Does your home security need any updates?

Many of us were very concerned to hear of a local break in and burglary in the middle of the morning through a double locked front door!

We consulted with the local police team for any reminders which might help make your home a bit safer. This is not exhaustive but may be a useful reminder.

FRONT DOORS

People posing as couriers, sometimes pretending to have a parcel for a neighbour etc, may come to your front door to "case the joint" to see if you have a doorbell camera or are overlooked by a neighbour who does and to assess the condition of your door and your locks. They may even rattle your door as part of this.

1. Lessons learnt from the recent day time break in:

   
   

   1. A front door that "rattles" (moves when shut and locked) is much easier to force open. So your night latch (or rim latch or "Yale lock") should be tight when the door is closed. If not, get it adjusted. Your mortice lock should also hold the door tightly.

   2. You should have at least two locks (e.g. a night latch and a mortice lock) spaced at the third points on your door. (1/3 of the height of the door above the night latch; 1/3 down to the mortice lock; 1/3 down to the bottom of the door). If the locks are closer together, it means only a small part of the door has to be broken to force entry.

   3. If your frame is not strong (e.g. made of soft wood) consider reinforcing the frame with a 'London bar' 

   4. Ensure your front door has at least three hinges.

DOORBELL CAMERAS

Doorbell security cameras can be used as a deterrent as criminals will often target homes without them.

However, it depends on the type of camera installed, some cameras only work when the bell is pressed, and others are motion sensored without the bell being rung.

Some require a yearly subscription that needs to be renewed.  Some residents don’t renew subscriptions but leave the camera as a deterrent.

The police often check streets for ring doorbells when investigating crime and find it useful. Many residents have used their evidence on ring doorbell to prove that parcel deliveries have not been delivered or stolen from the doorstep. The evidence for thefts or suspicious callers can be provided to police which can help them to try and identify the suspect.

REPORTING SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOUR

The police also encourage residents to report suspicious activity within your street to them on either online www.met.police.uk/reportcrime  or 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Residents can also sign up to www.metengage.co.uk to receive communications from our locl police team in regard to local crime trends and communications from Ravenscourt SNT. There are now also regular meet and greet sessions runs by the local police team. You'll be sent the dates if you sign up to metengage alternatively we try and post them here.