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The definition of burglary is:
Theft Act 1968 Section 9
(1) A person is guilty of burglary if:
(a) they enter a building or part of a building as a trespasser with intent to commit any such offence as mentioned in sub-section (2) below:
OR
(b) having entered any building or part of as a trespasser they:
(i) steal or attempt to steal anything in the building or part of
OR
(ii) inflict or attempt to inflict on any person therein grievous bodily harm
(2) The offences referred to in sub section (a) above are offences of stealing anything in the building or part of the building in question, of inflicting on any person therein any grievous bodily harm or raping any person therein and of doing unlawful damage to the building or anything therein.
Penalty: fourteen years imprisonment.
This site is not an "official" crime prevention site and is not linked to any body such as the police.
Throughout you will be advised of steps you can take to reduce the risks or, if the worst comes to the worst, help to deal with the trauma of reporting to the police, dealing with insurance companies and making your own enquiries.
I will be deliberately mentioning various companies who you can contact for further advice and assistance. I know these companies and do not have any problem in mentioning what they can do for you.
It is always the case that you should be vigilant in employing any person or company to act on your behalf.
You have to assess facts relevant to your own circumstances.
You have to start the processes leading to fulfilling your aims.
If you decide to do them "some time later" your efforts will fail.
You need to use the links on these pages to assess what products suit your needs.
The links lead you to the professionals.
The core element of any preventive action is to correctly assess the risks involved for any given set of circumstances.
In assessing risks you need to look at your home from the offender's viewpoint.
Does it have a visible deterrent of an alarm system front and rear?
How easy is it to approach unseen?
Can a sneak in thief get in the house even when you are indoors or out washing the car?
Are approach routes covered by shrubs and trees, which provide excellent cover.
Can the "security" light sensors be reached and turned or damaged?
Can a first floor window be reached by a low roof or climbing a pipe?
Do the windows and doors look in bad repair and easy to force?
… and the list goes on and on.
I am sure you get the general picture. The burglar will have.
Aim: Over 80% of burglaries are forced entries. Make a risk assessment of your home.
How would you get in if you lost your keys?
How do you think a burglar would try to get in?
In your assessment consider approach routes.
Do you need to upgrade any existing security system?
Apply the same aims for the garage and outbuildings.
Aim: Get the latest information on crime prevention. Put into practise advice on locks, alarms, etc
A common modus operandi (method of operating) is to distract people while an accomplice sneaks into the house to steal purses and handbags. If you find a stranger in your front living room and they say they are "just looking for …" somebody, then chances are you have just been burgled. Be wary of people turning up on your doorstep unannounced. Any genuine caller will be able to provide their identification and give you time to ring head office to verify details.
The burglar is often speculative though they will use a particular method of entry simply because it worked before. Most burglars attack through windows. What is paramount to them is the need for speed of entry coupled with quietness and covertness.
UPVC or wooden windows and doors are equally vulnerable. The difference in failing to gain entry lies in the quality of the materials used. Doors and windows need extra locks. There is a whole range of locks you can fit to your doors and windows from cylinder rim locks, seven and five lever mortice locks, detainer mortice locks and other additional fittings. It is important that all locks are to British Standard and properly fitted.
Thieves are not entirely stupid so they will "case the joint" before hand. It's during this activity that preventive measures are seen and assessed by the offender. They know what deters them and will most likely move on if your house looks like it will be a problem for them.
If you are going to have an alarm installed you need to assess how all members of the family can adapt to the changes in lifestyle that the daily use of the device will cause. Not forgetting the cat or dog!
Aim: Talk to the family. Discuss your ideas for home security. See how they respond and take on board their ideas and feelings.
Advice:
When installing an alarm system do not be tempted to do it yourself unless you are qualified. Seek professional advice on what type of installation suits your set of circumstances. It's a good idea to have a regular maintenance and call out contract.
Nobody takes notice of those alarms that are always going off. They go off because of poor application and standards. Get professional advice and installation. Check with your insurance company that they approve the alarm company. Several companies offer a small discount on policies if you have an alarm installed
Neighbourhood Watch is a community run initiative formed to reduce crime. Think about joining or starting a neighbourhood watch scheme.
Aim: Seek information about the Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
If you are going to install double glazed windows and doors then for goodness sake do not penny pinch. Go for the best quality you can afford. Have the installer explain security elements of his product and installation techniques. Make sure he can back up what he tells you with examples. Look for proven anti-burglar double glazed fittings. Fit extra locks particularly on patio doors.
Aim: Find out who offers quality products backed up with a reputation.
Buildings Insurance protection:
Most of us have insurance for our homes and if you have a mortgage it is most certain you will have a building protection policy. This policy should cover criminal damage to your home during a forced entry. Most companies have an emergency call out system so you can get 24-hour cover should you need it for immediate repairs. If you are a tenant, your landlord should have advised you on any emergency repairs. Council tenants normally have the support of their local housing office whom the police can contact on your behalf.
Aim: Check your building insurance policy to see if your home is covered for criminal entry or attempted entry. Find out emergency telephone numbers for your buildings insurance company, landlord or local housing emergency services.
Insurance protection can recompense you for stolen or damaged property. This will not make suffering a burglary any easier but it will ease material loss of your television, video and jewellery etc. What you need is a policy that covers as many avenues of a claim as possible. Insurance companies are willing to listen to your particular needs and will respond.
Aim: Check your contents insurance policy to see if your contents are covered for criminal offences. Do you need to upgrade to include that new computer?
