Safety and security at home

Securing your home

You don’t need to spend lots of money on security. Simple and low-cost changes can make your house look occupied and deter intruders. The following suggestions are a guide to what can be done.

Outside security

• Make sure your house number is easy to see from the street
– both day and night.

• Trim bushes and trees that obscure windows.

• Consider removing bushes or trees that could be used as hiding places by intruders.

• Ensure that doorway and outside lighting will illuminate your yard.

• Consider installing sensor lights that turn on when you come home at night, and will deter prowlers.

• Check your lights regularly to make sure they are working.

• Consider keeping a dog.

• Consider securing your electricity meter box. Your electricity supplier can help arrange this. (Energex ph: 13 12 53,
Ergon Energy ph: 13 10 46)

• Keep ladders and tools locked in your garage, garden shed or under the house.

• Lock up your wheelie bin/s or keep them under the house.

Doors

• External wooden doors should be of solid core construction and fitted with deadlocks that can be opened from the insidewithout a key.

• If your deadlocks need a key to open from the inside, leave the keys in the locks and make sure they are unlocked when you’re at home.

• If your door has glass panels, hang the key near the door when you’re home, but out of reach of anyone who could
smash a pane.

• A peephole in all external doors and a light outside allow you to see who is there, day and night, without having to open the door.

• A security chain between the door and the wall will help you check who’s at the door.

• Fit good quality aluminium or steel security screen doors to all entrances.

• Security doors offer valuable protection when your main door is open for ventilation.

• Keep security doors locked at all times.

• Make sure all your door locks can be opened with the same key.

• Fit double-sided locking handles and patio door bolts to sliding doors.

• A snug fitting block of wood placed in the lower sliding door channel can make it difficult for intruders to open the door.

Windows

• Install quality key-operated window locks to all windows.

• Make sure all your window locks can be unlocked with the same key.

• Install security screens to deter intruders so you can leave your windows open in hot weather.

• If possible, replace louvre windows with sliding windows, or install security screens over your louvres.

Internal security

• Access to your home can be gained through the roof, so attach hinges and a sliding bolt to your ceiling access cover (manhole).

• If watching TV, using the vacuum cleaner or other noisy tools or equipment, keep external doors locked.

• Consider installing an alarm system. Advice on suitable security alarms for your home is available from reputable
security companies, locksmiths and hardware stores.

• If you have an alarm system, advertise it by displaying a security sticker.

Other tips

• Self-tapping screws in the top frame of your windows and sliding doors will stop them being lifted out (but make sure there’s enough clearance for the door or window to slide).

• When you buy new electrical goods, don’t leave the packaging outside so burglars will know you have new
products.

• Don’t keep lots of money in your house unless it’s in a goodquality safe.

• Consider using a safety deposit box at your bank for storing valuable items.

• Don’t leave keys hidden outside.

For emergencies

• Plan at least two escape routes so you can leave your home quickly in an emergency.

• Make sure one or more window security screens open from the inside to allow an easy exit.

• Store emergency numbers in the speed dials of your home and mobile phones, or keep them clearly written beside your phone.

Property inventory

• Compile a detailed inventory of your property (see page 22 for a sample inventory list).

• Record the serial numbers, makes, models, colour and size of your specific items.

• Keep the inventory in a safe place away from home and update it when you get new property.

Property marking

Marking your items clearly identifies them as your property. Property marking will deter burglars by making it difficult for them to dispose of your goods and help police return them to you.

Here are a few tips on how to identify your property:

• Use an engraver to mark items on your inventory list.

• Engravers may be available for loan from your nearest Neighbourhood Watch group or your local police station.

• Take photographs or videotape items that can’t be engraved such as jewellery, watches, silverware, collectables, stamp and coin collections, furs, antiques, paintings and furniture.

• Put a ruler or matchbox beside each item to show its size.

• Preferably, mark your property with your initials, date of birth and the letter ‘Q’ (for Queensland), e.g., John Smith was born on 01-02-65, so his personal code would be JS010265Q.

• Or mark your property with your driver’s licence number and the letter ‘Q’. If your driver’s licence number is 12 345 678, mark your property with the code ‘1234578Q’.

• Fill out a Property Identification Form from your local police station so police will have your code if your property is stolen.

• Stickers are available from your local police station to show your property has been marked - display these stickers on your property and in prominent places around the house.