Residential burglaries - there has been a recent spike in student premises being broken into during the early hours of the morning

There has been a recent spike in student premises being broken into during the early hours of the morning - with the academic year beginning again we are prioritising residential burglaries.

Most burglaries are committed by opportunist thieves. In around one in four burglaries committed, they do not have to use force; they often break in through an open door or window.
Take simple precautions, such as locking windows and doors when you go out, even if just stepping next door or out in the garden. Also, use a light timer and do not leave your keys lying around.
Look at your property through a burglar’s eyes to identify places where you can add deterrents and improve security.
Secure all doors and windows – if they are not secure, neither is your property.
Exterior doors
• Make sure the doors and frames are strong and are in good condition.
• Fit back and front doors with a five-lever mortice deadlock – and use it.
• Glass panels on or around the door are especially vulnerable, so replace them with laminated glass.
• Fit a letterbox cage to stop someone reaching inside to open your night latch lock.
• Check the door hinges are sturdy and secured with strong long screws. Consider using inexpensive hinge bolts to help reinforce the hinge side of a door against the use of force.

Patio doors
Patio doors and windows are often targeted by thieves, because in the past they have been easy to open.
It can be useful to get specialist advice when fitting a patio door, with security in mind.
• Patio doors should have special locks fitted top and bottom unless they already have a multi-locking system.
• Patio windows which are made of aluminium are often the weakest type. Modern UPVC should come with multi-point locking systems as standard.

Windows
• Fit key-operated window locks to all downstairs windows and easily accessible upstairs windows. For example, those above a flat roof or by a drainpipe.
• Even small windows, such as skylights or bathroom fanlights, need locks – a thief can get through any gap larger than the human head.
• Remember to remove keys from locked windows and to keep them out of sight in a safe place.
• If you are replacing windows – consider laminated glass. This glass has a layer of vinyl between two sheets of glass making it difficult to break.
• As a last resort, consider fitting security grilles to vulnerable windows – many DIY shops now sell decorative wrought iron grilles.