Advice:
If you are not insured get insured! When did you last have your valuable items assessed for insurance?
Warning:
Do not enhance any claim because you will come unstuck big style if your Insurance investigator proves you are on a fiddle. If ever a company black lists you for cheating (a polite way of saying you are a thief), you will find it difficult to get another company who will insure your home and house contents!
When you are burgled you need to make a prompt report to the police. Give all the details you have, including any suspects seen.
Advice:
If you find your home burgled ring the police from a neighbours house in case the offenders are still in your home. Avoid the temptation of cleaning up or moving things before the police arrive. They need to assess the need for forensic examination and disturbing the scene will not help.
Initially you will not know if you are on this earth or fullers. The impact of walking into a burglary is huge. You may experience fear, anxiety, anger and rage. While you are suffering all these emotions you have to deal with police who have to press you for information for a crime report or to trace a suspect.
They need descriptive details of stolen property. The police normally leave a property list for you to complete later when you are in a better position to provide more accurate information.
They will make an assessment to see what forensic evidence is available to them and will call the forensic officer to your home. The point of entry is the most singular important area for examination by the forensic officer.
Your report goes onto a crime management computer, which will generate a unique crime reference number for your burglary. This number will be quoted on any correspondence with the police, insurance companies, the banks and building societies, tradesmen and to anybody who has any interest in your crime.
Advice:
Make sure you cancel your bank cards and cheques if they are stolen. When the police leave you a property list to complete, which you fill in and post off, make photocopies for your insurance company and for future reference.
Aim: Find out the local number you need to dial to get the police. Find out the Insurance Company telephone number and have your policy number ready.
Some police districts have dedicated officers who take on investigation of burglary dwellings. These people are experience officers who are on your side. Their main objectives are nicking burglars and assisting victims in any way they can. If they work in your district they will make contact with you.
The police will also offer to notify the Victim Support Service of your incident. Victim Support is an independent charity that helps victims of any crime and can offer emotional and practical assistance in helping you to cope with the aftermath.
One aspect police look at is tracing stolen property. They visit dealers, jewellers and markets armed with lists of property provided by you. If you have given the wrong make and model say, of your television, then they are not going to find it.
Property tracing is difficult. A substantial amount of stolen property will never be traced because the victim was unable to provide identifying details. There are several ways to mark property viz: ultra violet pen, engraving, DNA, micro dots etc. Such markings along with basic details of make, model type, colours etc greatly enhances the odds of tracing stolen property by yourself and the police.
Advice:
Think about making a general list up of items in your house noting makes and model numbers, serial numbers, unusual marks or ultra violet postcodes etc.
Take exceptional care over works of art or antiques. Have them recorded and catalogued. Make sure you have sufficient insurance in case the worst happens to you.That piece of jewellery, which means so much to your spouse, means nothing to any body else if it cannot be readily identified. You really need to have a photograph so that what you are trying to describe becomes immediately apparent to anyone - even a policeman.
Advice:
Take descriptions of stolen property along with any photographs you may have, to dealers and jewellers yourself to ensure it is circulated.
Copies of photographs can help insurance agencies, be circulated in police publications, in police stations, in the local press, petrol stations and where people congregate. More importantly they can be given to the people who count the most - jewellers and dealers in town.
Aim: Get professional standard photographs of unique, rare or valuable items.
Advice:
Do not simply walk into a shop and send off your film containing images of your precious items having put your name and address on the package! Think about it!
Go to a fast processor service.
Leave the film with them and tell them because of security your name but not your address. Have some ID so you can confirm your name if you are asked. The service provided is usually of a high standard.
Keep the photographs under lock and key along with any jeweller's insurance assessment. Send copies to the insurance company and ask for a receipt.
Stolen property that is traced by the police is evidence to support a charge. It is not always the case that you will be given your property back because the courts may require it as proof of allegations.
This could mean lengthy delays pending a court appearance. You may have to attend court to prove ownership and theft of the property.
The police will not seize property simply to hand back to you where the property is found in lawful possession of another party. That is anyone who has come into possession of your property and there is no evidence to prove they have acted unlawfully in obtaining it.
It applies to dealers who trade under acts such as the Consumer Credit Act. Without evidence to the contrary, any property they obtain is legally theirs. You cannot simply seize the property from them. Inform the police. It may be that the dealer will sell the property to you at cost for which your insurance company may reinburse you but seek their opinion before you act.
Advice:
If you have been paid by your insurance company for your loss then the property in question is owned by your insurance company and not you.
Speak to your insurance company and be clear on what their policy is on stolen property that is recovered before and after you have been paid out for it.
If you see your stolen property on a market or in dealership, ring the officer dealing with your burglary and tell him or her where it is.
At the outset the objective of preventive action was:
"to correctly assess the risks involved for any given set of circumstances."
Now you have to crack on with the task of putting everything together. Look at the Basic Aims and apply them to your circumstances. Make a list and then take what action you need to make them a reality.
Use the links below. You will be able to draw your own conclusions from information the companies provide on their websites and you will see how their products and services fit your aims.
By accessing and using this site you accept the following conditions:
This site is for information and interest only. Use of any content is at your own risk.
Links to other Web sites are owned by other organisations and individuals and we make no guarantees regarding their content. You are solely responsible for evaluating any goods or services offered by third parties via this site. Disclosure of personal information to third parties is at your own risk. No liability for any loss, indirect or consequential, will be accepted.
Kent Alarms for home and business security