Your questions answered: 

What steps can I take to keep my home secure from thieves?

One of the leading queries we receive from our customers at insuremyhouse.ie is how to keep your home safe from theft. According to the Central Statistics Office (https://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/crimeandjustice/), in 2019 there were over 50,000 reported burglaries or break-ins. This represents an approximate 136 break-ins in Ireland per day. Understandably, people are concerned not just for the welfare of their homes but also for their families. 

Today at insuremyhouse.ie we would like to share with you some suggestions for how you can best protect your home and yourself from being a victim of this type of crime. If you have more questions regarding keeping your home secure from thieves, contact us directly at 01-603-2999.

Keep doors and windows secured 

One of the easiest ways to keep yourself safe from home burglaries is to ensure that your home is always kept secure. While inside your home, we encourage you to get in the habit of always locking your front door upon entering and checking it throughout the day. 

In addition, even when leaving your home for a short amount of time, you should ensure that all windows and doors are locked and your alarm system (if you have one) is set. It takes only a matter of minutes for a break-in to occur. It’s also important to check second story windows as thieves can easily access second floor windows through climbing on side walls, garage roofs and even cars. 

Utilise an alarm system

Alarm systems are an incredibly useful tool to deter burglars and keep your home safe from theft. In Ireland there are traditionally two kinds of alarms – unmonitored and monitored alarms. 

An unmonitored alarm will sound when a disruption occurs to the alarm system such as a door or window opening, and the alarm code I not entered within a specific time frame. This causes an alarm within the house to sound, frightening the thief and causing them to flee. With some systems, this will also send a message to the homeowner alerting them of the potential intrusion so they can relay the message to the proper authorities. 

A monitored alarm system typically will process a faster response time from the authorities in the case of a break-in. This alarm system when tripped will alert a 24-hour monitored station as well as the homeowner to the breach of your home. Some of these alarms are silent, providing more opportunity for the thief to be caught. While monitored alarm systems are typically more costly, they can ultimately provide a faster response time, increasing the safety of your family and belongings.

Set timers when you are away

In many cases, thieves will stake out a property that they feel is empty or uninhabited and break-in when they think no one is around. A great way to keep your home from being at risk in this scenario is setting timers for the lights and even the television in your home. These timers are set to turn off and on at specific times throughout the day and night, making the home appear lived in. This is a perfect solution for if you’re on holiday, have a holiday home you don’t inhabit frequently, or own an Airbnb unit. 

Make use of CCTV

CCTV can be one of the most effective measures when it comes to preventing home theft. Implementing CCTV in visible areas of the exterior of your home acts as a deterrent to burglars as they are less likely to attempt a break-in if they feel they are at risk of being caught on camera. In addition, in the case that a robbery does occur the information recorded can be invaluable to the authorities and can assist in identifying and tracking down the suspects. 

Securing your home can benefit your home insurance policy 

There can also be financial gains when ensuring that your home is secure from theft. When assessing your home insurance policy, your insurer will take into account the measures that you’re taking to keep your home safe from burglars. Knowing that you have an alarm system, are making use of CCTV and are taking appropriate measures to keep yourself and your family safe can lower the overall cost of your policy. 

Ultimately, the most important reason to make use of alarm systems and theft deterrents is to manage the safety of your most prized possessions – yourself and your family. If you need more information on protecting your home from theft, please contact the team at insuremyhouse.ie.