Beating the burglars -provided by Barclays

Apr 26 2010 By Mary Barabe

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Latest Government figures show that burglaries in the UK are continuing to rise, and there are fears that the recession could cause more people to turn to crime, leading to more claims on contents insurance policies and increasing the risk for householders.

Unless you're planning to turn your home into Fort Knox, you'll never be able to completely protect yourself against intruders. There were nearly 600,000 burglaries recorded by the police in the last year, according to the latest police recorded crime statistics and it pays to make your home as safe as possible.

There are a number of ways you could make your home safer, and possibly cut your insurance premiums as well. Insurance companies calculate your premiums based on the risk of a claim – if you reduce that risk, then your premium may also come down.

Before you carry out any work, speak to your home insurance company – it will have information on approved equipment, such as burglar alarms.

Here are some of the most effective ways of protecting your home:

Install a burglar alarm. Not only does an alarm provide a warning of someone in your home, it also acts as a deterrent to potential burglars. Prices vary enormously; you can pick up a basic one for under £50, while top-of-the-range systems cost over £1,000. Don't just get a dummy box, burglars can spot them a mile away. Your insurer may be able to tell you which systems it approves, and by picking one of those you may get a discount on your home insurance premium.

Secure your doors. You need to ensure that all doors – not just your front door – are adequately secured. Both the door and the frame need to be in a good state of repair, and have adequate locks. Thief resistant locks should comply with BS3631 standards. And you need to use them – never leave doors unlocked.

Protect your windows. Windows can be the most vulnerable part of your property's defences. Different types of window are more exposed than others – security experts say louver windows are the easiest for burglars to get through, while modern uPVC double glazing already provides a high level of security. With most windows you can add key-operated locks to up the protection. Concentrate first on those with easy access – on the ground floor, or above flat roofs or drainpipes.

Strengthen external security. Security lights, which turn on when movement is detected close to the property, act as a strong deterrent to those who like to hide in the shadows. If you have a drive, you could put gravel down so that the noise will alert you to anyone coming close. And make sure bushes are kept neat and tidy so nobody can hide in them.

Keep it out of sight. If a burglar doesn't know what valuables you have, they will be less likely to try and steal them. Keep your blinds drawn when possible and don't leave valuables in clear view through windows. This also applies to car keys. Outside, make sure ladders are hidden and securely fastened – it's not in your best interests to make a burglar's job any easier.

Barclays offers a range of competitive home insurance products.

The insurer of Barclays Home Insurance is Gresham Insurance Limited, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered Office: 8 Surrey Street, Norwich, NR1 3NG. Registered in England. Registered No. 110410. Barclays Insurance Services Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered in England. Registered No. 973765. Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP.

Barclays Bank PLC. Registered in England. Barclays Bank PLC is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Registered No 1026167. Barclays Insurance Services Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the FSA. Registered No 973765. Registered Office for both: 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP.

The information given in this article was correct as at 26/04/10. It does not, however, take account of any changes in regulations, the law or interest rates since that time.

This article is not a substitute for obtaining professional advice from a qualified person or firm.

Examples given of products and services are not exclusive. Other companies may provide the same products and services, and inclusion of a product or service should not be taken to indicate that Barclays recommends it over any similar product or service.

Barclays Bank PLC is not liable for any third party opinions expressed. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained is accurate at the time of publication, no liability for damages is accepted by Barclays, the publishers or any other organisation or person providing information, arising from any errors or omissions that may appear, however caused - or from any editorial alterations to submitted information. This is not intended and will not affect any liability of Barclays under the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act (2000.)

Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail banking (current accounts and savings accounts), credit cards, corporate banking, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services, with an extensive international presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs over 140,000 people. Barclays moves, invests and protects money and provides personal loans, home insurance, life insurance , mobile banking and other services for over 49 million customers and clients worldwide. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.co.uk