House break-ins are crimes of opportunity and, in most cases, entry is gained through an open or unlocked door or window. Take the following precautions to keep your home secure.
- Get to know your neighbours. Observant neighbours can reduce prowling, loitering and burglary by reporting suspicious people or vehicles to police
- Join your local Neighbourhood Watch group
- Keep doors and windows secured even when you are at home
- Secure your home when you leave by locking all doors and windows
- Remove keys from internal doors and windows when you are not at home
- Fix faulty alarms immediately and tell your neighbours that it's been repaired. Many people ignore an alarm that goes off regularly
- Leave a light on and the radio playing when you are out to give your home the 'lived in' look
- Keep cash, keys and valuables out of sight and out of easy reach
- Don't leave notes on the door—it suggests that no one is home
- Don't leave a house key under the door mat or a pot plant, in the letterbox or in other obvious places
- Mark valuable property using the Property Identification System.
