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How to protect your valuables and your home

Always remember to give yourself a means of escape – ensure that you can get out of your home quickly in the event of a fire.

Boundary

  • Check that the managing agent or landlord cuts shrubs and planting back every spring so they do not obscure someone from view or interfere with lighting or video surveillance systems.
  • If you notice something is not working properly or if a light is out, let the managing agent or landlord know so that it can be fixed as soon as possible.

Outbuildings

Cycle stores and bin stores can attract anti-social behaviour if they are left insecure. 

Building

  • Remember to check that the communal door and other doors are closed and secure behind you.
  • Always double-lock UPVC and multipoint locking doors (lift handle, turn the key, and remove it).
  • If you live on the ground floor, ensure that your windows are closed and locked every time you leave your flat.
  • Consider an accredited burglar alarm system.

Communal doors

  • Your communal door is only effective if it is closed and secure, so always remember to check that your communal door locks behind you. If it doesn’t, report it to your management agent or landlord so it can be repaired quickly.
  • The ideal communal door should be robust and security accredited, fitted with a good self-closing arm, two magnetic locks (top and bottom), and linked to the fire alarm and an electronic access control system operated by a key fob.
  • Communal doors should fail safe open in the event of a fire and be fitted with a manual override, such as an internal thumb turn or a push-to-exit button.
  • Consider the location of post-boxes, as they are often targeted by criminals. Ideally, they should be in a secure lobby area, lockable, and designed to prevent thieves from fishing out the mail.

Secured by Design products that meet the Police Preferred Specification of performance demonstrating that they are resistant to criminal attack, can be found by using the search function found here: Secured by Design - Search

If you are replacing your door consider a security accredited product, as these products are tested to British Standards and are approved by the insurance industry. Secured by Design can provide standards for communal doors.
Shared blocks of flats and houses of multiple occupation are more vulnerable to burglary and other crime if the communal doors are not secure. Remember to check that the communal door and other doors are closed behind you.