stop the thieves submitted by shropshirelive.com The majority of residential burglaries around 64% of residential burglaries occur between the hours of 10am and 3pm when most people are at work at school. . Article continues below...

protect yourself
The most popular times when the majority of thefts occur is in the summer between June and the end of August when school is out and most people are away on vacations. Unfortunately, all too many people are unlikely to take simple precautions which could prevent their home from appearing as appealing targets before they leave on holidays.

The most popular areas of home entry break in are:
- The front door - 34%
- The back door -22%
- First floor windows - 23%
- The Garage- 9%
- Unlocked entrances and storage areas - 6%
- If you don't have an alarm system then you are also more than 3 times more likely to be burgarled

The first area burglars are most likely to target is the master bedroom and the most likely areas they will rifle through are the drawers and wardrobes. The simple reason is this is where you are most likely to keep jewelry and extra cash. Electronic items are also very popular items to steal.

By the way, if you think your freezer is a sneaky spot to hide your valuables and foil their attempt, think again. The freezer is the third most popular spot thieves check out.

A burglar will only spend between 8-12 minutes in your home and their average haul is averages just under £2000 per theft.

Protecting home and your valuables doesn't have to be very expensive and there are a lot of simple do it yourself techniques you can use to foil a thief. Learn more about home security tips, advice, and products at Home Security Products Information.

tips to protect your home
- Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.
- Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.
- Leave lights on when you go out.
- If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.
- Keep your garage door closed and locked.
- Don't allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.
- Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time.
- Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.
- Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.
- Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.
- Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives.

don't tempt a thief:
- Lawn mowers, barbecues and bicycles are best stored out of sight
- Always lock your garden sheds and garages.
- Use curtains on garage and basement windows.
- Never leave notes on your door such as “Gone shopping.”

locks… get the best:
- No lock, regardless of its quality, can be truly effective. Key-in dead bolt locks provide minimum security. Ask a locksmith for advice on your situation.

- Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen.

- When moving into a new home, have all locks changed.

targeting the outside:
- Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended for backyards.
- Trim trees and shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.
- Make sure your door hinges are on the inside.

alarms:
- An alarm system is excellent for home security. It provides peace of mind to homeowners, especially while on holiday. There is a wide variety of alarm systems on the market.

- Make several inquiries to different companies for the best security system available to you.

- If you have a home alarm system, use it! Activate your alarm system — Alarm systems are only useful when you remember to activate them.

- Many individuals have alarm systems but do not arm them because it is inconvenient. Many burglars know this and will not be deterred by a window sticker or sign indicating that the home has an alarm system.

if your home is broken into:
- If you come home to find an unexplained open/broken window or door:
- Do not enter - the perpetrator may still be inside.
- Use a neighbor's phone to call police.
- Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence.
- Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles.
- Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons.

other precautions you should take:
- Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other “secret” hiding places -- burglars know where to look for hidden keys.
- Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques.
- Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.
- Trim your shrubbery around your home to reduce cover for burglars.
- Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9-9-9 immediately.
- Mark your valuables with your driver's license number with an engraver you can borrow from your precinct.
- Marked items are harder for a burglar to dispose of and easier for police to recover.
- Form a Neighborhood Watch Group.
- Consider installing a burglar alarm system.
- Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home — this is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters.

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