Hearing news about house burglaries and break-ins occasionally in Hong Kong is not surprising. When it comes to residential burglary, a village house without fencing and security, will easily become a target of burglars since it’s much easier to gain access than other properties. The good news is that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to secure your home - just some useful and affordable tools. In today’s blog by HoldCover, we put together 9 practical home security tips to keep burglars at bay.
1. Install a high-quality door lock
Some older door lock designs are relatively vulnerable, making it easier for burglars to break into the houses. Also, it’s possible for burglars to hold a modified key to unlock the door locks made by the same manufacturer. Therefore, we suggest you replace the current lock with a more secure and complicated lock to reduce the risk of your door being pried open.
2. Install window grills
Apart from the front door, windows are another way for burglars to gain entry to a home. Putting up iron window grills bolted into the wall can hinder any attempt to get into your home. High quality window locks can give you added security.
3. Add barbed wire to climbable structures
Burglars could climb up pipes or structures such as a canopy to gain access to the upper floors or roof of a village house. Adding barbed wire to these climbable structures can increase the difficulty in climbing, making your home unattractive to burglars.
4. Keep your valuables in a safe
Never let your guard down even though you have anti-burglary door locks and window grills installed. Put your high value items such as jewelry, cash, collections, or personal documents in a safe to keep them out of sight and reach.
5. Install CCTV
Most burglars are opportunists, a CCTV monitored premises is likely not a good target to them. CCTV cameras act as a deterrent to potential intruders, that’s why you should make it as easy as possible to be spotted. CCTV footage also helps collect evidence in the unfortunate event of a burglary which might lead to the perpetrator being caught by the police.
6. Buy a burglar alarm
Consider the purchase of a burglar-proof security system for your peace of mind. Here are some options available on the market:
- Door and window sensor
A contact sensor that is usually installed on door and window frames, or in drawers. You will be notified whether there is any attempt to open your door or break your windows.
- Motion Sensor
It detects body heat and movement via infrared radiant in the surrounding areas. However, it is not recommended if you have pets as false alarms may be triggered.
- Outdoor siren
It acts as a deterrent to scare off intruders and alert anyone passing by. When triggered, a strobe light will flash and a loud alarm will sound.
7. Beware of mysterious symbols around your house
Burglars will always scope out a house before they carry out a crime, and use a code of drawn symbols to mark information on the house. Here are some common symbols in burglar codes in Hong Kong:
Information reference: HK01
8. Make it look like someone is home
Burglars usually wait for the occupants of a house to be away to easily break-in. Therefore, one of the best ways to prevent intruders is to fake your presence. Preset your home appliances to come on when you’re not home, it makes the house look occupied with the lights, television or radio being turned on automatically.
9. Get protected with a home insurance policy
No security measure can ever be 100% safe. Consider the purchase of a home insurance policy for well-rounded protections which covers loss or damage of your home contents due to burglary. Having said that, different home insurance policies come with different coverage, maximum limit, and excess, so read the terms and conditions carefully before buying one of them. Besides, some insurers may require individual valuable properties such as jewelry, curios and works of art to be declared upon enrollment.
There are a wide range of home insurance policies available on HoldCover. With our one-stop online platform, you may compare home insurance quotes from different insurers at once and buy one that offers you the right coverage in just a few minutes!
Click here to get quick home insurance quotes!
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