Protecting your property

Vehicle protection advice

• Think about where you park. Thieves prefer dimly-lit places with few passers-by.  Choose a brightly-lit street or properly managed car park.
• If you have a garage, use it.
• Always close windows and lock the doors.
• Remove any valuables from your vehicle, always remove satellite navigations, their cradles and rub off sucker marks on the windscreen.
• If your vehicle is fitted with a removable radio or front panel, always remove and take it with you.
• Use a steering lock.
• Etch windows with your registration number.
• If possible, have an engine immobiliser and car alarm fitted with a visible warning light.
• Remember, on frosty mornings, don't leave your car unattended with the engine running whilst it defrosts.

Home advice

• Keep windows locked but if you need to open them, ensure you lock them when you leave the room.
• Keep all external doors locked, even when you are in. 
• Use light timer switches or simply leave a light on when you are out to give the impression someone is at home.
• Always set your burglar alarm when you go to bed.
• Never leave car or house keys near window sills, in porches or hallways.
• Put keys and valuables away and out of sight, preferably in a locked drawer or cabinet.

Garden advice

• Cut your hedges back and have low fences to make burglars feel exposed.
• Plant prickly shrubs and bushes next to your walls or fences to deter most criminals from climbing over.
• Invest in brighter outside lighting.
• Add gravel paths to create noise when someone approaches your property.
• Ensure out-houses and sheds are secure and locked at all times.
• Make sure that there are no ‘hiding places’ in your garden for any would-be burglar.
• Make sure your contents insurance covers the shed and garage and all the equipment you store there.