happening.

Ok, after many years in a flat I have to think about home security for a house. It's in a neighborhood watch area if relevant.

There is a very old burglar alarm (wired, bells only), too ancient to add a keypad near the door and it's not practical to run through the house to the control unit. I want to be able to set and unset it in the hall. If I got a more modern system would I have to run additional wires, or could the existing wires to the bell box etc be reused? Or at 20 years old are the wires best replaced?

What about security lights? What should I look for?

And with door and window locks is there something specific I should look for?

thanks

Have done some work around this in the past.

Get a good new alarm system. Burglars will see the old box of the existing one and might chance that it is no longer working/ connected. Get a monitored alarm if possible. ADT have been very good for ours recently.

Get security lights outside that are triggered by a sensor, and inside have plenty of lamps on timer switches, not just one in the hall!

I don't know about window and door locks but a good locksmith company should be able to advise. Look for the sort that insurance companies specify (you could call and ask your insurance company).

Keep wheelie bins away from flat roofs and gates as they can be used as a step up.

Gravel is your friend! Gravel paths are noisy. I can hear people heading up my drive and it is said to be off-putting.

Keep windows covered with sheer blinds or net panels in the day so that burglars cannot peer in and see what goodies are inside.

Secure back gates well.

Overall make your house look less of an easy ride than others on the road.

Thanks, this is what I need to know.

i got a home visit and tips from the police after I had been burgled...

Stepping is spot on - essentially, the aim is to make your house look more trouble to break into than the ones either side of it.

you might also need a decent lock on your garden shed (so your own tools aren't used to break into your house). My ladder lives outside so that is locked up and inoperable using a bike lock.

Door and window locks - ask your home insurance company to send you the "minimum standards of security" leaflet, or look online.

It will be quite easy to comply if you have wooden doors and windows. There are British Standards for thief-resisting locks.

Plastic doors not so good.

I have wooden doors and windows!
I'll look into insurance standards, thanks.

You can get good, wireless alarm systems now. Our new house has it - Risco Agility Flexible Wireless Solution. We have motion sensors in each room, contact points on front and back door, key pad by front and back door so you can come and go through either. It really is flexible! We recently added the garage onto the system as DH has some rather expensive bikes, and we also had the motion sensor in the kitchen disabled as our dogs are bigger than the previous owners' dog and were triggering the alarm.

We also have 2 proximity tags so don't have to plug in the code (useful for dotty Grandma!), and a panic button which I keep by my bed.

We're not connected to the police but could be for monthly fee etc.

Seriously need to look at security lights so watching with interest. Trouble is we are semi-rural and I think they would be triggered by a fox so I don't know whether they would just make me really jumpy.

Shoom we had a home security assessment done by an independent locksmith last year.
He was absolutely brilliant, have recommended him several times. He didn't charge to come out and he actually said there was nothing he could sell us, we are well covered.

Maybe you could contact one in your local area. Have a read of THIS

It's a really good idea to have a security check both for your peace of mind and for your home insurance purposes.

Thanks again