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36<br />
Beat the<br />
Burglar!<br />
The nights are drawing in, and that brings the burglars<br />
out.<br />
Burglaries rise in the autumn months as the<br />
extended periods of darkness give criminals more<br />
cover to carry out their crimes, but there is plenty<br />
you can do to protect your home, your belongings<br />
and your loved ones.<br />
Security consultant Michael Fraser, host of TV’s Beat<br />
The Burglar, is well placed to offer advice as he used<br />
to be a burglar before turning straight.<br />
Here Michael shares seven tips on how to keep your<br />
home safe this winter.<br />
Watch Your Back<br />
Burglars love dark back gardens as they provide<br />
them with plenty of cover. Install a motion-sensitive<br />
outdoor light to send out a clear security signal.<br />
Love your Loft<br />
Burglars hate lofts. Most won’t venture up there<br />
for fear of being trapped if someone returns<br />
unexpectedly. So, lofts are the ideal place to store<br />
precious items you don’t need to display.<br />
Out of Sight, Out of Mind<br />
Burglars will often peep through letterboxes to scope<br />
a property. Don’t leave anything on display that can<br />
be seen through yours, especially keys! Better still,<br />
get a grill or cover for your internal letterbox.<br />
Lock the Shed<br />
If you have a shed – lock it. Burglars dislike coming<br />
armed with tools to a property because it raises the<br />
risks of being stopped by Police. Sheds often have a<br />
range of things criminals can use to break into your<br />
home, so keep it locked.<br />
Beware of the Pets<br />
Do you have a sign up saying ‘beware of the dog’?<br />
Bad move. As burglars will know this means you<br />
are unlikely to have a movement-sensitive alarm as<br />
pets trigger these.<br />
Make it Hard Work<br />
Burglars want an easy life, and many are callous<br />
opportunists, so don’t make their lives easy. By<br />
having an alarm on show, window locks in place and<br />
signs saying you are part of a Neighbourhood Watch<br />
or that you have your property security marked, you<br />
are signalling your property isn’t an easy touch.<br />
Shut Up<br />
In the nicest possible way of course. Always ensure<br />
your front gate and back gate are closed. This is a<br />
small but significant psychological thing. Burglars<br />
are hard-wired to look for the easiest option.<br />
The good news is by following these, and the many<br />
other security tips available online you dramatically<br />
reduce the risk of your home being targeted.<br />
This blog is sponsored by Alan Batt.<br />
For more of Alan’s tips and guidance on your home,<br />
visit www.alanbatt.co.uk/blog/<br />
or check out his analysis on the <strong>Wigan</strong> Property<br />
market here;<br />
www.wiganpropertynews.blogspot.co.uk<br />
Alan Batt is a member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and has<br />
worked within the <strong>Wigan</strong> property market for over 30 years.<br />
Alan Batt<br />
For more of Alan’s tips, guidance and analysis on the <strong>Wigan</strong> property market, check out<br />
www.wiganpropertynews.blogspot.co.uk
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