Burglary on the whole is an opportunist crime.
A house or premise will be selected by a burglar if it offers the fewest obstacles to carry out the crime undetected. An unoccupied and/or insecure building is far more likely to be targeted by a burglar, than one which is effectively secured. As a resident or business owner, if you can take pre-empted measures that show a burglar this building is too difficult or risky a target, the burglar will expectantly move on.
A few normal signs of an unoccupied building include:
- Milk bottles or parcels on the doorstep
- Newspapers and mail in the letter box
- Unlit house or premise after dark
- All windows shut in very hot weather
A few normal signs of an insecure building include:
- Gates open
- Accessible windows open
- Ladders left out‚ allowing access to otherwise inaccessible windows
- Garden tools available to force entry
- Untrimmed hedges or high fences preventing natural surveillance
The signs listed above could make the burglar want to take a second look at your premise. If you live in a multi-occupancy dwelling‚ be careful to who you allow entry through an entry phone system and be wary of people seeking to "tailgate" you into the building.
To protect clients and/or properties from being highlighted as a vulnerable individual or building, the Key Safe Man wherever possible aims to conceal key safes in a location not in direct view to the public. For the purposes of a key safe being used for emergency access or non regular use, clients are advised to request key safes are totally concealed from view.
