Ensure that you do not leave cash lying around where it can be easily seen, particularly from a window; equally make sure car and house keys are always placed somewhere secure.  If you are out for the evening, make sure you draw your curtains or blinds and leave a light on – this will give the illusion that there is someone at home.  Visible burglar alarms and good outside lighting will also deter would be break-ins.

When you leave the house, or when you prepare to go to sleep at night, get into the habit of locking up and undertaking a quick security check as part of your routine. Once you keep making the effort of checking your windows and doors, the practice will become second nature. Your windows, regardless of how high up they are located or how small they look, should have keyed locks (Burglars don’t like having to break glass because of the noise it makes and the risk of leaving forensic evidence). Your external doors must have double-keyed deadlocks and should preferable be made of solid wood since this is one of the safest materials. A deadlock can make life difficult for a burglar as you need a key to open them from the inside as well as the outside, subsequently a deadlock makes it more difficult for burglars to take large things such as TV sets.

Sliding doors are usually quite vulnerable. For those who have sliding doors it is advisable to install patio bolts on them for security.

Your front door ought to have a peephole as well as a screen door that has a lock. This makes it extra hard for people who would enter via this route.

Avoid placing spare keys in secret hiding places outside your house since a smart thief will probably know where these spots are. Instead, give extra keys to relatives or friends you trust.

Always lock side gate entrances leading to your back garden since this is one way burglars can enter the back of your house and always lock up your garage and garden shed well. You might also want to set up motion-activated sensor lights that will turn on immediately after they sense movement; seeing a security light turning on and off randomly (as these can be simply triggered by wildlife) can prove very off-putting for a would-be burglar.

Do not tell people that you are leaving for vacation, in fact, if you can make your home looking lived in even while you are away, do so.  Always record your valuables and keep the list with you or in a safe place away from your home; in the unfortunate event that you are a victim of a burglary, you can easily determine what is missing. In addition, keep your homeowner’s insurance up-to-date.

Extra precautions for elderly or vulnerable people

Older people may feel more vulnerable to some crimes, but in reality they are actually less likely to become victims than other sectors of society.   

A few simple steps however, can help increase safety even further.

• Pension books should always be secured somewhere safe
  
• Bogus callers, also known as distraction burglars, can try to trick their way into homes; Age Concern offers comprehensive advice on how to handle these callers… “Bogus callers – how to protect yourself”
  
• Personal alarms can offer peace of mind should an elderly person trip or fall at home
  
• Ensure large amounts of cash are not kept at home – a bank account should be used instead
  
• Those particularly vulnerable or victims of crime, may be entitled to some support - For further advice contact Age Concern:- 

Age Concern England     

Astral House
1268 London Road
London
SW16 4ER
Tel: 020 8765 7200

Age Concern Cymru

13/14 Neptune Court
Vanguard Way
Cardiff  CF24 5PJ
Tel: 029 2043 1555
Fax: 029 2047 1418
Email: enquiries@accymru.org.uk

Age Concern Scotland

Causewayside House
160 Causewayside
Edinburgh
EH9 1PR
Telephone: 0845 833 0200
Fax: 0845 833 0759
Freephone: 0800 00 99 66 (7am - 7pm, 7 days a week)
Email: enquiries@acscot.org.uk

Age Concern Northern Ireland

Age Concern Northern Ireland
3 Lower Crescent Belfast BT7 1NR
Tel: +44(0)28 9024 5729
Fax: +44(0)28 9023 5479
Email: info@ageconcernni.org

Extra precautions for students

Students should follow the advice below, these extra precautions could help ensure their personal safety as well as that of their possessions:-

• In your shared home or halls of residence lock your door, even if only leaving for a short time, and even if your flat mates are in
  
• Over the holidays, when thieves know your house will be empty, take all your belongings with you or put them in secure storage
  
• Avoid leaving notes on your door saying, ‘I’m out!’ (or similar). Don’t advertise the fact to thieves!
  
• Do not lend your key or ID card to anyone
  
• Don’t buzz someone in without checking who they are visiting, and don’t let strangers in with you
  
• Don’t give away access codes to food-delivery companies
  
• Thieves know student households are more likely to have more items such as laptops, stereos and MP3 players than other households. Make sure all your equipment is covered by insurance