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The effects of a burglary can be devastating,
but there are several things that you can
do to prevent it happening to you, or at
least minimise the potential damage. Here
is a handy list of precautions that you
can take:
Hide your keys and
valuables somewhere they can't get at them.
Burglars make it their business to know
where people usually stash things that they
particularly don't want stolen. Avoid placing
things like passports, social security cards,
and keys in obvious places like behind bookcases,
under the bed, or in a coffee tin. Instead,
lock these things in a safe deposit box
or a heavy duty combination safe bolted
to the floor of a closet.
Use timed switches.
Leaving your lights on all day is the equivalent
of placing a sign outside your house exclaiming
that you are away for the week. Instead,
put lights, radios, and televisions on timers,
so that they go on and off at random, creating
the illusion that the house is occupied.
Install an alarm system.
You can get alarm systems that will automatically
contact you, or the police, whenever they
spot an intruder. While these are expensive,
they are one of the most effective ways
of deterring burglars. Also, by taking precautions
such as these, you can significantly reduce
your home insurance premium. You can save
even more money by shopping around online,
and many firms offer a heavy discount for
purchasing insurance in this way. For example,
Kwik Fit Insurance offer their
customers a £60 discount on their home
insurance cover when they book
online.
Don't rely on your
dog. Many people think that their
house-trained, loving family pet will be
able to scare off potential burglars, but
while the sound of barking may be enough
to make some burglars skip your house, you
shouldn't rely on this. Many thieves know
just what to do to keep a domestic dog quiet,
and some even take dog biscuits out with
them.
Close the majority
of your shades and curtains. If a
burglar is not able to see inside your home,
they will not be able to tell if there is
anything worth stealing inside. However,
it is a good idea to keep a few shades open
on the second floor to give the impression
that someone is home.
Divide your jewellery.
Keep some of your less expensive jewellery
in a nice case on top of your dresser, and
keep the more valuable stuff in a safe.
This may fool a burglar into thinking he
has found your jewellery stash, thus preventing
them from looking for any more.
Mark your items.
Write your name and postcode on all of your
valuables with an invisible pen, and leave
a sign up to let burglars know that you
have done this. Marked items are a lot harder
to sell, as pawnshops are legally obliged
to check for security marks and may contact
the police if they come across them. This
may cause a burglar to pass on them, or
at the very least, this will improve your
chances of recovering them if they are stolen.
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