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Home Security

VISITORS TO YOUR HOME

You should keep some simple things in mind when there are visitors to your home. It's important to remember..Not all visitors are welcome!

• Don't open the door to anyone you don't know or trust.
• If someone is at the door and you are alone and feel frightened, pretend someone else is in the house.
• If someone wants to use the phone for an emergency, offer to make the call for them, without letting them in.
• Be suspicious of people requesting entry to your home to check appliances or equipment. Ask to see their identity card and call their company if you are unsure.
• Never put an advertisement in the paper for people to call at your home unless you arrange to have someone with you when they arrive.

REMEMBER: If in doubt, keep them out!

HOME SECURITY PRACTICES

Home security is important for all people in Canterbury. These simple Do's and Don'ts will help keep you and your home safer.

Do's 

• Give a duplicate set of keys to a trusted friend, neighbour or relative.
• Ensure your street number is clearly visible from the street. This will help your home to be found quickly in an emergency.
• Always lock away your ladders and tools and lock the garage door with deadlocks or padlocks. Ensure gates are secured - the rear and side of houses are targeted by thieves.
• If you lose your keys or move into a new flat, make sure you change all the locks. If someone calls to say they've found your keys tell them to drop them off at the nearest police station.
• Keep the front door locked even if you are home or in the garden.
• Engrave electrical goods with your licence number. Keep records of property serial numbers and keep them in a safe place.
• When leaving the house always lock all doors and windows leave the blinds partially opened and leave on a radio or TV. If away for a few days tell a trusted neighbour.
• Always secure upper storey window and balconies of your home.

  Don'ts

• Never leave spare keys outside your home. Don't leave keys on the kitchen table or any other obvious place.
• Don't have personal details like your name, address and phone number on your keys.
• Don't leave notes on the door stating that you are away or when you'll return

A GUIDE TO HOME LAYOUT AND DESIGN

The way that you design your house and gardens can make a big difference towards discouraging break and enters, or your chances of becoming a victim of crime in your home.

• Avoid hidden, isolated walkways and entries to your home. In flats, make sure you can look into common lobbies before you enter.
• Put playgrounds and car parks near windows to active areas around the home such as living rooms and kitchens. In flats, common areas should be visible and easily supervised by adjoining households.
• Define boundaries with fences and gardens. Ideally, fences should be open rather than solid.
• Install quality deadlocks on all external doors and windows. Consider laminated glass door panels, mesh security doors, entry door peep holes and steel frames.
• Provide appropriate sensor controlled lighting to common areas, access ways and car parking areas.
• Where affordable, use electronic surveillance systems. Visible alarm equipment can be an effective deterrent to thieves.
• Keep trees and shrubs trimmed, especially those near your house. Thieves can climb trees or hide behind shrubs.