Overview

The good news is that the chances of becoming a victim of crime in the UK has fallen substantially in the last decade and continues to fall. According to the latest in a series of regular bulletins issued by Home Office Research Development and Statistics (RDS) Directorate, crime rates have decreased overall by 2% in the last year, with the rate of domestic burglary falling by 3%.

However, it is not the time to be complacent. Drug offences are still on the rise and addicts will take every opportunity to find a way to fund their habits. While a professional thief who is really determined to break into your home can probably do so with enough time and effort, in fact most unauthorized home entries are perpetrated by opportunist thieves, who often enter premises through open doors or windows, or easily forced locks.

Thus the key to home security is to deter casual offenders, and to make it as difficult as possible for professional burglars to steal your property. There are some simple precautions you can take to reduce the risk of burglary and make your home more secure for a relatively small outlay.

Another way to prevent crime is to become involved in making the immediate area around your home a safer place to live by looking out for your neighbours’ property and having them do the same for you. Vigilance at a local level can also help police to apprehend offenders who may be operating in your area.