What is National Home Security?

Isn't it true that home is where the heart is? It's a valued and secure haven where we can feel protected and at ease. But how often do you consider the safety of your home?

In honour of National Home Security Month, we've compiled a list of seasonal tips and methods for keeping your home safe as we head into the colder months ahead. It is now more important than ever to update your security systems and feel safer than before. For great product deals during National Home Security Month, buy from Security Hardware here.

National Home Security Month

October is National Home Security Month (NHSM), which began in 2013. It was created by Yale and is held to bring together advice from those in and around the security industry to help you take sensible precautions to safeguard yourself and your loved ones.

At Security Hardware, we’re an official supporter of NHSM, alongside household names like Amazon, Homebase and Crimestoppers. Our parent company, Eurocell, is an official supporter too.

Find valuable home security tips on their blog.

Debunking Home Security Myths

1. You live on a peaceful street with wonderful neighbours, and you consider yourself to be in a secure neighbourhood. These factors can help reduce the likelihood of crime, but they cannot completely eliminate it. Thieves may be attracted to quiet regions because it is easier for them to enter into your home undetected.
2. Another fallacy is that you will never be a victim of a burglary. You hear about robberies on the television and in the newspapers, but you never consider yourself a potential victim. Unfortunately, if you haven't taken the necessary precautions to secure your home from crime, you may become the next victim. But don't panic; we've compiled a comprehensive list of how to protect your home from burglars.
3. Contrary to popular belief, burglaries don’t always take place during the night. SecurAlert reported that the majority of burglaries actually happen between 10am and 3pm during the day, when you’re most likely to be out of the house. Your home is vulnerable when you’re not around!
4. Finally, break-in’s aren’t confined to low-income areas, as some may believe. For example, the UK’s number one burglary hotspot is Highgate, a very affluent North London town!

Protecting your home

Did you know that you are much less likely to be burgled if you have a home security system? As part of National Home Security Month, we want to stress the importance of owning well-fitted and well-maintained burglar alarms. Security systems help protect your home from the inside and the outside, providing another set of eyes for you whether you are in your home or out. Additionally, using other simple methods such as protecting your belongings in safes, hiding valuables from out of sight and always locking windows and doors will help prevent burglary. We suggest investing in good quality locks, such as our 3* Security Euro Cylinder which contains snap safe, anti-drill, anti-bump and anti-pick technology. Additionally, you could replace your door handles for newer, more advanced versions. This Door Handle Set is suitable for all door types and gives you piece of mind that your door handles are securely fastened, and brand new. For windows, our MK1 Shootbolt Lock provides extra security, and works on most PVC-u windows.

Protecting your vehicles

When you think of home security, you might only consider securing your belongings; nevertheless, your vehicles are equally vulnerable to theft. As a result, it's critical to take precautions to protect your vehicles against theft or damage. Using a van lock can help to reduce theft and keep your belongings secure. Our Van Lock helps to guard your vehicle and prevents forced entry. Alongside having anti-pick technology, our Hasp & Barrel Van Lock acts as a visual deterrent for thief’s. The 73mm Barrel is extremely heavy duty, and offers ultimate protection for the possessions in your vehicle. Using outdoor security cameras is useful for deterring any theft or damage occurring and offers video justice if a crime occurs. Additionally, dash cams are helpful for recording road incidents such as bumps or break-ins.

Finally, if you store your vehicle in a garage overnight, consider updating your garage lock for extra security.

Protecting yourself

Walking along the street, we are always considered a target. Being armed with advanced technology at all times in the form of phones, headphones or smart-watches make us expensive targets for theft. Not to mention our wallets or personal identity documents! There are 2000 ID fraud incidents in the UK every day, so it’s crucial you are implementing safety measures to help protect yourself.

As part of home security month, we urge you to consider applying new habits to your daily routine. Consider:

• shredding old personal documents
• using a card blocker to avoid contactless money theft
• using a bank that allows you to freeze your card from your phone
• installing two-factor authenticator verification on any personal emails or social media platforms on your phone

We hope you have learnt some new top tips on keeping your home and yourself safe during National Home Security Month. If you have any questions or queries concerning your own home security, please don’t hesitate to contact our qualified team, who will be happy to help!