Keeping your home safe in winter

North Yorkshire Police have issued some advice about keeping your home safe this winter. As the darker nights draw in and we head towards winter, they are suggesting some key things you can do to help prevent burglars from targeting your home at this time of year.

Being burgled is an upsetting and traumatic experience. It can not only affect you financially with loss of property, but can leave you feeling that you and your home have been violated. Below are some top tips to help keep your home safe and secure this winter:

Home security checklist

• Secure doors and windows. It’s easy to forget to lock up if you’re in a rush and a window being left open is one of the most common causes of burglary
• Check your doors and windows meet minimum security standards of PAS 24
• Have adequate security lighting in place. Internal lights and low energy external dusk till dawn lighting can reduce the risk of being burgled
• Intruder alarms can improve the physical security measures in your home
• Timer switches help an unoccupied home look occupied
• Ask a neighbour to take parcels or post in while you’re away so they don’t pile up outside
• Protect your valuables inside your home by keeping them out of sight or in a safe – this includes car and house keys
• Digital security is also important. Don’t post that you’re going on holiday on an unlocked social media account
• Don’t leave tools or ladders lying around that can be used to break in.

Find out more here: Keeping your home safe this winter | North Yorkshire Police