CRIME prevention guru PC Darren Robbins has issued his top tips to beat burglars and make sure residents across the Black Country have a secure new year.

"Burglars work on a risk-reward ratio,” he said, “so if the risk of being spotted or caught outweighs the potential reward they’ll steer clear.

“Residents can easily make home security improvements that would deter most opportunists – and that level of security doesn’t have to cost the earth.”

 

His tips include:

Alarms

PC Robbins said an alarm should be rated the staple burglary deterrent. Alarm options range from standard motion-triggered systems to ones that will take a CCTV image of the intruder and instantly send the photo to a computer or mobile phone.

“Technology has vastly improved over the last decade,” he said, “and whereas advanced alarms may previously have been financially out of reach of many people they’ve now come right down in price.”

Locks

Burglars can force open basic UPVC door locks in just 13 seconds, said PC Robbins.

He recommends homeowners investing in TS007 3-star - an anti-snap, anti-drill and anti-pick lock designed to frustrate any thief hoping for an easy entry.

Timer switches

Leaving the house in darkness is the worst thing to do, according to PC Robbins.

He said: “That’s a clear indicator to opportunist thieves that the house is empty. Some people might leave a landing light on…but in reality, who sits around in the house with just a landing light on?

“Timer switches cost just a few pounds and are a fantastic, cost-effective investment but don’t put them in front rooms that can be seen into from the street as offenders can see into your home and will realise no-one is in.”

Shed security

Some people, especially keen gardeners and DIY-ers, store hundreds if not thousands of pounds worth of equipment in a shed – but often it’s secured with the most flimsy of locks or no lock at all.

And worse still burglars have been known to utilise equipment, such as tools or ladders, to help them break into the owner’s home.

PC Robbins said: “Look to alarm your shed. Shed alarms can be bought for as little as £7, look for shed alarms with no more than a 10-second activation time from the time the shed is entered, the louder the better.”

His advice can be found in full here.