If you have had something stolen from inside your house, your shed or garden you will already be thinking of upgrading your home security – if you haven’t you should not assume you are fine unless you have effective home security systems in place. It is worth while taking anticipatory action before you have problems.
Really good quality locks both on your doors and windows are an essential (though I can tell you from experience they won’t deter burglars if they are not locked – don’t assume that if you are in the garden no-one will go in the house) . If your doors are fitted in flimsy frames (some side garage doors can have less than sturdy frames) then they need stiffening up – you can probably do this as DIY.
You can also buy and fit security lights quite simply yourself . These should be fitted with passive infra red (PIR) which will trigger the lights to come on when the beam is broken by heat or movement of a person approaching your house or car coming into the drive.
It is also sensible to not flag up your absence when going on holiday. It may be worthwhile to get timer switches to put on lights or even a radio to mask your absence.
If you are concerned you can ask for advice from the Crime Prevention Officer who will advise on best ways of keeping your home safe. It can also be worth your while to get professional advice on fitting a burglar alarm to protect your property. Fitting alarms can reduce your insurance premiums.