Protect your home from break ins with quick improvement burglars 'don't like' as UK burglaries rise
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Burglars have increased in the last year
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Burglars have increased in the last year
Burglars can sneak into a home and steal valuables in a matter of minutes.
Experts at Safe.co.uk shared some affordable ways to keep the house as secure as possible.
Lock gates and secure fences
High fences and ones with strong locks are going to make a burglar think twice before trying to break in.
A high fence with a good lock could be a great deterrent
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The experts said: "Burglars don’t like obstacles in their way, so ensure gates have padlocks on to make it harder to get into gardens and around the perimeter of a property.
"High fences further increase security at the back and make it harder to escape with large items.
"However, be careful that there aren’t easy hiding spots near your house from overgrown shrubs, keep this under control, particularly during summer months when people become more lax with their security."
Keeping on top of garden maintenance can also make a difference in protecting the home.
Overgrown greenery can make a good hiding spot for those trying to break into a home.
Timers
With nights getting darker, homeowners should be conscious of lighting their homes when they are away or out late.
The experts continued: "Particularly... when going on holiday, plugs with a timer inside function as a great illusion that a property is occupied.
"It doesn’t go dark until after 8pm during summer, and it is light until around 7pm until the end of September, but thieves will look for dark homes at this time and presume they are vacant.
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Using light timers could be a good way to prevent burglars
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"This doesn’t have to be limited to lights either, using a timer for the TV or radio will give the impression of a busy home.
"Burglars want to avoid confrontations with their victims so this will make them much more likely to move on to the next target."
Homeowners have also been warned to be careful at home as household items including TVs, washing machines and doorbells could be spying.
A house that is well protected can make it more appealing to potential buyers.
Experts shared tips to boost the value of your property by £40,000 with a "minor" change.